UMS-Wright Wins Record 16th Boys’ State Track Title
Hoover and Homewood swept both boys’ and girls’ state track championships in Class 6A and 5A Saturday, and in Class 4A, UMS-Wright became the first boys’ team to win 16 state championships. Beauregard won the girls’ title.
The 4A, 5A and 6A championships closed out the 89th annual AHSAA state meet at the Gulf Shores City Municipal Track Saturday.
Coach Pat Galle’s Bulldogs totaled 93 points to become the first boys’ team to win 16 outdoor state championships. It was the sixth straight for UMS, dating back to 2009. Dadeville, with 55 points, was second and Oneonta (51) third.
Hoover, coached by Devon Hind, won the 6A boys’ title for the third time in the last four years totaling 105.50 points. Opelika provided a strong challenge to finish second with 88 points and Auburn was third with 68.
Homewood, coached by Thomas Esslinger, won its first outdoor title in school history with 102.50 points. Columbia was second with 51 and 2013 5A champ Paul Bryant third with 43 points.
Beauregard snapped UMS-Wright’s five-year championship streak in winning the 4A girls’ state crown. Coach Glenn Copeland’s Lady Hornets piled up 150 points and UMS finished second with 115. Kylee Carter totaled 40 points for Beauregard with four state championships over the two-day meet. Teammate Alexis Milner also had two state championships and 36 points.
In Class 6A, Hoover won its third straight 6A championship as Hind’s Lady Bucs totaled 130.50 points. Mountain Brook was second with 64 and Auburn third with 62.
Esslinger’s Homewood Lady Patriots had 126.50 points to win the 5A girls’ title. The championship ended St. Paul’s championship winning streak at seven dating back to 2007. The Lady Saints finished second by just one point (125.50).
Among the individual winners Saturday:
Class 6A Girls
Brittley Humphrey, Hoover: Posted two hurdles wins Saturday with a time of 14.45 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles and 42.74 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles. The 300 time set a new state record eclipsing Amelia Anderson’s time of 42.91 for Smiths Station in 2005. She set a state record in the 100-meter hurdle prelims on Friday.
Margaret Ollinger, McGill-Toolen: Won the pole vault competition with a record-setting height of 12 feet, 2 inches to break her own record of 11-9 set last season.
Chloe White, Hoover: Set a javelin state record, winning with a 140-01 heave.
Rachel Reddy, Mountain Brook: Won the 3,200 meters with a time of 10:45.27.
Veronica Lyle, Hewitt-Trussville: Captured the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:53.08 – just ahead of runner-up Mary Grace Strozier of Pelham, who clocked the distance in 4:53.94.
Jayla Kirkland, Woodlawn: Won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.80 after clocking a wind-aided 11.47 seconds in the prelims Friday. She also won the 200-meter race Saturday with a time of 23.65 seconds, just enough to break the record she set in the prelims of 23.71.
Class 5A Girls
Kiara Williams, Homewood: Won the long jump and 100-meter hurdles Saturday with a leap of 18-03 and a time of 15.90 seconds. She wound up with 36 points for the meet.
Sheldonna Chappell, Fort Payne: Captured the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.39 seconds.
Anna Braswell, St. Paul’s: Won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:37.52. She won the 1,600 meters Friday.
Shelley Spires, St. Paul’s: Ran a time of 45.31 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles to capture first place. She finished the meet with a 5A leading 38 points.
John Carroll Catholic High School: Won the 4x100-meter relay clocking 49.09 seconds.
Homewood High School: Finished second behind winner Paul Bryant in the 4x400 relay, but the eight points were enough to give the Lady Patriots the state title over St. Paul’s, which finished fourth.
Class 4A Girls
Rachael Vergensen, Wilson: Set a state record in the 3,200-meter run with a time of11:16.06. The record (11:32.88) was held by Claire Kennedy of UMS-Wright.
Shakeela Webb, Beauregard: Won the shot put with a throw of 35 feet, 6 ¾ inches. She won the discus on Friday.
Kylee Carter, Beauregard: Won her fourth state individual championship in the triple jump with a winning leap of 36 feet, 5 ½ inches. She also won the javelin with her best throw setting a new state record (127-07).
Alexis Milner, Beauregard: Won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.32 seconds in the finals. She followed with a win in the 300-meter hurdles, running 45.98 seconds to take first place.
Shelbi White, Lincoln: Won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.39 seconds. She set a state record in the 400-meter dash and 200-meter dash Friday. She followed up with a win in the 200 finals, clocking 25.18 to win.
Beauregard High School: Won the 4x400 relay with a winning time of 4:11.16.
Anniston High School: Clocked 50.11 seconds to win the 4x100 relay.
Class 6A Boys
Marlon Humphrey, Hoover: Won the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles with times of 14.53 seconds and 37.45 seconds, respectively. He set the record in both events as a junior.
Daniel Fort, Hoover: Threw the javelin 194 feet, 2 inches to take first place.
Jaquavious Tolbert, Opelika: Won the high jump, clearing 6-4.
Anthony Wells, Grissom: Won the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:27.83.
Jaalen Jones, Thompson: Won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.76 seconds and the 200 clocking 21.17 seconds.
Austin Norwood, Hewitt-Trussville: Won the 800-meter run with a 1:55.78 time. He won the 1,600-meter run Friday.
Auburn High School: Clocked 41.62 seconds, just shy of the record the school set in 2013, to win the 4x100-meter relay.
Class 5A Boys
Kentorio White, LeFlore: Won the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 8 inches. He won the long jump Friday.
Logan Sadler, Homewood: Captured the 800-meter run with a 1:59.90 time. Teammate Tristan Lindsey was second at 2:00.44.
Andy Smith, Homewood: Ran 9:47.13 in the 3,200 meters to claim his second championship of the meet. He won the 1,600 meters Friday.
Chris Lee, Central-Tuscaloosa: Placed first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.29 seconds.
Hartselle High School: Won the 4x100-meter relay with a 42.62-second time.
Class 4A Boys
Hamilton Phillips, UMS-Wright: Had a winning toss of 166-11 in the javelin competition.
Austin Swain, Lincoln: Won the 110-meter hurdles clocking 14.98 seconds.
Latravious Glenn, Dadeville: His 48-05.50 leap in the triple jump gave Glenn first place.
Eshan King, Randolph: Won the 3,200-meter run in 9:40.42 to set a new state record. He edged out runner-up Robert Hope of UMS-Wright, who also broke the previous mark with his 9:49.27 time. The previous record (9:49.91) was set by Alex Gilliland of Oneonta in 2013.
Thomas Boyd, Oneonta: Threw the shot put 54 feet, 1 ½ inches to win the event.
Rashad Roberson, Oneonta: Captured the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.60 seconds.
Hillcrest-Evergreen High School: Clocked 43.36 seconds to win the 4x100-meter relay.