HHS cross country launches season Saturday
Hartselle High School’s cross country teams will launch a new season at the Oak Mountain Invitational in Pelham on Saturday with a record number of runners for their second year of competition.
The boys and girls varsity and junior varsity rosters have grown from 20 to 35 runners and 16 of those who competed last season, including three seniors, are back.
“Our girls team is more balanced from top to bottom and our boys team is pretty strong at the top three positions,” said coach Kenneth Lopez. “The deciding factor is going to be how well we do at the fourth through sixth positions and if we can keep them healthy.”
Heading up the teams as returning seniors are Cameron Cunningham, Haley Baker and Shelby Kaup.
“Cameron probably has more experience than anyone else on our roster,” Lopez said. He ran for Brewer two years before transferring here as a junior. I expect him to have a good senior years
“Haley finished in the top five in every race she ran last season and Shelby is back from an injury she sustained last spring. Both of them should help us a lot.”
Lopez is also expecting big things from Jonathan Duncan, a freshman. He made it to the state meet as an eighth grader.
Lopez said most of his runners participated in a four-days-a-week optional summer conditioning program as well as running in various 5K events.
“They worked hard and came back to school in much better physical condition than what they were at the same time last year,” Lopez stated. “They also logged a lot of running miles”
The varsity girls roster consists of Haley Baker, Erin Brown, Ivy Buchanan, Sarah Butler, Lindsey Elmore, Amanda Hampton, Shelby Lyn Kaup, Savannah Morgan, Rachel Parmer, Rachel Paulsen. Haley Rigdon, Kimmie Riggs, Rachel Robbins, Emily Sandlin, Mary Ann Shaw, Kelsey Stephens, Sarah Walker and Kelsey Rae Walling.
The varsity boys roster consists of Chase Barnett, Cameron Cunningham, Jonathan Duncan, Shannon Kirby, David Mach, Ryan Nowka, Ben Paulsen, Landon Tall, Chad Wallwork, Matt Watson and Alex Wilt.
Hartselle Junior High students listed on the junior varsity roster are: (boys) Timothy Ammons, Nathan Brooks, Matt Green and Conner Gully; (girls) Taylor Barnett and Brantley Owens.
The team’s second meet will be the Austin River City Invitational in Decatur Thursday, Sept. 1.
