Despite a step up in classification due to the Competitive Balance Factor, Bayshore Christian senior Caden Phillippi didn’t miss a beat and ran to a second-consecutive individual AHSAA State Cross Country Championship in the Class 4A race Saturday morning in Oakville.

Phillippi used a season-best mark of 15:33.72 to claim the top spot on the podium once again after he won the 3A race with a time of 15:55.73 last year. He was joined by junior Jonah Elliott (17:20.63 for 17th) and freshman Joseph Lovelady (17:37.41 for 22nd) in the top 25 to help the Eagles record a third-place finish in the boys’ team competition.

The Bayshore Christian girls’ squad also earned third place in the team competition led by eighth-grader Kat Hart’s 10th-place finish in 20:03.22. Similarly, another pair of Eagles logged top 25 finishes thanks to junior Allie McTaggart (20:25.33 for 15th) and seventh-grader Lucy Pierce (20:54.64 for 22nd).

Admirals take third

The Bayside Academy Admirals also stepped up due to the CBF and debuted in Class 6A with a third-place finish in the girls’ team competition led by junior Shelby Fargason’s ninth-place spot with a time of 19:01.96. Seniors Annie Midyett (19:19.22 for 17th) and Catherine Doyle (20:02.02 for 31st) both recorded season-best times to help pace Bayside Academy.

The Admiral girls’ squad took a Red Map trophy home from last year’s state meet as Class 5A state runners-up.

More local leaders

There were over 100 more runners from Baldwin County who competed at the final meet of the year and helped their teams earn top finishes including girls’ teams from St. Michael (10th in 4A), Fairhope (12th in 7A) and Robertsdale (14th in 7A). Boys’ squads from St. Michael (12th in 4A), Foley (13th in 7A), Elberta (14th in 5A), Orange Beach (14th in 4A) and Gulf Shores (20th in 6A) also recorded top 20 finishes in their respective classifications.

On the girls’ side, team leaders included Emily Friedel from St. Michael (21:05.02 for 24th in 4A), Ree Sasser from Spanish Fort (19:47.27 for 25th in 6A), Brooke Barnett from Orange Beach (21:12.58 for 25th in 4A), Lynley Grace Anderson from Fairhope (19:56.66 for 30th in 7A), Laila Cooper from Robertsdale (20:48.63 for 56th in 7A), Haley Wheeles from Elberta (27:26.20 for 113th in 5A), Bryanna Borders from Gulf Shores (24:20.03 for 179th in 6A) and Allison Siggers from Baldwin County (27:20.55 for 232nd in 6A).

On the boys’ side, team leaders included Aaron Tierce from Orange Beach (17:10.81 for 13th in 4A), James Oliver Hemby from St. Michael (17:29.98 for 19th in 4A), Harrison Wright from Gulf Shores (16:41.24 for 27th in 6A), Bartosz Czarkowski from Spanish Fort (16:43.68 for 29th in 6A), Charlie Woerner from Elberta (17:26.90 for 37th in 5A), Ian Brown from Fairhope (16:59.24 for 49th in 7A), Peter Eckhoff from Foley (17:00.51 for 50th in 7A), Noah McDaniel from Robertsdale (17:19.31 for 72nd in 7A), Nolan Tkac from Bayside Academy (18:25.55 for 120th in 6A) and Gavin Brandt from Baldwin County (19:59.92 for 189th in 6A).

Attached as photos are full local results from 111 Baldwin County runners who competed in the AHSAA State Cross Country Championships in Oakville on Saturday.