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Cathedral High School’s Jalen McCoy, 111, leads the runners of the MAIS AAA boys Cross Country State Championship Tuesday afternoon at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College. McCoy finished second, while Cathedral’s Ryan Skates, right, finished fourth. (Photo Courtesy of Bill Barksdale)

Jalen McCoy, a senior at Cathedral High School took second place at the 2017 MAIS AAA Cross Country State Championship Tuesday at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College. (Photo Courtesy of Bill Barksdale)

Cathedral's Cade Miller took ninth place at the MAIS AAA Cross Country State Championship Tuesday at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College. (Photo Courtesy of Bill Barksdale)

Cathedral's Ryan Skates earned fourth place at the MAIS AAA Cross Country State Championship Tuesday at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College. (Photo Courtesy of Bill Barksdale)

Cathedral’s Hayes Daly takes a slight lead over Kirk Academy’s Chase Rose during the race Tuesday. (Photo Courtesy of Bill Barksdale)

CLINTON — The Cathedral High School boys cross country team won its second consecutive MAIS AAA state championship Tuesday afternoon with a final score of 36 points after running at Choctaw Trails at Mississippi College.

The Green Wave beat out second place finisher Kirk Academy who scored 45 points.

Cathedral had its first five runners place within the top 15, led by senior Jalen McCoy who placed second individually.

Ryan Skates finished fourth, Hayes Daly finished seventh and Cade Miller finished ninth to earn MAIS All-State honors alongside McCoy.

Zehlin Cornette finished 14th, while Will Vaughn came in 16th individually for Cathedral.

“It was close — a really strong effort by Kirk Academy. They put up a good race,” Cathedral coach Tommy Smith said. “The weather was perfect, except it was pretty windy. They really did a fabulous job.”

The Cathedral boys finished its season with five wins and one second-place finish at MAIS cross country meets.

After placing second overall two years ago and then claiming last year’s state title, Smith said he couldn’t think of a better way to end this year’s dedication.

“I don’t think anybody could ask for a better season,” he said. “It was rock solid. They really understood why they put in the work we did. After doing it back to back, I don’t have to make them buy in. They know it now.”

Cathedral girls placed sixth overfall as a team.

For the Lady Green Wave, Gracie Foster earned all-state honors by placing ninth individually in the girls race. 

Adams County Christian School girls placed ninth overall as a team.

In MAIS Class A action, Trinity Episcopal placed third overall as a team.

Parker Robinson led the team with an eighth place finish individually.

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