Athens cross country runner Guy Greenhaw was selected to the AHSAA North All-Star Cross Country team. He is the first student from Athens High School to be chosen to compete in the race.

Athens High rising senior Guy Greenhaw didn’t start running to win awards or be selected for honors. He just did it because he enjoyed it.

But his love of the sport has led to recognition, as he was recently selected to be a part of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All-Star Week in Montgomery.

Greenhaw was selected to the North All-Star Cross Country team to participate in the cross country race. He is the first student from Athens High School to be selected to compete in the race. Only 10 runners were chosen to be on the North team, with 10 more being selected for the south. Greenhaw was selected from candidates in school districts 5-8, in classes 1A-7A.

The cross country race will take place 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the Auburn University-Montgomery campus.

Cross country is part of the AHSAA’s All-Star Week that also includes baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and football.

Greenhaw said he wasn’t sure what to think when he found out he had been chosen to run in the all-star race.

“At first I was kind of confused, because I didn’t think I was that good of a runner,” he said. “I just run for the fun of it. But when I got selected, I thought I could actually go somewhere with this. I’m kind of excited about it. It’s a very proud moment for me.”

Greenhaw said he started running with his father, Lanier Greenhaw, when he was in the second grade, and has been a member of the varsity cross country team at Athens since seventh grade. So what keeps him running?

“Mostly, I just like getting time to myself just to think about stuff and be along,” Greenhaw said. “The only person that is going to affect your performance is you. It’s all based on what you do. As our coach says, ‘Mind over matter.’ If you put your mind to it, you can do it. Don’t let anybody else stop you.”

Greenhaw hasn’t stopped running, even after the cross country season ended. He has ben running a few days a week to get ready for this coming season.

“I’m getting ready for practice, which is starting in the next week or so,” Greenhaw said. “I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to racing in Montgomery.”