COLD SPRINGS — There are only three things certain in the world — death, taxes and Cold Springs notching the Cullman County girls cross country meet title.

The Eagles nabbed five of the top-eight spots in the annual event, including a first-place mark from seventh-grader Sadie Terry (21:52) and a solid runner-up finish from eighth-grader Ashleigh White (22:29), en route to the program’s ninth straight crown on Monday.

“We had a good, hard work week and a brutal practice that Monday,” coach Clay Campbell said. “They got through all of that, and it gave them confidence. I’m really proud of all the young kids and my seniors. They ran hard.”

Emily Campbell (fourth, 23:09), Alyssa Jackson (seventh, 23:53) and Abi Burrow (eighth, 24:09) rounded out the Cold Springs’ contributors in respective 20- and 45-point victories over county-foes Fairview and Vinemont.

While Campbell and Burrow ran their last county meets as members of the Blue and Gold, Terry unleashed a dynamite performance in her first year with the team. Not a bad way for the humble youngster to get noticed early.

“It feels amazing, but I still have a lot of work to do,” she said. “I owe it all to God, my coaches and my teammates. I couldn’t do any of this without them. We do everything we are doing together.”

Campbell, who came up the ranks as a seventh-grader for Cold Springs as well, said she sees a lot in Terry and is glad she can pass the torch onward to the next generation.

Even if it’s a little bittersweet.

“It’s good, but it’s kind of sad,” she said. “I started crying before our race because I was so nervous. But I did OK, and the team won again, so it was pretty good. Sadie has really been working hard for this. If I couldn’t have won this meet, then I would have wanted it to be her. She’s going to be a really good runner.”

The Aggies’ top five were Kelsi Davis (third, 22:51); Kennedy Chambers (sixth, 23:36), August Stancil (11th, 24:56); America Diaz (14th, 25:24); and Alexus Lindsey (15th, 25:37).

The Eagles’ top five were Sydney Dodson (19th, 26:14); Leigh Ann Smithson (26th, 30:49), Lucy Priess (28th, 31:34); Abby Priess (31st, 34:45) and Bailey Thomas (32nd, 35:51).

West Point’s Abby Wilson (fifth, 23:24); Holly Pond’s Katie Burnham (ninth, 24:16) and Good Hope’s Heather Middleton (25:08) were the top individuals for their respective schools.

With St. Bernard’s annual Oktoberfest coming up Saturday and all-important sectional meets just two weeks away, it was certainly a good time for the Lady Eagles to grab all the confidence and momentum they could on Monday.

After all, a state title is the goal.

“I think we can do it and get there,” Terry said. “We will just have to put in the hard work and get to the top. If I was really able to help our team get to state as a seventh-grader, it just would be an indescribable feeling.”

Regardless of what happens the rest of the year, Campbell finds himself in a pretty enviable position. He will lose a pair of talented seniors, but the running cupboard is stocked full of talent so rich even a seasoned coach like him isn’t worried.

“Hopefully they’ll keep on that,” he said of the future. “We have been blessed, and we want to keep building this up. I’m helped in this success by people like Tony Crider, other staff and the parents who take their kids to and from practice for me to coach them. We love it here.”

Hanceville’s girls took down Holly Pond and Vinemont to win the junior varsity crown. The Bulldogs (23 points) doubled up the Broncos (50) and the Eagles (55).

In order, All-County JV runners were Tess Brown and Malia Howell, Hanceville; Logan Chambers, Holly Pond; Bailey Preiss, Vinemont; Morgan Yglesias, Hanceville; Kristen Campbell, Holly Pond; Jade Hollingsworth and Dulce Daniel, Hanceville; Maggie Miasek, Vinemont; Ashley Lyons, Hanceville; Taylor Stallings and Kara Hollis, Holly Pond; Gracie Whitehead, Vinemont; Julee Turner, Good Hope; and Dara Hand, Vinemont.