FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The 2012 Cross Country season steps up to the starting line Sept. 1 for many programs in Baldwin County.

The annual Foley High Invitational is the first official race on the county calendar. The hosting Lions and Lady Lions will hold the meet at Graham Creek this year under the leadership of new CC coach Kirby Baxter.

Other new coaches this year include Rebecca Massie at Robertsdale and Tim Akins at Gulf Shores. Coaches returning include Daphne’s Joe Hutchins, Spanish Fort’s Mike Rauch, Baldwin County High’s Matthew Beckett and Fairhope’s Tim Yahr.

“It should be another fun and competitive year for cross country in Baldwin County,” Yahr said. His Pirates boys team along with Rauch’s Lady Toros girls from Spanish Fort will defend their county titles this fall.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates have five seniors to lead the way in 2012: Zack Davis, Thomas Grace, and Tyler Pharez for the boys and Anna Grace Claunch and Elizabeth Zimmerman for the girls.

Yahr expects Grace (Fairhope), Zavion Strickland (Foley), Tyler Orem (Spanish Fort), Alex Guillory (Daphne), Cody Parker (Baldwin County), Christopher Redd (Robertsdale), and Jon Alec Parker (Gulf Shores) to be among some of the fastest boys from 2011 and Hannah Evans (Fairhope), Kaleigh Akers (Daphne), Linsey Hrabovsky (Spanish Fort), Trista Phelps (Robertsdale), Chelsea Gholson (Foley), Margaret Lloyd (Gulf Shores), and Payton Redmon (Baldwin County) to set the pace among the swiftest female runners back from last fall.

He said the enthusiasm is high in the sport of running after this summer’s Olympic Games.

“Olympic athletes (especially Galen Rupp who won the silver in the 10,000m) have inspired us and given us some great examples of grit and sportsmanship as we launch into the 2012 CC season,” Yahr said.

Rupp, 26, of Portland, Ore., was the first American since 1964 and only the third ever to earn an Olympic medal in the 10K event.

The first large meet of the season will be the annual Mobile Challenge of Champions (hosted by Steve Schoenwald) on Sept. 8. The 19th COC meet will run again at Mobile’s Langan Park on Zeigler Blvd. near the pavilion at Flournoy Street. This meet has been featured as one the top 25 Invitationals in the country by The Harrier Magazine.

Competition begins with the Open Girls division at 4 p.m. followed buy the Open Boys. Invitationals get started about 5 p.m. For more information, visit: http://mobilechallengeofchampions.net/index.cfm/XC-Schedule.cfm

The Baldwin County Championships are set for Oct. 20 this year at Daphne. 6A Sectional Meets for Baldwin County will be at Graham Creek Nov. 1 and the 5A sectionals for Mobile’s Langan Park.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association State Meet will be Nov. 10 at Moulton (near Oakville) again this year.