Auburn Snaps Hoover Boys’ Hold On 6A Track Crown;
14 Records Broken In Class 4A, 5A, 6A State Meet At Gulf Shores
GULF SHORES – Auburn High School’s strong showing in field events helped the Tigers’ boys track team win the Class 6A state championship at the 88th AHSAA State Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
In the process Auburn halted Hoover’s winning streak that included four state titles in a row dating back to 2009.
UMS-Wright won its fifth consecutive Class 4A boys’ and girls’ state championships, St. Paul’s girls won their eighth crown in a row in Class 5A, and Hoover’s girls captured their third straight 6A title. Paul Bryant’s boys edged out a strong field in Class 5A boys’ action to capture the Stampede’s first state championship.
A total of 14 state records fell in the Class 4A, 5A and 6A state meets.
AUBURN TRIO SHINES IN FIELD EVENTS: Cameron Luper long-jumped 24 feet, 3 ¾ inches to take that event as the Tigers outscored Hoover 126 to 89 to capture the 6A boys’ title. Luper, who had the fastest time in the 100-meter dash prelims, finished fourth in that event.
Quinn Nall also won the triple jump for Auburn and Justin Carter won the javelin with a throw of 197-06.
Hoover junior Marlon Humphrey, who set the state 400-meter dash indoor record in February, won the event again in the outdoor competition Friday. He set two hurdles records, winning the 110-meter hurdles with a 13.86 time that bettered the old record. His 13.53 in the prelims was even faster and is now the new standard. Humphrey also set a new mark in the 300-meter hurdles with a winning time of 36.33 seconds.
McGILL-TOOLEN’S CARLOS SETS TWO RECORDS: Senior Carmen Carlos closed out her outstanding prep career with record-setting performances in the Class 6A girls’ competition, winning the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events. Her winning time in the 1,600 (4:48.23) and 3,200 (10:32.02) are the fastest girls’ times ever run in the state meet.
Hoover, coached by Devon Hind, totaled 120 points to finish ahead of rival Mountain Brook (96.50) to win the 6A girls’ state championship.
STEWART WINS FOUR CLASS 4A EVENTS: Guntersville’s Raven Stewart set two Class 4A state records and won four events. She set new marks in the preliminary race of the 100-meter hurdles (14.40) and in the triple jump (39-01.75). UMS-Wright scored 144.50 points to beat runner-up Beauregard (98) as senior Kathryn Lazarchick placed first in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
KRAUSE LEADS ST. PAUL’S GIRLS: St. Paul’s doubled the nearest competition with 151 points. None was bigger than the 10 won by Chanel Krause, who set a new 5A pole vault record with a leap of 12-08.25.
Scottsboro was second with 77 points and Homewood had 68.
ONEONTA’S GILLILAND SHINES IN 4A: UMS-Wright slipped past Oneonta 102-90 in the 4A boys’ competition. Redskins distance runner Alex Gilliland, however, set two new marks in the 1,600 (4:20.44) and 3,200 (9:49.91) runs.
The Bulldogs have now won the 4A championship every year since 2009.
PAUL BRYANT NIPS FORT PAYNE: The Stampede had 57.33 points – enough to win the 5A title in what turned out to be a very competitive field overall. Fort Payne was second with 52 points, Homewood third (44.33) and Scottsboro fourth (43).
In all 14 records fell including:
GIRLS
Class 4A 100-meter Hurdles: Raven Stewart, Guntersville, 14.40 in prelims
Class 4A 400 Meter Dash: Shelbi White, Lincoln, 56.55
Class 4A 1600 Meter Run: Kathryn Lazarchick, UMS-Wright, 5:11.75
Class 4A 4x800 Meter Relay: UMS-Wright 10:04.40
Class 4A Triple Jump: Raven Stewart, Guntersville, 39-01.75
Class 5A Pole Vault: Chanel Krause, St Paul's, 12-08.25
Class 6A 1600 Meter Run: Carmen Carlos, McGill-Toolen, 4:48.23
Class 6A 3200 Meter Run: Carmen Carlos, McGill-Toolen, 10:32.02
Class 6A Pole Vault: Margeret Ollinger, McGill-Toolen, 11-09
Class 6A Triple Jump: Simone Charley, Spain Park, 42-03.50
BOYS
Class 4A 1600 Meter Run: Alex Gilliland, Oneonta, 4:20.44
Class 4A 3200 Meter Run: Alex Gilliland, Oneonta, 9:49.91
Class 6A 110 Meter Hurdles: Marlon Humphrey, Hoover, 13.53 (also broke old record in finals with 13.86)
Class 6A 300 Meter Hurdles: Marlon Humphrey, Hoover, 36.33