Alex Taylor has been getting the job done for Beal City’s cross country program in a major way.
He has been in six years of cross country counting two years of junior high.
“He’s been all-state all three years so far and first-team all-conference all three years,” Beal City coach Dave King said. “This year, he won our Beal City Invitational home meet. Taylor’s season best came with a 17:34.8 in the Clare Invitational. His first-place time at Beal City’s Invitational was 17:40.3.
Taylor had his personal record in 2017 with a 16:39.0 in the Alma College Scottie Classic. He went to the state meet and took 12th for all-state honors with a 16.47.6. He had been 11th at the state meet as a sophomore and 30th as a freshman.
“He’s determined to run really well this year,” King said. “He came out of track season with a little bit of a hip flexor injury so he got a slow start in the summer as he tried to heal that up a little bit. But he got his miles in during the summer as soon as he could. He’s been training hard this year and it’s starting to come together for him.”
The strength of Taylor’s race, King said, “has been his very good kick. Sometimes he goes out a little too fast. But he controls that. If he lets himself get carried away in the beginning, that hurts him a little. He’s been working on his pacing.”
During the winter, Taylor continues his training and runs track in the spring.