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Coach Tommy Smith congratulates first place winner sophomore Thomas McKnight. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral Cross Country Coach Tommy Smith congratulates senior Alex Monaghan for his third place finish. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral sophomore Thomas McKnight took first place in the state MAIS Division 5A cross country meet. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral senior Alex Monagan took third place overall in the state MAIS Division 5A cross country meet. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral Boys Varsity Cross Country team: From left, Owen Bertlesen, Alex Monagan, Chase Gamberi, Barrett Foster, Coach Tommy Smith, Matthew Verucchi, Tracen Cusic, Thomas McKnight, Eli Wilson, Michael Waycaster and Coach Patrick Vogt. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral JV Girls Cross Country team: Back row from left Kate Carlton, Reene Slover, Ella Moak, Adele Middleton, Molly McLemore, Tenley Wilson, Liza Kate James, Ava Moak. Front row from left, Alice Martin, Annie B. Maxwell, Caroline McKnight, Skylar Huff and Haley Burnsed. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson)

Cathedral JV Boys Cross Country team: From left, Rivers Atkins, Micah Bertlesen, John Zachary Wingfield, Jed Edwards, Ben Wagner, Jerry Roberts, Kyle Blanton and Jake Middleton. (Photo courtesy Amanda Wilson))

CLINTON — Cathedral School’s Varsity Boys took third place overall in the State Cross Country Division 5A meet Monday at Choctaw Trails on the campus of Mississippi College.

Sophomore Thomas McKnight took first place overall with a time of 17:49, earning All-State Honors.

Senior Alex Monagan took third place overall with a time of 18:30, also earning All-State Honors.

Cathedral Junior Varsity Girls took 5th place out of 17 teams in all MAIS Divisions 1A through 6A.

Cathedral Junior Varsity Boys earned 9th place out of 20 teams in all MAIS Divisions 1A through 6A.

Cathedral Cross Country Coach Tommy Smith said he was proud of his team’s hard work and effort regardless of the school’s state champion streak ending.

“This ends our streak of eight straight state titles,” Smith said. “That was a long run.

“I just feel like when you go that long, you have a lot of people trying to bring you down and get that spot.  We have a very tough division, 5A,” he said. “We did manage to take the first place individual title with Thomas McKnight and third place with Alex Monagan, our senior.

“All in all, it was a great year with a great bunch of kids. This is a very hard-working group of kids who are super tight-knit. This is a very family-oriented sport,” Smith said.

This year was Smith’s 13th year as Cathedral’s Cross Country coach. Patrick Vogt also coaches the team.

“It’s a passion. It’s about so much more than winning,” Smith said.

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