Brittley Humphrey looks to leave lasting impression

 

By Arthur L. Mack for DyeStat

 

Expect not only strong performances from defending team champions, but also powerful performances from individual athletes at the Alabama State Athletic Association's Class 7A/6A/5A/4A Championships at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.

 

Defending state champions Hoover (Class 7A boys and girls), Opelika (Class 6A boys), Homewood (Class 6A girls), St. Paul's (Class 5A boys), Beauregard (Class 5A girls) and UMS-Wright (Class 4A boys and girls) hope to extend or repeat titles. Some of the hopefuls in the lower classifications, though, could find the going a little bit tough.

 

Action begins Thursday morning with finals in numerous field events — notably the Class 7A girls pole vault — while semifinals in the girls and boys 4x100 relays, finals in the girls and boys 1,600-meter run and semifinals in the 100 meters in both boys and girls — will take place around 12:15 p.m.

 

Here is a preview of what to expect in each classification:

 

Class 7A — It's basically Hoover's meet to lose, as the Bucs hope to win their third straight boys title and fifth straight girls crown. Last year, Hoover had a tough battle against Auburn in the boys division, while in the girls division, Hoover routed rival Mountain Brook.

 

Hoover's boys hopes for a third straight title will rest on the shoulders of distance specialist Tommy McDonough, as he is expected to be in a battle with Hewitt-Trussville's Benjamin Knox in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs, as well as hurdler Marion Humphrey. Beyond that, the Bucs will have to rely on a host of other athletes to place high in several events to score the repeat.

 

Auburn, however, has enough firepower to pull off a possible upset.

 

The Tigers are led by sprinter Deonte Tolbert, who is the heavy favorite in the 100, 200, and 400. That alone could spell trouble for Hoover, as Tolbert has the fastest times in the state in all three races (10.51/21.02/46.35). In addition, Auburn has some powerful distance runners of its own, led by Paul Barlow (800/1600), Jack Rogers (800/1,600), and Nick Hudner (3,200), as well as hurdler Triaon Poellnitz.

 

Team battles aside, there should be some strong individual contests as well on the boys side.

 

One event to watch will be the triple jump, where three of the state's best jumpers, Mobile Murphy's Maurice Robinson, Hewitt-Trussville's Noah Igbinoghene, and Huntsville's Michael Wiggins will do battle. All three have gone 47 feet or better this season and are also expected to face each other in the long jump as well.

 

Another interesting event will be the 300-meter hurdles, where Alabaster-Thompson's Emmanuel Tait, the favorite, faces a stiff battle not only from Humphrey, but Poellnitz and Central-Phenix City's Levon Anderson.

 

When it comes to the girls competition, as far as Hoover is concerned, there's one name you should know — Brittley Humphrey.

 

Humphrey, who happens to be Marion's big sister, has been burning up the 100-and 300-meter hurdle events all season, and is the state record holder in both events.

 

Having come off a 13.48/42.40 performance at the sectional meet, Humphrey has to be the overwhelming favorite in both events, and is expected to be a favorite in the 100 and 200 dashes as well. She could be tested by Mobile Baker's Destiny Davis, who won her sectional races in 12.12 and 24.86 respectively.

 

Of course, Humphrey has a solid supporting cast, including fellow hurdler Caitlyn Little, middle distance runner Presley Weems, and Genesis Jones, Kyla Horn and Maya Ray in the triple jump.

 

The battle for second place could be between Mountain Brook and Mobile's McGill-Toolen Catholic. Mountain Brook has a strong distance corps led by Anna Grace Morgan and Frances Partick, while McGill-Toolen is led by nationally ranked pole vaulter Margaret Ollinger and distance runner Grace Jensen.

 

Class 6A — Can Opelika make it two in a row in the boys division?

 

It will all depend on several things. First, the sprint corps, led by Nathanaiel Huggins — who is favored in the 100, 200 and 400 — will have to have a great day. Certainly, Huggins will have some help coming from teammates Kacey Spinks and Kingston Frazier in the 400, but other schools — notably Prichard Blount, led by Justin Brown, and Spanish Fort, led by sprinter Stephan Holcombe — could very well make it tough for the Bulldogs to dominate.

 

Then, Saraland's Velus Jones — a Southern Cal football signee — could make things intriguing in the 100 and 200, making things that much tougher for Opelika.

