St. Paul's Janie Ford Shines Brightest In Class 7A Meet With Four Wins, Three Meet Records; Hoover Girls, Vestavia Hills Boys Win Team Titles

Story and Photos By Arthur L. Mack for DyeStat

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The threat of rain did not stop athletes from outstanding performances as the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Class 4A-7A Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Despite the rain threat, which caused the last day of the meet to adjust to a rolling schedule, athletes in all four classifications put on a show. No less than 10 records were broken during the three-day event, indicating the level of high school track and field in the state has risen to a new level.

Class 7A Girls: St. Paul’s Episcopal’s Janie Ford completed her high school career with a bang on Day 3 by breaking the  meet 200 meters record of 23.58 seconds she set in Friday’s prelims with a blistering 23.34 in the finals on Saturday.

That record came moments after the Vanderbilt University-bound Ford, who won the 100-meter hurdles easily with a time of 14.13, blazed to a state-meet record 41.43 in the 300 hurdles. Those performances, along with another meet record of 20 feet, 4.50 inches in the long jump, gave her four wins and three state meet records in the meet.

The four wins gave her 20 state titles in her high school career.

In the 200 finals, Ford easily defeated two highly-regarded James Clemens runners, Zaria Parker (23.83) and London Hall (24.11).

“Going into the 200, I was a lot calmer than I was in my other races,” Ford said. “I was excited earlier in the hurdles, so I went in really confident, and I just had to trust myself because I was slightly fatigued from my previous races. I just knew as long as I didn’t let them get too far out front, I could bring it home at the end.

“It’s really bittersweet that I’ll be done with track in Alabama. It’s been my home for so long with my mom being the coach, but I’m just so thankful to be getting another opportunity (at Vanderbilt). I love running, and the competition is so amazing, and I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.”

Hoover, as expected, finished first with 99.33 points, ahead of Auburn (80) and James Clemens (75). The Bucs were led by Isabella Maple, who won the pole vault (12-0), while Auburn, which accumulated points in the sprints and field events, was led by Brooke Hallman, who won the javelin with a throw of 125-1, and Sarah Tole, who followed up a second-place finish in the 1,600 (4:57.80), with a win in the 3,200 (11:03.60).

Alivia Urrtia of Bob Jones repeated as 400 meters champion. After winning last year’s race as a freshman, Urrtia ran 55.43 to take the title again.

“It feels really good (to repeat),” she said. “I think I had a statement to make which I finished third indoors in this event, and I knew I had to come out here and do my race.”

Class 7A Boys:  Vestavia Hills defeated Hoover 109-95, with Hewitt-Trussville third with 76 and Sparkman fourth with 50. For Vestavia Hills, it was the first title since 2021, and for Rebels head coach Richard Anderson, it was proof positive his team is on the rise. A 1-2 finish in the long jump by Jack Stubbs (24-4.50) and Nate Bradshaw (23-9.50), plus a big win in the 200 by Chase Webb (21.20) and a sixth-place finish in that event by Stubbs (21.68) helped Vestavia secure the win.

"It's been awesome," Anderson said. "Hoover and us have a great relationship, pressing each other to be competitive. They're a great team, and they're the reason we're here today; it's that something that makes us better, and we want to embrace that competition. The 18 points by Jack and Nate were huge, and the 200 helped solidify us. Vestavia's always had a great middle distance program and cross country program, but what we want to do is have a complete program."

Hoover was led by sophomore Nigel Thomas, who won the shot with a state-meet record 59-5 and Chistopher Lawley, who won the 110-meter high hurdles (14.20).

Individually, Sparkman's Joe Quez Keith had a strong performance, winning the 400 (48.08), along with the 300-meter hurdles (37.35), in addition to anchoring the winning 4x400 relay in a meet record time of 3:15.18. He also finished fifth in the 200 (21.59).

"As a whole, I had a really great time," Keith said. "I like to thank God, and without him and my teammates I wouldn't be out here. They've supported me all year long while I was at Sparkman."

Foley’s Rashad Jones won the javelin (180-8); Huntsville won the 4x800 relay (7:49.89); Smiths’ Station’s Carmello Williams won the high jump (6-8); and Oak Mountain’s John Shoemaker swept the 1,600 and 3,200 (4:08.46/9:10.32).

