PCS cross country dynasty rolls on in 2011

It’s safe to call Presbyterian Christian School cross country a dynasty.

After the girls have won four straight MAIS state titles and the boys have secured three of the last four, both sides are back for more in 2011.

“I think we’ve got an outstanding shot to win both, barring injury or complication,” head coach Wayne Williams said.

“I’d like to think it’s because of my coaching, but it’s not. You’ve just got kids that want to do well, have some ability and have some success, and that creates more success.”

Williams is a 48-year coaching veteran, including 10 years at Southern Miss and 21 at Alabama.  This is his fifth year as a volunteer coach for the Bobcats, and he expects more of the same — winning.

The girls will have to do that without their No. 1 runner, Madeline Campbell. After a tremendous high school career in both cross country and track, she has moved on. But the Lady Bobcats return their next seven runners, and that should allow a seamless transition post Campbell.

The boys face a similar situation, returning nine of their top 10, including top runner Walker Stayer. They do have an important piece currently nursing a knee injury, though.

“Barring anything like that (injury),” Williams said, “I told them I think we’ve got a good chance to repeat again. We have a good, good returning group.”

Stayer will headline that unit, and the only thing standing — or running — between him and a state title may be the return of a couple top contenders at Jackson Academy and Parklane Academy.

“Walker Stayer is really motivated and pushing hard this summer,” Williams said. “He’s done a lot of mileage and he will be right there.”

If the Lady Bobcats are already a dynasty, they are one that shows no signs of ending. The team is highlighted by underclassmen, and should return the top six or seven runners next year.

Lilly Waites, a junior, sets the pace, sliding into the No. 1 spot with the departure of Campbell.

“Lilly is one I really should count on,” Williams said. “She gave up soccer to concentrate on cross country.

“Since she’s been there before, I think she should be the one to set the tempo. But I have two or three right in behind her.”

That next group consists of Ramsay Stayer, Camille Azar, Margaret Campbell — younger sister of Madeline — and Kennedy Curtis.

Stayer is a future star, already a top-four state finisher twice despite being only an eighth-grader. She notched that pair of finishes the past two years.

“That’s an unusual situation,” Williams said. “In a couple more years I’m predicting that she’s going to be an outright state champion.”

The young runners aren’t just the future, they’re the key to keeping the PCS cross country program on top.

“We need to keep sixth and seventh graders coming into the program,” Williams said. “They can stay with it, have a couple years to mature a little bit and move right in. I feel like the development is good. Each year they tend to get a little bit better.”

Presbyterian Christian School opens the season on Saturday at the Oak Grove Invitational at Oak Grove High School at 9 a.m.

ROSTER
BOYS
Seniors
Luke Archer, Zach Girod.

Juniors
John Brahan, Harrison Gunter, Garner Robinson, Griffin St. Louis, Walker Stayer.

Sophomores
Ian Burt, Colby Goggans, Alex Jones.

Freshmen
Matthew Futrell, Owen Gartman, John Michael Gory, John Gabe Robinson.

Eighth Grade
Jackson Benton, Ryan Lunceford, Trace Walters.

GIRLS
Seniors
Harley Felsher.

Juniors
Camille Azar, Kennedy Curtis, Lilly Waites.

Freshmen
Abbie Barker, Lucy Burnam, Margaret Campbell, Alex Pittman, Sumner Stayer.

Eighth Grade
Madison Baylis, Ramsay Stayer.

Seventh Grade
Caroline Kuyrkendall, Meredith McDonald.

Sixth Grade
Ame Block, Grace Lindsay, Kaitlyn Reeves, Hailey Workman.

SCHEDULE
August
20—at Oak Grove Invitational, 9 a.m.; 27—PCS Legacy 5K, 8 a.m.; 29—at Jackson Academy Invitational, Choctaw Trails, 3 p.m.

September
2—USM, Tatum Soccer Complex, 3 p.m.; 12—PCS Invitational, Tatum Soccer Complex; 19—at Prep Invitational, Choctaw Trails.

October
3—at M.C. Invitational, Choctaw Trails; 11—at Columbia Invitataional; 24—at MAIS State Meet, Columbia Trails, TBA.
All meets begin at 4 p.m. unless noted.