 

In addition, Holcombe's teammate — Javon Brown — has the best triple jump mark in the state (49-8) and is favored to win that event. Brown will also compete in the long jump, where he is sure to have an interesting battle with last year's champion, Decatur-Austin's Eric Washington, and Tuscaloosa-Northridge's Tommy Bryant.

 

Not only that, but distance-laden Homewood could pose some problems. The Patriots are led by distance runners Andy Smith, Sean Conboy, and Hunter Poole.

 

Still, give the edge to Opelika, as Spinks is favored to win the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. The Bulldogs also have a strong edge in the relays, and have solid performers in the field events, such as high jumper Devin Guice and long/triple jumper Will Boler.

 

On the 6A girls side, Homewood hopes to make it three titles in a row — repeating as 6A champion and taking the 5A crown in 2014. While the Patriots don't have as much firepower as it did in 2015, they are still dangerous.

 

Homewood will be led by sprinters Elysa Griffin and Jasmine Griffin. Both are entered in the 100 and 200, where they will likely face Birmingham-Wodlawn's Jayla Kirkland, the best sprinter in the state.

 

In addition, Jasmine Griffin and teammate Ann Mosely Whitsett could very well finish 1-2 in the 400. Both are also entered in the 300-meter hurdles, where they will be counted on to score crucial points.

 

Homewood could face a challenge from Pelham, led by distance ace Mary Grace Strozier and hurdler Erin Hines.

 

Class 5A — Last year, Mobile's St Paul's Episcopal pulled one of the biggest surprises, coming out of nowhere to win the boys title.

 

This year, the Saints aren't sneaking up on anybody, but have the tools to make it two in a row. St. Paul's has a lot of young talent, including sophomore Zackery Carmichael, who is one of the best hurdlers in the state. Carmichael is the defending champion in the 110 hurdles, and was runner-up in the 300-hurdles last year.

 

In addition, senior distance runner Brett Erickson, sophomore jumper/sprinter Jalyn Armour-Davis, and shot putter Bryce Huff will be counted on to get some much needed points.

 

Should St. Paul's falter, then Birmingham-Ramsay, led by 200/400-meter specialist Starling Thomas, Anniston, led by middle distance specialist Zebedee Lunsford, or Columbia, led by sprinter Alize Ford could take the top spot.

 

Can Beauregard's girls make it three titles in a row, including a 4A title in 2014 and a 5A crown last year?

 

The Hornets don't appear to be as strong this year as last year, when they edged St. Paul's to win the girls crown. However, they do have reliable performers, including 100/200 meter specialist Destiny Pitts and thrower Sam Dailey.

 

It could leave the door wide open for St. Paul's, led by eighth-grade distance ace Isabel Valenzuela and senior jumper/hurdler Charlotte Krause. But watch out for Helena, which has a solid distance corps, as well as Huntsville-Randolph, which also has a strong distance crew.

 

Class 4A — In years past, Mobile's UMS-Wright would have been a lock to win the boys and girls titles. That may not necessarily be the case this year.

 

The Bulldogs have won Class 4A boys the last seven years, but an eighth straight title may not happen. For one thing, the distance corps, normally one of UMS-Wright's strengths, is down. 

 

UMS-Wright has strength in the javelin, where Easton Russ and Paul Pluscht are among the favorites. Pluscht will also throw the discus. In addition, Patrick Howze is among the favorites in the pole vault.

 

UMS-Wright's biggest challenger in the boys division is Dadeville, which is led by Isaiah Hicks and Qua Tucker. Another team that will pose a challenge is Catholic-Montgomery, led by Patrick O'Mara, who had strong performances in the 200, 400 and 800.

 

UMS-Wright has won six of the last seven 4A girls crowns and is in the hunt for yet another.

 

The good news is that the Bulldogs have some solid performers in the field events — notably Sarah Morris in the shot, discus, and javelin; Gracie Hunt in the high jump, long jump and triple jump; and Aryn McDowell in the long and triple jump. Morris, Hunt and McDowell, in fact, could account for a large chunk of UMS-Wright's points.

 

Challenging UMS-Wright could be Wilson of Florence, which has a strong distance corps led by sisters Pheobe and Cele Moon; and Catholic-Montgomery, led by distance standout Amaris Tyynismaa and sprinter Tamra Tucker.