MOBILE, Ala. – Spanish Fort advanced both boys and girls teams to the 5A state cross country meet Saturday after taking runner-up spots in the 5A sectional meet at Langan Park.

St. Paul's won the boys 17-43 over the Toros while the Lady Saints defeated Spanish Fort 15-58.

Faith Academy was third in both divisions. Charles Henderson was fourth in the girls, Eufaula took fourth in the boys. Trevor and Reece Stevens led the Toros with Trevor, a senior, finishing fifth in 18 minutes, 20.49 seconds, while his younger eighth-grader brother Reece took the course in 18:26.27 for sixth.

SFHS teammates Ross Nelson was ninth in 18:50.31, Connor Irion 11th in 18:57.82, and Tyler Orem 12th in 19:03.01 to round out the top five Toros. coach Shelby Stevens.

With injuries plaguing the Lady Toros all season, they still stepped it up with senior Anye Delgado's 22:36.75 leading the way in ninth with Emma Everson (22:38.94) and Katrina Garofano (22:39.13) placing 10th and 11th. Elissa VandeWaa and Peyton Walker rounded out the SFHS top five, finishing 17th and 18th to outscore the Lady Rams.

Three Gulf Shores runners: Blythe Burgman, Charles Peavey and Chandler Legault also qualified for the 5A state meet individually.

The top three teams automatically qualify for state, but the top six runners — not on a top three team — qualify for the state meet as individual competitors as well.

Lady Admirals qualify in 3A

AUBURN, Ala. – At the 3A/4A sectionals in Auburn, the Bayside Lady Admirals qualified for the 3A state meet by winning a tie breaker. Bowen Spottswood's sixth-team place (27th overall) time sent Bayside back to the state meet.

Points are based on the finish placement of the first five runners of each team. T.R. Miller's girls won clearly with 30 points, Montgomery Academy was second with 67. But Bayside and LAMP (Loveless) were both tied with 78 points.

Spottswood, a freshman, finished 27th overall. but six places ahead of LAMP's No. 6 runner at 33rd and the Lady Admirals were awarded third place.

Izzy Harrison led the Lady Admirals in ninth overall, Molly Pinnux was 10th, Carlisle Calmetti was 16th, Emily Wright 17th and Iris Harrison was 26th.

Bayside's boys failed to qualify but took fourth with 103 points behind Catholic-Montgomery (32), Montgomery Academy (86), and LAMP (Loveless)(86). Bayside freshman Ryan Shankle led the Admirals with a fast 17:49.36 fifth-place finish.

The winning time was 16:48.47 by Corey Cotter of Montgomery Catholic.