McGill-Toolen High School Cross Country Runner William Porr Named ITG Next Alabama Male Athlete of the Month for September 2024
McGill-Toolen cross country runner William Porr has been voted the ITG Next Alabama Male Athlete of the Month for September 2024 stemming from his performances in August.
To receive the honor, Porr amassed 63.52% of the possible votes over a trio of additional finalists, which spanned across two sports. Those athletes were 2023-24 ITG Next Alabama Male Athlete of the Year and Elba football player Alvin Henderson, St. Paul’s Episcopal cross country runner Daniel Gill, and Locust Fork football player Dylan Embry.
Porr, a senior, enjoyed a strong start to the Yellow Jackets’ cross country season in August, impressing across McGill-Toolen’s first few meets of the year.
The first of those meets came on Aug. 22 in Daphne, as McGill-Toolen was 1-of-11 schools to participate in Bayside Academy Admiral’s Twilight Invite 2024. In the 3,000 meter run, Porr placed first overall out of 136 total runners with a time of 9 minutes, 6.9 seconds.
After taking first place, Porr returned to action nearly a week later for the Mobile Cross Country Challenge of Champions 2024. Racing in the 5,000 meter in Mobile, Porr placed first once again out of 66 total runners with a time of 15:35.12.
“William has had a strong start to the season both mentally and physically,” McGill-Toolen cross country head coach Courtney Page said of Porr. “He started this season breaking three course records back to back, PR-ing the 2-mile with a time of 9:06 and with a 5K time of 15:10.”
Porr has carried over the success from his strong start to the year into September, recently placing first in the boys 5K at the Puppy Creek Classic 2024 in Mobile.
This also continues what was a strong 2023 season for Porr, as the senior has only improved since.
“William is not only the No. 1 runner, but he is also our boys captain,” Page said. “Last year, he was our co-captain, but allowed the senior from last year to be more vocal. Additionally from last year, his goal was to run in college, but this year – as a senior, as the No. 1 runner, and the captain – I have seen a more mature and focused side of William.
“He not only wants to succeed himself, but he wants his boys team to reach their goals and succeed just as he does. He is putting in more mileage each week as well as doing some workouts on his own to reach his time goal and his goal of wanting to run at the next level.”
Porr will look to continue this success as the season rolls along, with many other top finishes potentially to come in the future for the talented McGill-Toolen runner.
“I am looking for William to continue on the training path he is on now, not just physically but mentally,” Page said. “Also, I am looking forward to him breaking 15 minutes soon and getting recruited/committed by the school(s) he is looking at. I know it’s going to happen soon, and the day it does will be a huge weight lifted, but all great things come with time. We will be patient until it happens and thankful when it does.”
Congratulations once again to McGill-Toolen cross country runner William Porr, the ITG Next Alabama Male Athlete of the Month for September 2024.
