By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – Noah George had just hit the tape in the Waffle House Invitational for his first career cross-country win and now he was ready for the next big thing.
“Lots of recovery and being able to eat something really nice,” he said.
At the race’s title sponsor, perhaps?
The Oxford junior won the boys race in a time of 16:58.92 and after starting to get separation about a mile into it won by nearly a minute over runner-up Matthew Womack of team champion Oak Mountain. Munford’s Dakota Frank was third (17:54.27).
He became the first Calhoun County runner to win the boys Waffle House since Alexandria’s Lane Trapp in 2915 and the first Yellow Jacket since Alec Young went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.
“It feels really good,” he said. “I feel like this past summer I worked really hard for it. It feels really good to accomplish it.”
As he approached the finish line his thoughts turned to his late grandfather, J.D. George, who passed away in April and was one of his biggest supporters.
“He always pushed me and wanted me to get wins and go to state,” George said.
How ironic was it that a guy named Noah got his first win in the rain?
“It was one of the more fun experiences in my life simply because he’s worked so hard,” Jackets coach Landon Delozier said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen a person work so hard to achieve something and never give up on his desire for a goal … For him to finally bring home his first first-place finish in cross country is just outstanding and I know he was over the moon for it.”
Oak Mountain swept the boys and girls team titles. The boys had three of the next four finishers behind George and the girls put all five of their counters in the top 10. Catholic-Montgomery’s Catherine Aaron won the girls race.
Oxford finished second in the boys race, with first-time runner Evan Somers and veteran Josue Alvarez finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. The Oxford girls were fourth, two points out of third, with Katie Keur and Emerson Maniscalco finishing fifth and sixth.
WAFFLE HOUSE INVITATIONAL
At Choccolocco Park
BOYS
Team scores: Oak Mountain 30, Oxford 43, Catholic Montgomery 96, Donoho 129, Horseshoe Bend 141, Piedmont 174, Holtville 189,
Top 10: Noah George, Oxford, 16:58.92; Matthew Womack, Oak Mountain, 17:48.22; Dakota Frank, Munford, 17:54.27; Josh Stidfole, Oak Mountain, 18:15.28; Jack Rodgers, Oak Mountain, 18:31.03; Evan Somers, Oxford, 18:55.68; Josue Alvarez, Oxford, 19:07.64; Bennett Phillips, Oak Mountain, 19:09.54; Henry Skala, Catholic, 19:11.98; David Layfield, Horseshoe Bend, 19:21.88.
GIRLS
Team scores: Oak Mountain 26, Catholic Montgomery 57, Holtville 87, Oxford 89, Horseshoe Bend 100, Saks 176.
Top 10: Catherine Aaron, Catholic, 20:44.85; Faith Scardino, Oak Mountain, 21:05.41; Elise Picard, Indian Springs, 21:09.83; Lauren Cole, Oak Mountain, 21:30.48; Katie Keur, Oxford, 22:25.51; Emerson Maniscalco, Oxford, 23:07.72; Katie Wright, Oak Mountain, 23:26.22; Mary Spina, Oak Mountain, 23:46.44; Hayley Datema, Oak Mountain, 23:49.50; Ellis O’Connor, Catholic, 24:24.13.
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