Gardendale’s girls cross country team and top runner Alexa Kauffman kept their season-long winning streak going, but had to survive a rare foul claim to do it and win the 19th annual Jefferson County Schools Cross country Championships on Oct. 22 at Mortimer Jordan.

A Corner runner claimed that she and Kauffman bumped an jostled on a turn in the last part of the five-kilometer course. However, there was not an official on that part of the course to observe any action, so after lengthy discussion with coaches and runners, the claim was withdrawn.

Kauffman has won every race she has run this season. Her winning time of 21:47 was 11 seconds better than runner-up Cheyenne Ponder of Center Point.

The Rockets easily took the team trophy with a score of 41 points, three points ahead of the Eagles. Corner placed third.

On the boys’ side, Luis Gonzalez of Pinson Valley took individual honors by finishing 38 seconds clear of second place, but that wasn’t enough for the Indians to take the team crown, as the Mounties took first place by just one point.

GIRLS

Teams: 1. Gardendale, 41 pts.; 2. Center Point, 44; 3. Corner, 70; 4. Shades Valley, 134; 5. Mortimer Jordan, 137; 6. Clay-Chalkville, 163.

Individuals: 1. Alexa Kauffman, Gardendale, 21:47; 2. Cheyenne Ponder, Center Point, 21:58; 3. Cristen Gant, Gardendale, 22:48; 4. Katie Grace Criswell, Corner, 22:50; 5. Savannah Greene, Mortimer Jordan, 22:59; 6. Bailey Blackmon, Corner, 23:14; 7. Payton McCaleb, Corner, 23:28.

BOYS

Teams: 1. Shades Valley, 59 pts.; 2. Pinson Valley, 60; 3. Center Point, 68; 4. Corner, 107; 5. Mortimer Jordan, 142; 6. Gardendale, 176; 7. Hueytown, 182; 7. Hueytown, 182; 8. Clay-Chalkville, 223; 9. Fultondale, 275.

Individuals: 1. Luis Gonzalez, Pinson Valley, 17:33; 2. Cam Humphrey, Shades Valley, 18:11; 3. Greg Thigpen, Shades Valley, 18:23; 4. Daniel McCain, Corner, 18:31; 5. Gregory Wilson, Center Point, 18:49; 6. Victor Larry, Pinson Valley, 18:51; 7. Nathan Wangs, Shades Valley, 18:52.