Cross country: Mortimer Jordan boys edge Oneonta

Published 7:13 am Monday, October 24, 2011

Mortimer Jordan’s boys cross country team won yeat another regular-season race, but this time it was close.

Oneonta, led by individual winner Alex Gilliland, placed four runners in the top 10, but Jordan took four of the top six spots to beat the Redskins by 13 points.

The Blue Devils led the seven-team field with 28 points. Clay-Chalkville was a distant third, Gardendale fifth and Fultondale seventh.

Ben Barnett of Jordan was second, 40 seconds behind Gilliland’s winning time of 16:49 over the five-klometer course at Pinson Valley High. Shaw Cornelius of Oneonta was third.

Gilliland’s time was six seconds off the course record, which he holds.

Only one girls team, Shades Valley, fielded enough runners to score. Individually, Fultondale’s Mayda Alcantara won with a time of 22:42. Lindsey Williams of Jordan was fifth.

The race was the last regular-season event of the season. Next Tuesday, Jordan will host the Jefferson County Schools Championship.

BOYS: 1. Mortimer Jordan, 28; 2. Oneonta, 41; 3. Clay-Chalkville, 104; 4. Pinson Valley, 123; 5. Gardendale, 138; 6. Leeds, 145; 7. Fultondale, 169. Individuals: 1. Alex Gilliland (One), 16:49; 2. Ben Barnett (MJ), 17:29; 3. Shaw Cornelius (One), 18:07; 4. Gatlin Holland (MJ), 18:20; 5. Michael Carter (MJ), 18:36; 6. Daniel Barnett, 18:38.

GIRLS: 1. Shades Valley (by default). Individuals: 1. Mayda Aloantara (Fultondale), 22:42; 2. Ruthie Thomas (CC), 24:01; 3. Claire Kellough (CC), 24:41; 4. Abby Duchock (CC), 24:49; 5. Lindsey Williams (MJ), 25:02; 6. Ivy Martin (SV) 25:06.