Baxter, Perry top prep cross-country Super 7 list

Photos | submitted by UMS -Wright and Baker

Joseph Perry of UMS -Wright Preparatory School is the Coastal Alabama Male Runner of the Year.
Lindsey Baxter of Baker High is the Coastal Alabama Female Runner of the Year.

High school coaches in Mobile and Baldwin counties have met to name an All-Region cross-country team, otherwise known as the “Super 7.” The Coastal Alabama Male Runner of the Year is senior Joseph Perry of UMS-Wright Preparatory School, while sophomore Lindsey Baxter of Baker High is the Female Runner of the Year.

“This was the most competitive season ever for cross-country, both across the state and in Mobile and Baldwin counties,” John Brigham, the head boys’ cross-country coach at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, told Lagniappe.

“Bayside Academy’s boys and girls both won state championships at the 4A level. Bayshore Christian’s boys won the state championship at the 1A-2A level. UMS-Wright’s boys and girls both earned runner-up trophies in 5A. And St. Paul’s boys earned the runner-up trophy in 7A.”

This made the selection of the all-star team very difficult this year.

“All seven members of this year’s boys’ Super 7 team were under 16 [minutes] at the state championship meet,” Brigham said. “As far as I know, that has never happened before. 

“We had girls in our area who ran well under 20 [minutes] at the state championship meet but didn’t make the Super 7 team, because of how far the bar has been raised. Making this year’s Super 7 team truly makes you one of the elite runners in our state.”

Perry was the Class 5A individual state champion. He has a season-best time of 15:12 for 5,000 meters (4:53 per mile for 3.1 miles). Perry is an AP (Advanced Program) Scholar. He was also the Coastal Alabama Male Runner of the Year in 2019.

“I am very happy with my performances this cross-country season,” Perry said. “I initially set three goals: to win state, to break 15 minutes in the 5K and lastly, to make the Eastbay South Team for Nationals. I have accomplished the first and hopefully will have a very good shot at the other two at the Eastbay Regionals.” (He went on to finish 48th on Nov. 27 at 15:51.)

Baxter won the Mobile County Championship and finished fourth in the Class 7A State Championship Meet. Her season-best time was 18:49 for 5,000 meters (6:03 per mile for 3.1 miles). The Class 6A-7A Mobile Optimist Club Runner of the Year was undefeated in local meets.

“This season I didn’t quite reach all of my goals, but I did get to lead the younger girls on the team and that is an accomplishment to me,” Baxter said. “One of the things I enjoyed was watching the younger girls develop into great runners, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future.”

Completing the girls’ roster

• Delaney Hart, a junior from Fairhope High School: season-best time of 20:16 for 5,000 meters, Baldwin County Champion, finished 43rd at the 7A State Championships, All-Baldwin County, finished third at the 7A Section 1 Championships, led the Lady Pirates to a runner-up team finish at the Baldwin County Championships.
• Josie McDonald, a sophomore from Saraland High School: season-best time of 20:18 for 5,000 meters, sixth place at the Mobile County Championships, winner of the Mobile Challenge of Champions Open Division, finished 35th at the 6A State Championships, involved in several clubs and organizations at Saraland High, class representative, plays varsity soccer and basketball.
• Annie Midyett, a freshman from Bayside Academy: season-best time of 18:59 for 5,000 meters, third at the Baldwin County Championships, won the 4A State Championship, the Lady Admirals won their final five races of the season including the Baldwin County Championships and the state meet, was the 4A-5A Mobile Optimist Club Runner of the Year.
• Claire Mostellar, a seventh-grader from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School: season-best time of 19:14 for 5,000 meters, third place at Mobile County Championships, 15th place at 6A State Championships, also a member of the Yellow Jackets’ swim and dive team and their middle school basketball team.
• Elizabeth Porr, a junior from McGill-Toolen: season-best time of 19:31 for 5,000 meters, third place at the Mobile County Championships, 19th place at the 6A State Championships, 4.64 GPA, Aquinas student (taking all honors and AP courses), Student Ambassador.
• Audrey Kate Smith, a freshman from St. Paul’s: season-best time of 19:33 for 5,000 meters, Mobile County runner-up, finished 22nd at the 7A State Championships, Headmaster’s List student, Student Government Association (SGA).

Completing the boys’ roster

• Davis Amare, a senior from Fairhope High School: season-best time of 15:50 for 5,000 meters, Baldwin County Champion, eighth place at 7A State Championship meet, Baldwin County champion in the 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter freestyle for swimming, Harvard Book Award recipient, senior class president, National Merit semi-finalist.
• Mac Conwell, a junior from St. Paul’s: season-best time of 15:16 for 5,000 meters, Mobile County Champion, second at 7A State Championships, undefeated in local competition this season, Class 6A-7A Mobile Optimist Club Runner of the Year, Key Club, Headmaster’s List student.
• Noah Epker, a senior from St. Paul’s: season-best time of 15:59 for 5,000 meters, fifth place at Mobile County Championships, 14th place at 7A State Championships, vice president of the Key Club, serves in the SGA, founder and president of the Film Club, team captain, led the Saints to their third consecutive county championship, second-place finish at the state meet.
• Charles Perry, a sophomore from UMS-Wright: season-best time of 15:26 for 5,000 meters, third place at Mobile County Championships, third place at the 5A State Championship meet, winner of the Daphne Invitational, helped the Bulldogs to a second-place finish as a team in the 5A state championship meet, Key Club, 10th-grade class vice president.
• William Porr, a freshman from McGill-Toolen: season-best time of 15:50 for 5,000 meters, McGill-Toolen’s school record holder in the 5,000 meters, 11th place at the Mobile County Championships, eighth place at the 6A State Championships, Porr is an Aquinas student (taking all honors and AP courses), won the Henry E. Reimer scholarship for scoring the highest on McGill-Toolen’s placement test.
• Stone Smith, a junior from St. Paul’s: season-best time of 15:42 for 5,000 meters, second place at Mobile Challenge of Champions Invite, fourth place at Mobile County Championships, third place at 7A State Championships, 11th-grade class president, Key Club, Headmaster’s List student.