MOBILE—Alabama—Bayside Academy opened the 2013 cross-country season Aug. 29 with a two-mile dual meet with St. Pauls at the University of South Alabama.

The Class 3A Lady Admirals claimed the big team win against the 5A Lady Saints of St. Pauls with a 24-33 point differential while the Saints boys team edged Bayside’s Admirals by five points 33-38. B.A. Senior Ryan Shankle however broke the tape in the boys race for the individual victory with an impressive time of 10 minutes, 38 seconds.

"I am proud of our efforts,” said Bayside coach Alan Foster. “It was a great start to the season.”  

Bayside's charge was led by eighth graders Mary Catherine Branyon (12:35) and Abby Warner (12:42) - finishing two and three right behind individual winner Anna Braswell (12:32) of St. Paul’s for the medal positions.  

Braswell, a senior, is the defending 5A outdoor track and field 800, 1600 and 3200 meter state (2-mile) champion.

The B.A. middle-schoolers Branyon and Warner—in their second year of varsity CC action—ran just off Braswell's pace the entire way.  

Lady Ad senior Bowen Spottswood (13:57) and Freshman DeLaney Klutes (13:55) set a strong pace early to put six Admirals in the top 10 and help tip the scales for the nine point win. Sophomore Catie Caldwell (14:29) and seniors Carlisle Calametti (14;51) and Brittany Houseman (14:53) finished ninth, 10th and 11th to put the finishing touches on a great start to the beginning of the 2013 season, Foster added.

On the Men's side, Bayside Academy's Ryan Shankle left no doubt that he was in charge by leading wire to wire for a solid win.  The senior, rocketed off the line and gapped the field by almost 50 meters in the first quarter mile.  He continued to press the pace through the first mile and was able to cruise home in an impressive 10:38 for two miles.

Sophomore Ash Midyett also jumped out to a fast start putting himself in a great position through the first mile. He made a strong move to break the second pack with a quarter mile to go and just got out-leaned at the finish-line for fouth place overall and finishing the two-mile course in 11:09. Sophomore William Hixson finished with a furious kick to take 11th in 13:07 followed by Alex Grace (13:31) and Trevor Gibbons (14:21) who rounded out the scoring for the Admirals.  

“The Bayside Boys team finished five points behind a talented and deep St. Paul’s squad 33-38 and represented well with a strong pack of younger runners looking to breakthrough in the coming weeks." Foster said. “Shankle and Midyett ran aggressively and everyone got better today. Our Girls team competed well and got a big first win.”

See the Sept. 3 GCN Sports Section print edition inside the Baldwin Times, The Courier, The Independent, the Onlooker or the Islander for a complete preview of the 2013 high-school cross country season for Baldwin County runners.