By Lee Davis
The Alabama High School Athletic Association’s recent realignment of schools created seven classifications instead of six. In track and field, that change produced the same old story in the large-school state track and field meet at Gulf Shores last week.
Hoover swept both the boys’ and girls’ Class 7A crowns with comfortable victories in team competition. The wins marked the Hoover boys’ sixth title in seven seasons, while their girl counterparts claimed their fourth consecutive crown. All of the previous titles came in Class 6A.
“Obviously I’m very proud of our kids,” said Hoover track and field coach Devon Hind. “There was some great competition out there today, and our kids responded very well.”
Hind’s boys’ team totaled 133.33 to edge out runner-up Auburn’s 121.50 total. The Lady Bucs totaled 166.75 points to easily lead runner-up Mountain Brook’s 69.75 score.
Homewood turned in a strong performance in the Class 6A competition. The Patriot boys finished a strong second with 106 points as champion Opelika scored 212. In the girls’ competition, Homewood earned the blue championship trophy, scoring 122.50 points to rout runner-up Pelham’s 43 total.
The Lady Patriot victory came in large extent to the efforts of Kiara Williams, who landed in the winner’s circle in four events.
“Both of our teams ran really well this week, and of course Kiara was outstanding,” Tom Esslinger, Patriot coach said. “We had some great performances that stood out and also some solid efforts that helped push us over the top.”
In 7A boys, runners from several schools produced outstanding performances. Vestavia Hills’ Will Macoy, the son of a former Rebel track star, set a state record with a javelin throw of 196 feet, 6 inches.
Spain Park’s Daniel Nixon won the 800-meter race, outdistancing runner-up Drew Williams of Mountain Brook and Joshua Hall of Hoover.
In the 3200-meter run, Oak Mountain’s Cole Stidfole took first place, beating out Hoover’s Tommy McDonough, who finished second. Stidfole was second in the 1600-meter run, and Mountain Brook’s Williams was third. The Spartan boys finished second in the 4×800 meter relay.
Hoover’s Bradrick Shaw won the triple jump event and finished second in the long jump. Spain Park’s Jermaine Kirkland was third in the long jump.
The Bucs were second in the 4×100 relay. Hoover’s Joshua Hall won the 400-meter run, and the Bucs’ Christian Bell won the shot put.
Oak Mountain’s Sam Brown was second in the high jump.
In girls’ Class 7A, Brittley Humphrey sparked the Lady Bucs’ victory. She set a new state record of 13.74 seconds in winning the 100-meter hurdles. Humphrey also won the 300-meter hurdles.
Mountain Brook’s Frances Patrick won the 3200-meter run. Patrick lost a photo finish to Huntsville’s Abby Weitenbeck for the 1600-meter championship. Hoover’s Presley Weems finished third. Hoover won the 4×800 meter relay as the Lady Spartans finished second. Mountain Brook’s Julie Leonard won the high jump.
The Lady Bucs also won the 4×100 meter relay. Weems won the 800-meter run. Nicole Payne of Oak Mountain won the 400-meter dash. Caitlin Little of Hoover won the 200-meter dash and the 100-meter dash.
Mountain Brook’s Janie Branch was third in the Class 7A discus finals. Hoover’s Eva Thomas was second in the pole vault.
Vestavia’s Bria Terry won the javelin toss. Mountain Brook’s Julia Leonard won the high jump.
In the 6A boys’ 1600-meter run, Homewood’s Andy Smith took first place. Logan Sadler – also of Homewood – finished third. Smith also was runner-up in the 3200-meter run. The Patriots’ Alazae Hester-Taylor won the boys’ 300-meter hurdles. The Patriots also won the 4×800 meter relay. Homewood’s Dominque Linson was second in the boys’ Class 6A high jump.
Homewood’s Kiara Williams was a star in the Lady Patriots’ run to the championship. She set a new state record with a leap of 20 feet 5 ¼ inches to win the Class 6A girls’ long jump championship. The old record was set by Mountain Brook’s Whitney Marsh in 2002.
Williams also won the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and the triple jump. She nearly set a state record in the 100 meters. Her teammate, Sarah Blake, won the javelin toss.
In the 6A girls’ 3200-meter run, John Carroll Catholic’s Lauren Granier was second.
Homewood’s Carolyn Lawrence was third in the high jump finals.
The Altamont girls’ team claimed first place in the state Class 2A meet at Woodard Stadium in Cullman. The Knights claimed 101 points to outdistance LaFayette’s 97 total.
Taylor Young was outstanding for the Lady Knights. She won the triple jump, long jump, 200-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. Mary Allen Murray won the 1600- and 3200-meter runs for Altamont.
Westminster-Oak Mountain finished second in boys’ Class 1A, totaling 112 points behind Marion County’s 117 final. The Knights won the 1600- and 3200-meter relays. Jacob Carrell won the 800-meter run, and Wiley Boone was third in the boys’ triple jump.
Walker Long of Shades Mountain Christian won the discus throw.
The Westminster-Oak Mountain girls’ team came in third in the 4×800 meter relay on the way to a third-place overall finish.
