James Clemens athletes qualify for State Track and Field Championship Meet
James Clemens Leila Elliott leads the field in a 100m heat Saturday at 6A sectionals
(RECORD PHOTO/LINDSAY VAUGHT)
MADISON- With her teammates sprawled out on the turf field at Bob Jones Saturday afternoon at the 6A Track and Field sectional, James Clemens’ Leila Elliott couldn’t contain her excitement. She had just medaled with a second place finish in the 100m dash to become the schools first track medalist.
She later finished first in the 200m dash ahead of Victoria Rimpsey of Oxford and Kourtney Lacey of Bob Jones, both seniors who have signed D1 scholarships.
She also fulfilled a goal she had since she started competitive running in the sixth grade.
Elliott, a junior, made it to state last year but didn’t come close to placing in any events. This year she qualified in four events: the 100m dash seeded 4th in state; the 200m dash seeded 2nd in state; 4X100m relay, and 4X400m relay.
“Of all time that’s my best race ever,” Elliott said after finishing second in the 100m dash.
Elliott said that her expectations are much higher this year than last year. “I’m hoping to place in the top three. The closest I got last year was eighth.”
“It’s been great,” Elliott said of the move to James Clemens. “I love the coaches and the people. It’s a great atmosphere. It’s amazing to think I’m going in four events.”
This time next year, Elliot is hoping to be holding a scholarship to run track from one of her favorite colleges.
On a team that numbered over 100, only nine had any track and field experience and over half the Jets team are seventh graders through ninth grade. Coach Drew Bell’s team got an unexpected jolt of talent when Elliott and senior Dana Mitchell transferred from Bob Jones.
“It’s been a great year. We’re just so young. We only have two seniors on the team and they have provided great leadership,” Bell said.
The young runners produced winning times when it counted most and a total of 20 athletes from James Clemens will make the trip to the state Track and Field Championships in Gulf Shores this week.
“To get 20 qualified for state, this exceeded even my expectations,” Bell said.
On the girl’s team, two of the Jets 4 x 100 relay team that finished third in the field of 20 teams are ninth-graders, Tyra Garrett and Kayla Long. Elliott and senior Dana Mitchell fill out the team. Seventh-grader Uriah James joins Elliott and Mitchell and eleventh-grader Katrina Avery on the 4 x 400 relay team that also place third.
Four girls will compete in field events led by seventh-grader Kennedy Reese in the Shot Put.
The boy’s 4x400m relay team pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the sectional when they qualified fourth. Kearva Beckwith runs the anchor leg with Devonte Vincent, Aaron Anderson, and Christian Anderson.
Three boys qualified in field events. Kameron Grant in Shot Put, Chandler Smith Javelin, and Colin Hall in Discus.
