HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Grissom cross country coach David Yates noticed a change in Anthony Wells this year.



Following an injury his junior year, Wells came back determined. "He worked every day just as dedicated as you could hope all summer long," Yates said.



The senior went on to win four races this season, culminating with an impressive third-place finish in the Class 6A state meet with a time of 15 minutes, 54.10 seconds. It was the fastest time of any boy runner, regardless of classification, among competitors from the state's 10 northernmost counties.



For his accomplishments, Wells is the Huntsville Times Tennessee Valley Boys Runner of the Year.



"It's a huge honor," Wells said of the recognition. "I'm really glad about it. I'm glad to see that there are results to all the hard work somebody can put in."



"He's one of those success stories," Yates said. "Even if you don't win, just give it the very best you can. And that's how he approached it. Now he's got universities looking at him."

Girls runner of the year Cele Moon of Wilson



Wells has heard from at least seven schools, including three in Division I. He plans to decide after the indoor track season, possible in March. Wells wants to run cross country and in track anywhere from the 1,500- to the 10,000-meter runs at the next level.



"Honestly I trained really hard over the summer, increased the volume of training," he said. "I worked real hard, just hoping I could have a good senior year of cross country."



In preparation for the year, Wells increased his weekly mileage from about 25 miles per week to nearly 40 during the season.



"I surprised myself a lot," he said. "I'm really glad I broke out and had an amazing year. Now I'm really looking forward to track season."



Last year Wells hurt his left Achilles the week before the sectional meet. Slowed by the injury, he finished in the middle of the pack at state.



But his hard work led to this year's success. Wells won three races and the sectional, and achieved his goal of a top-three finish at state. His 15:54.10 eclipsed his previous personal best 15:58 set earlier this year at the Arab Invitational.



"It was perfect conditions and I think I executed my strategy perfectly," he said. "I ran a really smart race. I stayed a little bit off the pack until around the second mile."



Wells ran cross country all four years of high school, and played soccer as a freshman and sophomore. "I didn't take cross country seriously until my junior year when I quit soccer," he said.



Academically, Wells scored an impressive 31 on the ACT and expects to major in engineering.



Huntsville Times All-Tennessee Valley Boys Cross County team

First team

Runner, school, grade, state meet time

Anthony Wells, Grissom, Sr., 15:54.10

Peyton Tyler, Bob Jones, Jr., 16:03.20

Cameron Thomas, Grissom, Jr., 16:13.00

Aaron Davis, Hartselle, Sr., 16:16.20

Tate Carden, Athens, Sr., 16:25.10



Second team

Kyle Bailey, Lawrence County, So., 16:27.40

Eshan King, Randolph, Sr. 16:33.50

Anthony Parameswaran, Sparkman, Sr., 16:35.60

Colton Smith, Scottsboro, Fr., 16:44.30

Kevin Ellison, Huntsville, Sr., 16:48.10



Third team

Ryan Ford, Westminster Christian, So., 16:48.30

Britton Roland, Scottsboro, So., 16:48.70

Caleb Lipsey, Lawrence County, Fr., 16:51.90

Cameron Sullivan, Westminster Christian, Sr., 16:52.50

J.D. Reynolds, Scottsboro, Sr., 16:54.40



Co-Coach of the Year: Justin Huston, Westminster Christian, and James Terwilliger, Randolph