By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

Spain Park High School junior Brandon Hazouri capped a remarkable cross country season with one final honor Jan. 20.

Hazouri, who capped his season with an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A individual championship, was named the 2010-2011 Gatorade Runner of the Year in the state of Alabama.

Hazouri won five of his final six races to end the season, including four straight. Hazouri set a personal-best time with his 15:45.12 mark in the Class 6A championship race. Hazouri also won a Class 6A section meet, the Hoover Cross Country Invitational, the St. Vincent’s Husky Challenge and the Jesse Owens Classic in his third season with the varsity. Hazouri also posted two second-place finishes and one-third place finish in his final eight races.

The Gatorade Runner of the Year award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the race course. Hazouri, who will be eligible in the contest for the national Gatorade Runner of the Year award, was one of 50 state winners nationwide.