Aubrey Britt is a champion — again. On Monday the Loyd Star freshman cross country phenom took her second straight MHSAA 2A state title with a time of 20 minutes flat. Britt was 15 seconds ahead of her closest competition, Mia Card of Baldwyn.

The win was 50 seconds faster than the race that Britt ran in 2017 to win her first state title.

The course at Choctaw Trails was muddy and wet from a storm system that crossed through the area Sunday and lingered into Monday morning.

Britt didn’t wear any special spikes or change much about how she runs. She broke early with Card from Baldwyn and they stayed on pace with each other throughout much of the race. Britt pulled away in a sprint as the duo climbed the final steep hill that preceded the finish line at Choctaw Trails.

Britt runs with her team during weekly practices and usually keeps pace with the boys on the team. She runs on trails and roads around her house and school. She doesn’t do any track workouts because the Hornets don’t have one.

Her success is built on countless miles pounded out on the pavement and woods of northwestern Lincoln County.

“She runs over 100 miles during the summer and during the school year she practices three days a week,” said Loyd Star cross country coach Michelle Case. “She does a one-mile jog, does strength training with weights, and then runs three to four miles. If it’s a Saturday that we don’t have a meet, then she does a longer run.”

Self-discipline — an essential trait for anyone who hopes to excel as a runner— is something the young Britt has in spades.

“She’s got an incredible amount of self-discipline and self-motivation,” said Case. “She’s never going to quit, and her mentality is to always give everything she’s got.”

Does winning get old for this young runner?

“No,” said Britt. “I want to win it again next year with a time under 20 minutes.”

Britt is the daughter of Casey and Stacey Britt.

Eighth grader Kara Beth Addison (24:22) finished in 17th place and junior Marlee Gunnell (25:49) was the top Enterprise finisher in 26th place.

Other finishers for West Lincoln included seventh grader Ashland Watts (25:59), seventh grader Lasadria Stewart (26:09), senior Georganna Allen (28:47), seventh grader Lari Reed (28:55), freshman Brooke Lewis (29:19), and senior Emilee Leake (29:31). The Lady Bears finished seventh in the 12-team field.

Enterprise runners included junior Shauna Hewitt (26:36), senior Amber Wyland (30:44), junior Callie McCullough (32:13), seventh grader Carmin Banks (36:54), and seventh grader Adelia Nations (37:01).

Freshman Wednesday Warren (32:42) and eighth grader Charleigh Barras (32:58) joined Britt on the Loyd Star team.

On the boys’ side the West Lincoln Bears made an impressive showing as they finished in third place as a team out of a 16-school field.

Sophomore Tiler Castillo was the second overall finisher with a time of 18:14, which was seven seconds back from the winner, Thomas Floyd of Ingomar High.

“Tiler and Jonathan really got after it,” said West Lincoln coach Greg Allen. “Proud of all of them and we’re really going to miss the nine seniors we’re losing.”

Senior Jonathan Mathis (18:38) finished in fourth for West Lincoln and was followed by fellow Running Bears freshman Chase Spring (19:54), senior Trevor Murray (19:56), senior Nathan Gray (19:56), junior Ashtin Castillo (20:12), and freshman Landon Burgess (20:12).

Senior Tucker Hoeniges (20:34) was the top Loyd Star finisher. Other Hornet competitors included junior Roberto Galindo (21:35), junior Stephen Mills (21:42), junior Leondre Dodds (21:45), seventh grader Nathan Mills (24:25), seventh grader Justin Lovins (27:50), and sophomore Luis Benividez (28:59).

Runners for Enterprise included sophomore Anthony Nations (24:41), sophomore Ben Ready (24:50), freshman Austin brown (27:44), sophomore Josh Richardson (28:10), sophomore Michael Kees (28:11), and seventh grader Alex Sales (30:09).

On Saturday in the girls’ 3A race eighth grader Hannah Meredith (28:03) of Wesson was the top local finisher.

Other runners for Wesson included junior Natalie Bonds (29:34), junior Gabriela Flores (29:49), Jessie Cole (31:29) and seventh grader Mara Norwood (36:19).

Senior Cody Meredith (21:47) was the top Cobra finisher in the boys’ race. Other Wesson finishers included sophomore Nick Gomillion (22:05), eighth grader Gabe Selman (24:09), sophomore Logan Hux (24:35), and sophomore Sam McInnis (25:03).

Story by Cliff Furr