Class 6A Boys: Homewood defeated Northridge 79-64, with Blount a surprising third with 45. The Patriots were not only strong in the middle distances, as Colvin Bussey had a big win in the 800 (1:55.46), but in the sprints as well. Northridge, meanwhile had a first-place performance from William Numnum in the pole vault (14-6)

Blount had victories in the 110-meter high hurdles from Lazeric Johnson (14.24) and 300-meter hurdles by Kantrell Benjamin (38.64), and also won the 4x400 relay (3:21.59).

Solid individual performances came from Jacquess Greene of Muscle Shoals, who won the long jump (24-7.25), and Jamar Bankhead II of Tuscaloosa Paul W. Bryant, who won the discus (172-0) and the shot (54-8.50).

Class 6A Girls: Chelsea upset favorite Mountain Brook 87 to 80.5, with Homewood third (68). Chelsea was led by Ty Cason, who won the 400 (57.49) and 800 (2:11.34), and Tamarah Rice, who won the long jump and triple jump (18-0.75/ 38-1).

The win was especially sweet for Chelsea head coach Clifford “Trey” Lee III.

“They (Mountain Brook) have been a legacy-type program since I’ve been in high school,” Lee said. “Whenever I start the season, I always tell my team that I don’t train for second; I don’t train for mediocre. I’m really proud of the kids and their hard work because Mountain Brook took everything we threw at them; that’s what strong programs do.”

Mountain Brook's Annie Kerr broke her own state meet record in the pole vault, clearing 13-6. The threat of rain didn’t bother her at all, as she was strong throughout the competition.

“Honestly, it was not that big of a deal,” she said. “Our coach was talking to us, saying that everyone’s feeling the same thing; it’s how you react to it. I was just excited to jump at that bar and I wasn’t too nervous.”

Another record that was set came in the javelin, where Fort Payne’s Cooper Garrett threw 150-4, breaking the old record of 148-8 set in 2019. Garrett also won the discus (128-9).

Class 5A: Scottsboro swept the boys and girls team championships. Scotsboro's boys, led by victories by freshman Ryder Linville in the 800 (1:57.56), 1,600 (4:20.97) and 3,200 (9:55.10), defeated Central-Clay County, led by Kevin Cherry’s win in the 200 (21.66), 121-70, with Jacksonville third (58).

Meanwhile, Scottsboro's girls, behind Banks Bradford, who won the 800 on Saturday (2:18.90) to go with her wins in the 1,600 and 3,200, defeated Guntersville 107.5 to 81. Bayside Academy was third (77).

Class 4A: The Anniston boys finshed the day strong with a record-setting 4x400 (3:23.15) and wins in the 110-and 300-meter hurdles by Elijah Lanier (14.63/39.17), defeating Hamilton 82-69, with W.S. Neal third (41).

“I am ecstatic, to God be the glory,” Anniston head coach Lisa Howard said. “I am so glad for these young men coming out and persevering through the season. We had some hiccups during the season, but through it all, we depended on Jesus, and we were able to pull it out today.”

Hamilton was no slouch either, as it got a big win in the 400 from Hayden Ables (48.80), and had solid showings in several other events.

Other solid performances came from Jackson’s Keegan Chapman, who won the 100 and 200 (10.78/21.81), and Catholic-Montgomery’s Skyler Stovall, winner of the high jump (6-6).

In Class 4A girls, Randolph defeated Brooks 45-41, with Hatton third (39). Katelyn Valtos had a big win for Randolph in the 800  where she ran 2:20.66.

Notable individual performances included Cara Huff of Indian Springs breaking the meet record in the shot with a toss of 45-7.50, while Catholic-Montgomery’s Haylei Mason dominated the hurdles, winning the 100-meter hurdles in 14.66 and the 300-meter hurdles in 44.48. Eva Armstead of Hatton won the long jump (18-2.75), the 400 (56.47) and 200 (24.96).

White Plains’ Maddyn Conn had double wins in the 1,600 in 5:20.05 and the 3,200 in 11:52.49, nearly 10 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

“The first mile was comfortable, but I was dying the second mile,” she said. “But overall, I was kind of overwhelmed; it was bittersweet because this is my last year and I got two state championships. I wanted to start out strong and go for it from there.”