North Teams Sweep First North-South All-Star Meet

The North cross country squads secured victories over the South teams in Montgomery this week.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Track & Field

North Teams Sweep First North-South All-Star Meet

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The North girls and boys cross country teams emerged victorious in the inaugural North-South All-Star competition held at Auburn University-Montgomery. Cross country was officially added to the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) all-star slate for the first time this year.

Why it matters

This competition marks a new expansion for the AHSAA, bringing top-tier talent from across the state together for a structured postseason event. The inclusion of the sport underscores a growing emphasis on high-level regional athletics.

In the 3.1-mile races, the North girls finished 20-35 and the North boys finished 16-47. Grace Jensen led the girls at 20:02.89, while John McCrackin took the boys' top spot with a 17:27.81 finish.

The players

Grace Jensen

She earned MVP honors for the North girls team after winning the race with a time of 20:02.89.

Sydney Steely

She was named an MVP for the North girls team after completing the race in 20:40.82.

John McCrackin

He secured MVP honors for the North boys team by finishing the race in 17:27.81.

Dawson Oliver

He earned MVP honors for the North boys team with a final race time of 17:50.36.

AHSAA

The Alabama High School Athletic Association is the governing body that organizes athletic programs and championships for students across the state.

The details

The North teams dominated by securing the top individual placements across both races at the Auburn University-Montgomery course. Grace Jensen, Sydney Steely, John McCrackin, and Dawson Oliver each received MVP honors for their standout performances.

The competition took place on October 28, 2026.

Season Trajectory

The introduction of cross country into the inaugural AHSAA all-star competition signals an expansion of the state's postseason athletic structure. This shift elevates the regional profile of the sport by providing a new high-stakes environment for top-tier student athletes.

Athletes and coaches can utilize these results to gauge the current competitive balance between North and South regions for future recruitment and roster development. The event serves as a new benchmark for cross country performance metrics within the Alabama high school system.

The takeaway

The successful integration of cross country into the all-star circuit provides a new milestone for Alabama student athletes to aim for in their final years. Future participants should track qualifying criteria as the association continues to build out its postseason schedule.