High school cross country: 14 runners to watch in the Tuscaloosa sectional race
As the high school cross country regular season comes to a close in the Tuscaloosa area, here are runners to watch from area schools as AHSAA tournament play gets underway. The runners are listed by name, year in school, best time finished in 2023 season and at what race.
The cross country area sectionals will begin on Nov. 2 and run through Nov. 4. The state meet begins on Nov. 11 in Moulton, Alabama.
Here are 14 runners to watch ahead of tournament play:
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The ACA boys are defending 5A champions and return three All-State runners from 2022.
Braden Ary, American Christian Academy
Senior
A 2022 All-State runner, Ary has a season-best and school record time of 15 minutes, 46.50 seconds and finished in first in the silver division of the Jesse Owens Classic in 2023.
Carson Renicks, American Christian Academy
Senior
The second of ACA's 2022 All-State runners, Renicks recorded his season-best 15:53.35 which was good enough for first place at the ACA invitational and second at the Jesse Owens Classic in 2023.
Stephen Billman, American Christian Academy
Senior
The third of ACA's 2022 All-State runners, Billman recorded his season-best 16:26.81 which was third in the ACA invitational and fifth in the Jesse Owens Classic in 2023.
The ACA girls return two All-State runners from 2022.
Karis Kelley, American Christian Academy
Senior
The 2022 All-State runner recorded a season-best 18:53.74 for first at ACA invitational, first at the Wingfoot Cross Country Classic and first at the Jesse Owens Classic bronze division in 2023.
Lucy Guthrie, American Christian Academy
Junior
A 2022 All-State runner, Guthrie's season best of 19:41.00 was good enough for third at the ACA invitational and second at the Wingfoot Classic in 2023.
Kaylor Cockrell, Tuscaloosa County
Senior
The senior runner recorded his season-best 18:01.19 at the Northridge Invitational in 2023. He was also a sixth place medalist.
"Kaylor is my most veteran runner, even though this is only his second year running cross-country. Most of the team are freshmen. We are very young, but setting a solid foundation for sure," coach Ashley Winegarden said.
Sarah Beth Smith, Demopolis
Senior
The senior runner recorded a PR (or personal record) of 21:30 at Sokol Park in 2023, placing second in the meet.
Richard Lessmann, Demopolis
Senior
Lessmann, a senior, placed first at Sokol Park in 2023 with a PR of 16:56.
Anglin Young, Northridge
Sophomore
The sophomore runner recorded a PR 15:57.89 at the Jesse Owens Classic in 2023, finishing 36th overall.
Shawn Stephenson, Northridge
Sophomore
Stephenson, a sophomore, recorded his best finish at 16:17.11 at the 2023 Northridge Invitational, placing second in the race.
Lillie Gould, Northridge
Sophomore
Gould recorded a PR 20:56.07 in the 2023 Northridge Invitational, finishing in third in the race.
Linley Byars, Northridge
Senior
Byars, a senior, recorded a personal-best 21:07.26 at the 2023 Northridge Invitational, finishing fourth place in the race.
Tyler Tran, Hillcrest
Senior
The senior runner recorded a personal-best 20:48 in the 2023 Northridge Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 21.
Will Champion, Hillcrest
Junior
The third year runner recorded his personal-best 20:54 at the 2023 Northridge Cross Country invitational on Oct. 21.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 14 cross country runners to watch as sectionals approach
