Off and running; Track and Field season kicks off
Lily Cowan and Anna Seeley finished first and second in the 200 hurdles at James Clemens’ Early Bird Track Meet on Saturday (Contributed Photo)
MADISON- Despite brisk temperatures and patches of snow on the ground, there was still a good turnout at Saturday’s season opening track meet hosted by James Clemens.
James Clemens girls and boys teams dominated the limited field of teams. Coach James Bell knows it is a long season and the competition will get plenty tougher.
“I use this early meet to sort out our 200 track and field athletes and to build confidence before we compete in the Cullman Invitational next weekend with 30 teams,” Bell said.
Bell has a number of athletes who will compete for state championships.
On the girls team Kayla Williams is one of the top sprinters in the state. Williams set a new personal record in the 150M dash at 19.17. She also won the long jump and triple jump. Uriah James also set a new record in the 300M dash.
The top lady hurdlers for the Jets are Anna Seeley, Dekonte Gistarb, and Lily Cowan. On Saturday, Seeley won the 200M and Gistarb won the 80M.
Anna Gierow of Bob Jones did not run the hurdles on Saturday but did compete in long jump. Gierow will have plenty of competition if she is to repeat as section champion in the 100M and 300M hurdles.
The boys will be equally strong for James Clemens. Sprinter Josh Burks had a terrific indoor season and is poised for breakout season. Distance runners Jase Bell and Korey Shively won events Saturday as did long jumper and sprinter Anthony Bolden. Bolden also anchors the 4×300 relay team. Logan Stenberg is one of the top throwers (shot put) in the area and Austin Caudle is the jets top hurdler.
All the runners will spend the next two months getting in top form. The Section 4 7A Sectionals are April 24 and 25 at James Clemens.
Bell said that The James Clemens Invitational on March 28 will have about 25 teams. The Bob Jones Invitational is April 11.
Bell expects nine or ten of his athletes to sign some form of athletic scholarships in college.
The state indoor track championships wrapped up two weeks ago. It is somewhat of a preview of the outdoor season. James Clemens finished third (girls) and fourth (boys) but individual winners were the real story.
Kayla Williams won the 60M dash and the long jump. Josh Burks won the 60M dash.
Bell will lead a contingent of eleven James Clemens athletes to the National Indoor Track Championship in New York City March 13-15.
The following week, Bell will announce track and field scholarships.
