Seven teams will be running in the Elkmont High School Cross Country Invitational today. Runners from Athens, Ardmore, East Limestone, Clements, Athens Bible School, Madison Academy, West Limestone and Elkmont will be seeking the gold in four races. The first race starts at 4 pm. Races will include JV boys and girls divisions as well as the varsity divisions. The race route will start at the Caboose, wind through Children Street and Cedar Avenue area before taking to the Rails to Trails down to the civil war battle site of Sulphur Creek Trestle, turns around and finishes up with a dash to the finish line next to the Elkmont Depot. Come out and support the Elkmont runners.
The Elkmont High School Cross Country program started six years ago with a Elkmont student's, Austin Miller, request to create a team so he could participate in school meets. Barry Pugh and his asst. coach, Dale Miller, were willing to take on the challenge of building a program from scratch. They started with just four runners that first year but the program has grown into a recognized presence on the Alabama 3A high school cross country circuit. The Red Devils field four teams and twenty-three runners this year.
Coach Pugh believes that the Elkmont Red Devil Cross Country summer camp that takes place at David Crockett State Park has been part of the reason for that growth. Each year eight boys and eight girls participate in team building activities as well as three runs a day for a week in their efforts to get ready for the upcoming fall season. The time spent together creates friendship, a running family who enjoy being with each other and not just runners on a school team.
The Elkmont CC program made a splash last year as the Varsity boys team took first place in the Limestone County Meet and the Varsity girls came in second. Both teams took third at state sectionals and qualified for the state championship meet.
The Elkmont CC boys varsity team is anchored by four juniors who have the goal of bringing a state championship to Elkmont before they graduate. The seniors running this year are Matthew Clem and Hayden Hudson. The Red Devils has two runners in the 3A Cross Country state rankings:
Coach Pugh believes that the Elkmont Red Devil Cross Country summer camp that takes place at David Crockett State Park has been part of the reason for that growth. Each year eight boys and eight girls participate in team building activities as well as three runs a day for a week in their efforts to get ready for the upcoming fall season. The time spent together creates friendship, a running family who enjoy being with each other and not just runners on a school team.The Elkmont CC program made a splash last year as the Varsity boys team took first place in the Limestone County Meet and the Varsity girls came in second. Both teams took third at state sectionals and qualified for the state championship meet.
The Elkmont CC boys varsity team is anchored by four juniors who have the goal of bringing a state championship to Elkmont before they graduate. The seniors running this year are Matthew Clem and Hayden Hudson. The Red Devils has two runners in the 3A Cross Country state rankings:
#7 - Tyler Helms
#11 - Adam McMahan
They are joined by Chance Bailey; last year's top ranked seventh grader.
The lone senior on this year's ladies team is Chole Hollingsworth.
The lone senior on this year's ladies team is Chole Hollingsworth.
The Hill Spirit has recruited a Cross Country reporter to coverage the teams' meets. Check back throughout the season to follow the running Devils.
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