Cullman Area Athletes participate in running camp

Sweltering Alabama temperatures in the high 90’s did not  hamper thirty-seven young athletes at the St. Bernard “A Step Ahead” Running Camp.  Athletes recently finished three weeks of running camp with an emphasis on promoting good racing techniques and strategies.

St Bernard coaches, William Calvert and Stephen Calvert as well as Mason Dye of Cullman High School have spent the past three weeks leading workouts and running in the early morning hours training student athletes on the wooded trails of St. Bernard.  Dr. Eric Fillinger, DPM also assisted as a camp instructor.

“We have put a lot of work into these trails, and are happy that coaches from the county have trusted us with their athletes and allowed them to participate in the running camp,” Coach William Calvert said.   

Attending the camp on the last day before the July 4^th Holiday was Palee Myrex of Cold Springs.  Myrex, a former student of SBP Coach William Calvert, is currently attending the University of Alabama where she is a member of the UA Track Team.  

“Always be a motivator for someone else,”  Myrex said to runners.  “When I first started running, I remember setting goals for myself.  I just wanted to win a t-shirt, then I wanted to win a race and be done, but after winning state title I was on top of the world.”  Her journey continues at the University of Alabama where she recently ran the 5K with a time of 17:43 and was an SEC Championship qualifier.

Myrex was pleased to see such an interest in young athletes.  When speaking with students just before awards, Myrex said, “You are very fortunate to have access to these awesome trails.  Keep taking advantage of them, but most importantly listen to your coaches and to yourself.”

‘A Step Ahead’ awards were presented to the top male and female athletes running the 5K and 2 mile races.  St. Bernard’s Steven Mami captured the first place male spot with a time of 19:40; Logan Ayers, also from St. Bernard, took the first place female spot with a time of 22:37.  Second Place was claimed by Cullman’s Devin Hall 20:13 and St. Bernard’s  Ayleana Mami 22:42.  Third place went to Cullman’s Nicholas Fillinger 20:17 and Megan Pendley 25:54.  Finishing in fourth was St. Bernard’s Oscar Perez 21:46 and fifth place was Fairview’s Reese Walker with a time of 22:32.

The two-mile male and female  ‘A Step Ahead’ awards were as follows:  1^st place Graham Sanders 15:05 and  Leah Rose Mami 17:29.  Both winners are St. Bernard Middle School students.  Second place finishers were Cullman sixth grader Elijah Miller 15:06 and St. Bernard’s Cailin O’Donnell 17:38.  Third place was awarded to Cullman’s Emily Little.

The camp will resume after the July 4^th Holiday with practice sessions on Monday and Thursday mornings until August 2.