Calhoun County, AL – Conn, White Plains’ girls are back on top. After a an injury to knees, Williams leads Oxford back to win after crucial loss to graduation.
By Joe Medley
Graduation leaves White Plains’ Maddyn Conn with plenty of time to herself during the Thursday’s Calhoun County cross country meet But graduation wasn’t enough to knock Oxford’s athletes off the top.
The headlines were on the 2023 county championships, when Conn claimed her third county championship in four years. She won by a mere two minutes. This beat White Plains to the team championship.
Isaac Williams, back from an injury to his knee, led the field of boys as Oxford was home to at least four top-six finishers. Oxford also had all five runners scoring among the top 15.
Conn completed his race in 18 mins, 57.29 seconds, well ahead Oxford’s Emerson Maniscalco (20:40.44), and White Plains had 46 points in Oxford’s 62. Conn’s Yellow Jackets edged out defending champion Jacksonville who finished third by one point.
Williams was crowned in 17:04.98 to win his first county championship and beat his teammate Case Payne by nearly seven seconds. Oxford’s boys scored 28 points against White Plains’ 65.
Graduation was a possibility to be the biggest win for Oxford. The last time around, there are the best three performers for Oxford’s boys. Two-time winner Noah George, second-place finisher Evan Somers and sixth-place finisher Andrew Nordan.
The Oxford boys didn’t let that stop them. Alongside Williams Payne (17:11.40) and Williams Payne (17:11.40), Matt Tippets was fourth place in 17:42.71 while Phil Copeland was sixth in 17:57.52. Jack Houston also made All-County and finished 15th in 18:42.81.
“That comes back to paying attention to the players who might not be in the in the top five,” Oxford coach Landon Delozier stated. “Last year we had a lot of players, from four to nine, who were all competing for the top-five position, and we’re reaping the benefits of this.”
Williams was victorious despite being absent for three races because of what he described as “pretty terrible tendinitis” on his knee. He was treated for physical therapy in his down time.
“I’m not Noah George yet,” said the singer. “Coming from the injury and kicking off with this kind of feeling.”
The girls’ team lost the 2022 champion Oxford’s Katie Keur, the UAB signee who was one of Conn’s top athletes since Conn made his debut on the high school cross-country scene. In the same year, Conn also battled teammate Anna Strickland, now at Jacksonville State.
Conn, Keur and Strickland all appeared on the exact same course images in 2021. Conn and Keur participated in the race together last year.
There was no one who stayed near Conn during Thursday. Conn broke away from the crowd during the parade through the gallery. The closest company she worked for drove the leading four-wheeler.
Conn was able to glide through the finishing line, only to fell to the ground after putting herself through the roof so hard. After a few minutes of recovery at a bench nearby Conn returned to her finish line cheer her teammates across.
“I’m extremely happy for our team,”” she added. “We did have a few players who eventually broke the 23.”
Five White Plains runners made All-County Thursday. Abbie Dickeson (21:09.36) placed fifth, Koralys Garcia (22:04.19) 11th, Kate Reeves (22:44.96) 14th and Shelby Wilkins (23:01.36) 15th.
White Plains’ girls avenged last year’s defeat to Jacksonville and defeated the previous title Wildcats 52-55.
“The girls have been working hard throughout the season long,” White Plains coach Chase Cotton stated. “Jacksonville took us last year there, but they sort were thinking about it in their mind. They really really wanted to do it today..”
2023 Calhoun County XC Meet
At McClellan
BOYS
Team scores: 1. Oxford 28 2. White Plains 65, 3. Pleasant Valley 97, 4. Alexandria 102, 5. Donoho 130, 6. Piedmont 166, 7. Jacksonville 206, 8. Ohatchee 229 9. Saks 235, 10. Faith Christian 237.
Top 15 finalists
All-County
1. Isaac Williams (Oxford) 17:04.98
2. Case Payne (Oxford) 17:11.40
3. Jayden Veazey (Pleasant Valley) 17:39.71
4. Matt Tippets (Oxford) 17:42.71
5. Christian Sotelo (White Plains) 17:43.03
6. Phil Copeland (Oxford) 17:57.52
7. Braxton Williams (Pleasant Valley) 18:21.61
8. Caden Birchfield (Alexandria) 18:26.42
9. Alexandria Boling (Alexandria) 18:30.94
10. Jaiden Gacia (White Plains) 18:33.93
11. Cameron Rogers (Faith Christian) 18:35.38
12. Hunter Hartwell (Donoho) 18:35.89
13. Riley Hunter (White Plains) 18:38.80
14. Riley Goodson (Donoho) 18:39.44
15. Jack Houston (Oxford) 18:42.81
GIRLS
Team scores: 1. White Plains 46, 2. Oxford 62 3. Jacksonville 63, 4. Alexandria 84, 5. Piedmont 133 6. Pleasant Valley 159, 7. Saks 199.
Top 15 finishers
All-County
1. Maddyn Conn (White Plains) 18:57.29
2. Emerson Maniscalco (Oxford) 20:40.44
3. Aubrey Williford (Oxford) 20:48.87
4. Emma Easterling (Jacksonville) 21:06.75
5. Abbie Dickeson (White Plains) 21:09.36
6. JoJo Watson (Alexandria) 21:11.96
7. Kammy Buchanan (Alexandria) 21:13.59
8. Addison Williford (Oxford) 21:35.68
9. Mattie Todd (Piedmont) 21:41.88
10. Maddie Holt (Jacksonville) 21:50.40
11. Koralys Garcia (White Plains) 22:04.19
12. Gracie Easterling (Jacksonville) 22:13.16
13. Claudia Dempsey (Piedmont) 22:33.89
14. Kate Reeves (White Plains) 22:44.96
15. Shelby Wilkins (White Plains) 23:01.36
