SPANISH FORT – The Spanish Fort Toros are scratching the ground this fall for a run at the state 5A cross-country title.

Toro head coach Chris Schmidt is pleased with how summer training has gone for both his boys and girls teams.

"I feel pretty positive right now," he said. "On the guys side especially, we're looking really good. We have Brett Hanke, Ben Redman, Trevor Stevens, Andrew Hollingsworth, Wren Smith all leading the way."

Hanke returns as a sophomore after taking second in the nation in the prestigious Nike Freshman Mile in the spring and helping to lead the Toros to a 5A state track and field championship. It was the first track and field state title ever won by a Baldwin County school.

"We hope to bring back a state title in cross as well," Schmidt said. "I think we have some new young guys coming up that are going to step up and will really be able to help us be a 10-deep, maybe a 12-deep team. This year we hope the outcome is to repeat as county champs and section champs and of course our main objective is to win state. I think the main battle (in state 5A) will be between us, Scottsboro and St. Paul's."

Last fall, the Toros took third in the 5A state cross-country championships. The Lady Toro cross county teams have taken fifth every year and are looking to improve this season.

The Spanish Fort girls side will be led by Martha-Jayne Keglor, Katrina Garafano, Jackie Smith and Elissa Vande Waa.

The Lady Toros will be without a familiar face this year. Anna Jarman who lettered in six varsity years at Spanish Fort and took two county individual titles is now training for her freshman season at Division I Mississippi State University, where she received an athletic scholarship.

"County will be tough with Daphne and Fairhope having strong girls this year," Schmidt said."I think Daphne is probably the favorite with the twins (Amber and Heather Powell) running and if their sophomore phenom, Sarah Bodden — she's really good –– if she's back running, Daphne will be really tough and then Fairhope is always motivated so, and then us. But I think it could go right down to the wire, though. It should be one of the closest, most competitive county meets in a long time on the girls side. I know my girls are working really, really hard for it."

The Toros are set to start the season at the Foley Invitational at Foley High School on Saturday, Sept. 5.