Coach John Brigham is in his 13th year of teaching and coaching at St. Paul’s. During that time, he has taught Government, Economics, Physics, and a variety of different math courses. His teaching experience includes AP, AIP, and standard courses. He is also the head coach of the boys’ cross country team and sponsors the Key Club. During the indoor and outdoor track season, he serves as an assistant coach under head coach Camille Ford. His primary focus during the track season is in boys’ distance and middle distance, as well as boys’ and girls’ throws. In that role, he has contributed to 19 team state championships. During his coaching career, he has helped coach at least three individual state champions in the distance events and seven individual state champions in the throwing events.
Prior to his time at St. Paul’s, Coach Brigham earned his degree in Economics from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. During his collegiate career, he won two team Atlantic Sun Conference championships in cross country. He also won two individual conference championships in indoor track. He was an eight-time All-Conference performer in the sports of cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track as well as a multiple time Academic All American. Coach Brigham was born and raised in Mobile, AL, and he is a 2004 graduate of St. Paul’s.
Today’s Senior Spotlight is Jake Prati. Jake joined the team in 10th grade, when his friend Hollis convinced him to join the team. His fun personality keeps the mood light at practice everyday.
Today’s Senior Spotlight is Philip Gill. Philip has been doing cross country and track since 7th grade. His breakthrough year was in 10th grade. The success he’s had since then has made people forget he was ever slow. But make no mistake about it - for his first two years on the team, Philip was one of the slowest runners we’ve had. That’s a testament to his determination and work ethic. It’s only been by working harder than everyone else for years at a time that Philip got to where he is today.
Today’s Senior Spotlight is Haydn Sayner Oubre. Like most of his friends, Haydn joined the team as a seventh grader. That friend group have added others along the way, building the nucleus of a dominant program. Haydn wasn’t one of the fastest when he started, but by his 9th grade year he’d improved enough to win the Junior High County Championship. He won it on the same day that his younger sister Lydia won the Junior High County Championship. It was certainly a day to remember!
Today’s Senior Spotlight is Hollis Martin. Hollis started cross country in 7th grade. The summer before his senior year he set a goal to make the varsity team, and he achieved that goal in a big way. He finished 4th on the team in summer mileage, and that laid the foundation for a season in which he took over 2 minutes off his time in the 5km.
Today's Senior Spotlight is Bennett Brown. Bennett joined the cross country team in 8th grade and quickly made his impact felt. Before too long, he was named the team manager because of his superior organizational skills and problem solving skills. Despite being injured for much of his junior year, Bennett came back stronger than ever his senior year and actually qualified for a couple of varsity meets for the first time in his career. He also trained for and completed his first triathlon. During track season, Bennett splits his time between distance running and throwing the discus.
Today’s Senior Spotlight is John Shell. John has been running cross country since 7th grade. He overcame a series of injuries early in his running career to continue improving in the sport. His senior year he’s taken on more of a leadership role on the team. He can be seen taking splits at all of the meets and cheering all his teammates on.
Today’s Senior Spotlight is Reese Flotte. Reese has been running cross country since 7th grade. He is known for his tireless work ethic. For many years now, you can often see him in the gym after practice putting in extra training with both weights and cardio.
The boys varsity cross country team won three of the five flights in route to a team victory in the McGill Toolen Relays. The meet took place at Faith Academy Sports Complex on Thursday October 12.
At the Jesse Owens Classic, the boys varsity cross country team had a 1-5 team average of 16:28 for 5km. That moved this team up from 6th to 4th on the all time school record board. The meet took place on Saturday October 7 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Moulton, AL.
Junior Daniel Gill was named the Mobile Optimist Club's 6A-7A Runner of the Week for his performance at the Daphne Invitational on September 30. At that meet, Daniel finished 6th overall in a field of more than 180 runners. His time of 15:59.70 was a new personal best for 5km, and vaulted him to 8th place all-time in St. Paul's school history.
The Saints' mens' varsity cross country team got up to the front early, packed up, and never let up at the Daphne Invitational. As a result, they won the meet against 21 of the best teams and runners in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The meet took place at Historic Blakeley State Park in Daphne, AL on Saturday September 30.
The varsity boys cross country team took on the best runners and teams in both Mobile and Baldwin counties and came out victorious. The meet took place at Graham Creek Nature Preserve in Foley, AL on Saturday October 16.
The Saints had a successful debut to their 2023 cross country season, finishing 1st out of 11 schools at the Admiral Twilight Invitational. The meet was held under the lights at the Bayside Academy Athletic Complex on Thursday August 24.
Against some of the best teams in a three-state area, the Saints finished 3rd out of 8 schools in the Challenge of Champions at Langan Park on September 2.