MONTGOMERY – Saint James sophomore runner Presley Miles clocked 18:25.15 at the Saucony Battle of Atlanta girls’ cross country championships last weekend to win the event – and captured the AHSAA Spotlight for the first week of the 2018 cross country season.
Miles turned in the best time of the first week’s competition to take first place in the strong field or runners from across the Southeast.  Her effort edged out a strong effort from Hayden Judge, a junior from Scottsboro.
Miles won her race by 39 seconds over runner-up Mackenzie Walls of Veterans High School (GA).
The two performances topped a strong list of contenders as the cross country season opened with several meets across the state.
Judge ran a strong 16:16.77 to capture the 8^th annual Pepsi Challenge Cross Country Championships large-school boys’ title over a field of 153 runners at the 5K course located at H.A. Alexander Park in Moulton.  Huntsville won the team title, however, with 24 points as four runners crossing in the seven spots. Jackson Danner led the Panthers with a second-place finish and 16:20.89 time. Scottsboro was second with 53 points.
Other top performances included:

BOYS
SAM MOULTRIE, GUNTERSVILLE: The Wildcats’ junior runner clocked 16:23.39 to win the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight boys’ Class 5A-7A Gold division 5K cross country race by almost 24 seconds over runner-up Jonah Barrett, an Oak Mountain senior. He was second at 16:47.91 in the 109-participant field to help Oak Mountain win the team title with 44 points. Hoover was second with 65 in the competition held at the University of Montevallo.
BRETT BONIKOWSKI, LAMP: The senior Finished first in the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight Class 1A/4A boys’ white division cross-country race with a winning time of 17:53.18. Junior teammate Jack Porter was second (18:39.91). LAMP won the team title with 33 points. American Christian was second with 50. The race had 79 participants.
CHARLIE LOTT, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Opened the season Aug. 23 with a 17:08.60 time over the AUM cross country course to claim the Trinity Trailblazer 5,000-meter cross country boys’ championship. Six other runners finished under 18 minutes. In the field of 93 runners. Hewitt-Trussville took the title with 32 point. Montgomery Catholic was second with 49.
JAMES CAIN, PRICEVILLE: Won the small-school division of the Pepsi Challenge Championships with a winning time of 17:40.46.  Cold Springs won the team championship with 51 points. A total of 162 runners were in the field.
WILL SCOTT, HEADLAND: Claimed first place with a winning time of 19:09.09 at the Cougar Invitational hosted by Northview in Dothan. Wicksburg won the team title with 19 points.

GIRLS
AMARIS TYYNISMAA, MONTGOMERY-CATHOLIC: Breezed over the 5,000-meter course at AUM in 18:50.10 to finish first at the Trinity Trailblazer season-opening cross country competition. She won by more 2:37 over her nearest challenger, teammate Lily Bachi, in the 49-runner field. The Knights finished first in the team competition with 24 points.
ABBEY WEITENBECK, HUNTSVILLE: Clocked 19:46.85 to claim the girls’ individual title at the 8^th annual Pepsi Challenge Cross Country Championships. She competed in the large-school race comprised of 74 runners. Huntsville won the team title with 32 points. Lawrence County was runner-up with 62.
CAMILIA CHAMBERS, HOLLY POND: Posted a 20.20.37 time in the 94-runner field to win the small-school division race of the Pepsi Challenge Championships at Moulton. Cassidy Winter of West Limestone was second (21:09.57). with a winning time of 17:40.46. St. Bernard had 67 points to win the team title.
EVIE BELL, OAK MOUNTAIN: The Eagles junior posted a 20:25.92 time to win the girls’ Class 5A-7A Gold Division championship of the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight cross-country race. Oak Mountain was first with 44 points. Hoover’s Haley Stallworth, a senior, was second with a 20:42.06 time.
KATHY HAMMOND, LAMP: The junior from Montgomery swept the girls’ Class 1A/4A White Division title at the Montevallo Early Bird Twilight cross country competition. Isabella Lovvorn and Theresa Billman finished 2-3 more than a minute behind the victor to lead American Christian to the team title. The Lady Patriots had 26 points and LAMP was second with 52.
KATE SMITH, DOTHAN: Finished first in the field of 18 runners with a winning time of 24:31.34 to win the Cougars Invitational girls’ division. Wicksburg won the team title with 24 points.

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