Next time you joke about cheerleaders, realize that some are pretty good athletes.

Four members of Gardendale’s cheer squad also run cross country, and their strong finished helped the Rockets to a boys-girls sweep in a regular-season cross country meet Thursday at Mortimer Jordan.

Miller Wood won his second race of the year for the boys, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 17:22. He was more than 300 meters ahead of Alex Gililand of Oneonta, who finished second.

The Rockets placed three runners in the top 10 of the nine-team event, and edged out Hueytown by nine points. Jordan placed fourth, and Fultondale was seventh.

On the girls’ side, the Blue Devils’ Haylie McCleney won by a wide margin with a time of 24:06. Gardendale freshman Hannah Haygood was second, and with teammate Hannah Glen Traweek finishing eighth, the Rockets outpaced runner-up Hueytown by 41 points. Jordan was third.

Most of the teams will compete again Tuesday in a meet at Pinson Valley.

Full results:

BOYS: 1. Gardendale, 51 points; 2. Hueytown, 60; 3. Oneonta, 68; 4. Mortimer Jordan, 76; 5. Clay-Chalkville, 119; 6. Erwin, 172; 7. Fultondale, 222. Individuals: 1. Miller Wood (Gard), 17:22; 2. Alex Gililand (On); 3. Zac Bonds (Huey); 4. John Craft (C-C); 5. Jonathan Hubauer (On); 6. Hunter Hayes (Huey); 7. Gatlin Holland (MJ); 8. DeAndre Price (C-C); 9. Chase Downes (Gard); 10. Zac Nichols (Gard).

GIRLS: 1. Gardendale, 52; 2. Hueytown, 93; 3. Mortimer Jordan, 112; 4. Erwin, 121; 5. Shades Valley, 131. Individuals: Haylie McCleney (MJ), 24:06; 2. Hannah Haygood (Gard); 3. Haleigh Lott (Huey); 4. Taylor Doriety (Huey); 5. Carissa Reeves (Corner); 6. Daija Gregory (Erwin); 7. Cayla Corbin (SV); 8. Hannah Glen Traweek (Gard); 9. Lucy Kellough (C-C) 10. Miranda Mask (MJ).