Bucs, Jags show promise at Chickasaw Trails Invitational

MOULTON -- Give it a year or two, and the Spain Park High School boys cross-country team could be contending for a state title. 

For Hoover, the time is now. 

On a balmy Saturday morning at the Chickasaw Trails Invitational, the Bucs showed why they're considered a favorite to prevent Auburn from clinching a fourth-consecutive state title in mid-November. 

Hoover placed three runners in the top 18 and five in the top 40 against a top-notch field in the boys large school race at Oakville Indian Mounds Park. The Bucs posted a team average 5K time of 16 minutes, 38.5 seconds and finished as Alabama's top team -- 47 points ahead of rival Mountain Brook.

"We didn't know what to expect. I know some of the guys still aren't happy, so not running that well and winning, as far as Alabama, that's a good sign," Hoover head coach Devon Hind said. "We're in good shape right now."

Hoover totaled 113 points to the Spartans' 160. The Bucs placed third behind Tennessee's Brentwood High School and Brentwood Academy. 

Hoover's Tommy McDonough made his season debut and did not disappoint. The senior ran 16:13 to claim a ninth-place finish and lead the Bucs' forerunning trio. 

"I'm really pleased with where he is," Hind said after the race. 

Junior John McCrackin and senior John Paul Rumore kept McDonough in sight throughout the race. McCrackin placed 16th in 16:27, and Rumore placed 18th in 16:31. 

Juniors Joe Leventry (31st, 16:53) and Alex Leary (39th, 17:05) rounded out the team's scoring five. 

Spain Park, on the other hand, didn't forecast the same level of impending success. A few of the Jags' veteran runners struggled under the toasty conditions and faded as the race wore on. 

But not Charlie Trower.

The Jags' freshman answered the call and led his team with a 40th-place finish in a personal-best 17:07. He was followed closely by sophomore Jacob Warner, who placed 43rd in 17:08.

"I'm real proud of the young guys that stepped up," Spain Park head coach Michael Zelwak said. "To see Charlie Trower step up and be our number one guy today and to see Jacob Warner step up -- those guys, I knew they had it in them. I'm just glad to see it this early."

Spain Park junior Morgan Becker didn't trail too far behind his younger teammates. He ran 17:20 and placed 53rd. 

On the girls side, the Hoover tandem composed of juniors Sydney Steely and Ava Weems flashed its strength for all to see. Steely and Weems ran stride for stride until the final half-mile, which is a racing strategy that Steely said can make "all the difference."

"We talk to each other sometimes, just like spitting out little things to encourage each other," Steely said. "And if she goes, and I'm kind of hurting, I'm like, 'I can't let her go,' and if I go, and she's hurting, we kind of pull each other along."

Steely crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 19:00, and Weems crossed in eighth  place with a time of 19:13. 

The pair of low sticks propelled the Hoover girls to a third-place team finish in the large school division -- just eight points behind 13-time defending state champion Mountain Brook. Hoover tallied 106 points to the Spartans' 98. Brentwood Academy won the team title with 66 points. 

"If you're going to win championships, you've got to have front-runners," Hind said. "You've got to have at least one. We've got two."

Sophomore Emma Langley (27th, 20:26), junior Caroline Franklin (29th, 20:31) and sophomore Erin Cannon (40th, 20:57) wrapped up the Bucs' top five. 

"We're not where we're going to be, but we were very competitive with Mountain Brook today," Hind said. "That's a good sign."

Two-sport star Mary Katherine Tedder led the Spain Park girls team to a 10th-place finish. The national-caliber softball player clocked a time of 20:17 and placed 19th. 

It's safe to say that Tedder's emergence has been one of the biggest surprises of the cross-country season thus far. 

After barely breaking 22 minutes for 5K in 2015, she blasted out of the gates at the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight Classic on Aug. 26. Her mark of 19:20 represented a two-minute personal best and earned her a sixth-place finish.  

"It was out of the blue," Zelwak said. "She a competitor, she's tough and I'm excited to have her. It's going to be a good year."

Holland Lidikay finished two places behind Tedder at Saturday's meet. The freshman posted a time of 20:18 and placed 21st. 

Spain Park will host its invitational at Veterans Park on Saturday, Sept. 17. Both Spain Park and Hoover are scheduled to compete.