Knights enter season as certified contenders

The 2016-2017 school year proved a banner period for the Westminster School at Oak Mountain cross-country and track and field program. 

Last November, the Lady Knights captured their first state cross-country title in school history, taking the Class 1A-2A trophy in landslide fashion. They had finished second the previous two years. 

The Westminster boys, on the other hand, waited until the spring to claim their championship. At the Class 1A state outdoor track and field meet in May, the Knights won their first-ever state title behind the strength of a deep distance squad. Nate Collins, then a junior, took first place in three events: the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200- meter runs. 

But the summer now stands between the Westminster teams and their previous accomplishments. This fall, they’ll look to parlay past success into the new season. 

Head cross-country coach Leslie Callahan said she feels confident that will happen. 

“We train to be in contention,” said Callahan, who enters her sixth year at Westminster. “Everything that’s in our power we’re going to do to be in contention. How it shakes out that day is to be determined.”

The Westminster boys, who finished third at the 2016 state cross-country meet, bring back five of their top six runners from a season ago. Freshman Hunter Wright should help pave the way up front. He finished sixth at state as an eighth-grader and holds a 5K personal best of 17 minutes, 3 seconds. 

The team also will benefit from the addition of Collins, who transferred to Westminster midway through last school year. John Porterfield, Pierce Moffett, Campbell Lemons and Cooper Reynolds should all contribute heavily to the team’s lead group. 

“I am really excited about the boys because they trained so well together this summer,” Callahan said. “They are packing up and figuring out how to train together, so it makes me excited to see them race together.” 

The Westminster girls lost their team leader in Maddie Hoaglund, a five-time All-State performer in cross-country. Hoaglund graduated and is now running collegiately at Washington and Lee University. 

But Hoaglund’s departure, along with that of 2017 graduate Camryn Neal, doesn’t mean that Callahan is lowering her expectations for the season. 

“They will be missed, but as far as talent, everybody is filling in,” she said. “Everybody’s doing their part.”

Sarah Kate Lipperd, a senior, is leading the way. She placed seventh at last year’s state meet and enters the season with a 5K personal best of 20:10. She’ll be joined in the team's top pack by Hallie Porterfield, Camilla Lemons, Arden McCullough, Katie Hoaglund and Rachel Faulk.  

Callahan said she thinks this squad has what it takes to defend its title. 

“We’re going to do everything we can,” she said. “That’s the goal.”