MOBILE — The Spanish Fort Toros didn't pull any tricks Saturday. They just streaked and treated themselves to the 2009 McGill-Toolen Relays boys title with a five-for-five front finish at Langan Park on Halloween Day. "We're peaking at the right time heading into the sectionals right now," said SFHS coach Chris Schmidt. "For the guys side, they came in here to win the meet. That's always our goal. We were hoping to clean sweep it and we knew it was going to be tough but we had a real relaxed approach and atmosphere. Everybody ran a smart race and it went really well. Started with Andrew (Hollingsworth) winning the first heat, Wren (Smith) the second, then Trevor (Stevens) and Benny (Redman) and (Brett) Hanke. I know that last one (First Flight) started with some of the fastest guys in the state right there with Hanke and Stew Shoemaker and Stuart Graham in it. we talked about being smart and Brett did a great job. You know in a two-mile race, if you make a mistake, it's tough to recover."

The first flight, which is the final heat of the day, was won by Hanke with the fastest time of the day in 10:07, Graham of St. Paul's was second and Shoemaker of Bayside Academy was third. Hollingsworth won the fifth flight, Smith the fourth, Stevens the third and Redman the second. The overall cumulative winning time was 53: 07.

McGill-Toolen was second (55:43) and UMS-Wright third in the boys race which featured a close individual rivalry between Hanke and Bayside Academy's Shoemaker as well as Graham of St. Paul's.

Hanke said he didn't take anyone else for granted, especially Graham and Shoemaker. "They are both real fast and my plan was just to stay with whoever took the lead. Stuart took off after a little bit and I just hung with him. He threw a couple of surges at me that threw me off a little bit, but I just held in there. About a mile and a half I started to pull away. I ran it like I wanted but I really wanted to get under 10 minutes but I'm happy with it. It's a bumpy course and it's slanted a lot, so, even in good weather like today it can be kind of tricky."

Shoemaker, who won three individual state titles in track last spring and was sidelined early in the cross-country season, said he feels fully recovered now and ready to lead the Admirals into the 3A section meet at Auburn.

"It's a good rivalry with Stuart and Hanke," he said. "I love to race against these guys. I wish I could have run a little bit better, but I just didn't have it today and my legs just didn't want to go. But it was good preparation for the sectionals coming up. I'm really looking to Thursday and the 3A sectionals so we're really focused on getting a state title for the team for the first time in cross-country."

Bayside coach Alan Foster said he was pleased with the effort of all his runners. "Stew had a great race. Now, we're aiming at sections and hoping to qualify and get our teams revved up for state because we have our hands full against some tough teams. Our girls had a great effort, too. "I'm really proud of them, especially the last few weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing how we do at sectionals."

In the girls division, UMS-Wright won followed by McGill-Toolen and St. Paul's. Spanish Fort was fourth and Bayside fifth. "I feel real positive and confident about going to the sectional meet for the girls side," Schmidt said. "I thought my girls ran exceptionally well today. Each one of my girls stepped up.

Sectional qualifying races are Thursday in different locations depending on division. Division 5A sectionals at Langan are set for 3 p.m., girls and 3:40 p.m., boys; 3A sectionals are at Auburn and 6A sectionals are at Fairhope's Volanta Park.

The state meet is at Jessie Owens Park near Moulton Nov. 14.