By Lee Davis
One of Alabama’s most impressive sports dynasties continued its winning ways at the Birmingham CrossPlex last weekend.
The Hoover girls track and field team won its third consecutive crown and fourth in five years by totaling 126 points to easily outdistance runner-up James Clemens’ 83 total in Class 7A competition. Mountain Brook was third with 64 points.
In boys competition, Auburn won first place with 110.50, and Hoover was in the runner-up spot with 64 points. Mountain Brook was fourth with 52.
In Class 6A girls, Homewood totaled 88 points to finish second behind state champion Pelham’s 98 final. In Class 6A boys, the Patriots finished third with 58 points. Opelika won the crown with 138.50 points and Northridge was second with 62 points.
As usual, many area athletes dominated in individual events.
In Class 7A girls, Mountain Brook’s Frances Patrick took first place in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. Oak Mountain’s Nichole Payne won the 400-meter dash, narrowly beating out Hoover’s Brittley Humphrey. Humphrey won first place honors in the 60-meter hurdles. The Lady Bucs’ Genesis Jones won the high jump championship. Presley Weems, also from Hoover, won the 800-meter run.
The Hoover girls won the 4X800-meter relay.
In Class 7A boys, Mountain Brook’s Drew Williams won the 1,600-meter run, Vestavia Hills’ Carl Nesbitt won the high jump,
and Spain Park’s Daniel Nixon took first place in the 800-meter run. The Rebels’ James Henry Barrett won the pole vault event.
Mountain Brook’ boys team won the 4X800-meter relay.
In Class 6A girls, Homewood’s Caroline Lawrence took first place in the high jump and the Patriots’ Elyssa Griffin won the long jump event. Homewood also won the 4X200-meter relay.
In Class 6A boys, Homewood’s Andy Smith won the 3,200-meter run and the Patriots also took first place in the 4X800-meter relay.
In Class 1A-3A girls, Westminster-Oak Mountain won the 4X200-meter relay. One of the biggest winners in all of Class 1A-3A boys competition was Dylan Pausic of Shades Mountain Christian. Pausic won both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs.