By Loyd McIntosh
Mountain Brook swept the 2025 AHSAA State Cross Country Championships in early November, winning both the boys and girls titles. It was the fifth consecutive title for both teams as they dominated the field at the Oakville Indian Mounds State Park Jesse Owens Course in Danville, Alabama.
The Mountain Brook girls team had three runners finish in the top 10 and compiled 36 team points, 48 points ahead of second-place Homewood’s 85 points (in cross country, the lowest score is the winner).
Junior Francesa Demarco finished second overall with a time of 18.44.77, eighth grader Anna Gibson Hamilton placed sixth with a time of 18.57.25, followed by senior Georgia Jayne Stuckey, who placed seventh with a time of 19.05.33.
Mountain Brook cross country head coach Michael McGovern says the title was in doubt when one of the Spartans’ top runners, Amelia White, was forced to drop out after becoming overheated and ill midway through the race on an uncharacteristically hot day. “We had an unfortunate incident where our number one runner was unable to finish, but the rest of the runners stepped up. It was just a real team effort beyond that,” McGovern says. “It was neat to see them, once they realized that we were going to be down a runner in the middle of the race, really step up their game.”
McGovern continues, “I’m gutted for Amelia, but I promise you, she will have some great races in the future. And Francesca Demarco finishing second, I wouldn’t in my wildest dreams have thought she was going to do that. That was an unbelievable performance by her.”
In the boys’ title race, the Spartans also had three runners finish in the top 10, scoring 44 points, ahead of second-place Homewood with 111 points. Senior Braden Little finished in second place overall with a time of 15.54.30, followed by junior Oliver Mange with a time of 16.06.22. and seventh-place finisher, sophomore William Morgan, with a time of 16.07.01.
“The guys put on a great performance. They were led by Braden Little, who closed super hard in the last thousand and finished second overall,” says McGovern. “It was an overall great team performance.”
McGovern says the titles are not just an accomplishment based on individual performances, but are a testament to the program’s desire for excellence. Additionally, with a deservedly earned reputation as the top 6A cross-country program in the state, McGovern says the teams’ performances are a testament to the athletes’ desire to continue the Mountain Brook dynasty.
“With the girls, we talked the night before that there is pressure with trying to continue streaks and being the favorites,” McGovern says. “It’s a privilege to have that pressure. Not many teams get those opportunities to contend for state championships.”
McGovern adds, “The boys kind of came in as a favorite, which is always a little bit nerve-wracking because, as I told them and they brought it up themselves, they had a target on their backs. A lot of people see us as the big bully, and I hate to say it, but when you win, that’s what happens.”
Vestavia Hills Boys win 7A Cross Country Championship
The Vestavia Hills boys cross country team won its third state 7A title in four years at the 2025 AHSAA State Cross Country Championships. Led by an experienced group of six seniors, Vestavia Hills head coach Katherine Terino says they have proven themselves to be among the elite runners in the state since their freshman year. “Those boys are very lucky to have gone to a state championship four years in a row and come home with hardware every single time because the one year we didn’t win, we were second,” Terino says. “They’re all really good friends with each other, which I think helps build a culture and camaraderie, and they’ve just been a part of a winning culture for a while, so they just want to keep it going.”
Five of the seniors finished in the top 15, earning a total score of 43 points, slightly ahead of second-place Hoover. The Rebels were led by Jackson Mize, who finished fourth overall with a time of 15.51.16. He was followed by Ethan Meadows in sixth place with a time of 15.56.37, and Mason Thompson in 10th place with a time of 16.01.43. In 11th and 12th place were Daniel Johnson and John Haynes, respectively.
The Rebels just missed out on a boys-girls sweep as the girls team finished just four points behind state champion Auburn.
