Freshman Taylor Elmore of Springville finished first in the Class 4A cross country section last week, one of eight local runners who have qualified for the state meet.

Miss Elmore finishd the 5K race in 22:42.08, 33 seconds faster than the runner-up.  “I’m excited about going to state,” she said.  “Hopefully I’ll do well.”

St. Clair senior Coy Graham finished second in the boys’ sectional, posting a time of 18:21.77.  Saturday will be his fourth appearance in the state meet at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park & Museum in Moulton.

The Saints narrowly missed qualifying for state as a team for the first time, with juniors Mason Armstrong (21:45.13), Alex Symonds (21:58.58), and Daniel Blackwood (23:14.59) also qualifying as individuals.

Senior Rachel Talley of St. Clair (16th, 28:17.03) qualified to compete along with Miss Elmore in the girls’ state meet.

The Saints will face competition from Springville freshman Josh Isley, who finished eighth in the sectional, with a time of 20:07.65.  The time was his personal record and more than two minutes less than his first meet finish this year, coach Jim Taylor said.

Moody sophomore Kyle Parker qualified for the Class 5A state meet, finishing the sectional race in 19:27.  “He’s cut three minutes off his time from the beginning of the year, so he has a lot of potential,” said coach Jason Birchfield.

Following is a schedule of when local runners will compete Saturday morning.

8:30 a.m.:  4A girls (Miss Elmore, Miss Talley)

9:30 a.m.:  4A boys (Graham, Isley, Armstrong, Symonds, Blackwood)

11:10 a.m.:  5A boys (Parker)

Also running at sectionals for St. Clair were Levi Dorsett, Josh Graham, Stephen Richards, Brad Phillips, and Trent McDaniel.

Alix McLaughlin, Christi Blankenship, Chloe Miller    Austin Marsh, Arizona Shaefer, Cameron, Elzy, and Bradley Bricker ran for Pell City in the 6A sectionals.