By Rubin E. Grant
The Homewood Patriots could lay claim to having the top boys track and field team in the state for the 2024-25 school year.
Homewood is the only school to sweep the boys indoor and outdoor state track championships this year. The Patriots captured the Class 6A outdoor title May 1-3 during the 101st AHSAA State Track and Field Championships at Gulf Shores Sportsplex. They won the indoor title in February.
Meanwhile, the Vestavia Hills boys ended Hoover’s three-year reign as state outdoor champs by winning the Class 7A crown. The Rebels amassed 109 points to unseat the Bucs, who finished second with 95.
Homewood totaled 78 points with defending Class 6A state champion Northridge (63 points) taking second place. “It took an entire team effort to win this outdoor title,” Homewood coach Logan Cornutt says. “We knew going into the meet if we believed in each other and trusted our training, then we would be in a good position to do well.”
Senior Colvin Bussey led the way for the Patriots, winning the 800 meters with a time of 1:55.46 and finishing fourth in the 400 meters in 49:50. Bussey also joined Foster Laird, and Isaiah Davis on 4×800-meter relay team that finished second, clocking 8:06.51.
Senior Zaire White finished second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14:51 and was third in 300 meters with a time of 39.24. Junior Davis Griffin was second in the javelin with a throw of 184-00.
In the Class 6A girls competition, senior Emma Brooke Levering closed her brilliant career by winning 1600 meters with a time of 4:58.44 and the 3200 meters with a time of 10:53.34. She was fourth in the 800 meters, clocking 2:16.41.
Junior Chloe Warren was second in the shot put with a posse of 39-10.50. Junior Eloise Delk was third in the girls pole vault, clearing 11-06.00. The girls finished third in 4×400 relay with a time of 4:01.15.
The Patriots girls finished third as a team with 68 points behind Chelsea, which won its first Class 6A state championship with 87 points, and Mountain Brook with 80.5 points. The Spartans had won the three previous outdoor titles.
Close Friends Propel Rebels
Close friends Chase Webb and Jack Stubbs, both seniors who will be roommates as track athletes at Samford, sparked Vestavia Hills’ boys to their first Class 7A state championship since 2021.
Webb won the 200 meters in 21.24 seconds and finished second in the 100 meters in 10.65 seconds. Stubbs was fourth in the 100, clocking 10.69. Webb also helped the Rebels’ 4×100-meter relay team claim gold with a time of 41.25 seconds.
Stubbs won the long jump with a leap of 24-04.50, the top distance in Alabama this season and 16th nationally. Teammate Nate Bradshaw was second with a jump of 23-09.50.
Junior Brady Ferrell finished second in the pole vault, clearing 14-06.00. Junior John Hayes was third in the 3200 meters with a time of 9:27.89 and was fourth in the 1600, clocking 4:15.55.
The Rebels finished second in 4×800 relay, clocking 7:51.04, and were fourth in the 4×400 with a time of 3:21.06.
Vestavia Hills coach Richard Anderson said it took the entire boys team to dethrone Hoover. “First, what a great program they (Hoover) have,” Anderson says. “They push us to be the best we can be. It was a complete team effort. We scored points across all disciplines and events. We had tremendous performances from lots of different athletes. Our relay teams were outstanding. Sprints scored big points, jumps scored big points, and distance scored big. Our goal three years ago was to have a complete team, and that’s what we saw (at state)—a complete team.”
In Class 7A girls action, Vestavia Hills senior Kennedy Moreland was second in the pole vault, clearing 11-06.00. Junior Riley Zeanah finished third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:15.58 and junior Abby Allen was fourth in 2:15.64. Zeanah also finished third in 1600, clocking 4:59.02. The girls won the 4×800 relay with a time of 9:18.72.
