James Clemens and Bob Jones will be strong at State

MADISON- James Clemens hosted the Sectional track meet for Class 3A, 4A, 5A, and 7A this past weekend. It is one of the biggest undertakings of the sports year with 50 teams and 1,500 athletes running, throwing, and jumping to qualify for the state meet held in Gulf Shores.

James Clemens led the way in 7A with 10 individual champions.

James Clemens Track and Field Coach James Bell reports that 39 athletes qualified for state, the most he has ever sent. Bell also served as sectional meet coordinator.

“We have been runners up before at state but things are different this year,” Bell said. “We have multiple athletes that can finish in the top three in their events. Every point is crucial. The key to winning state is keeping our athletes healthy and uninjured, send between 30-40, have 3 in each event score, and have 5 to 10 place in top 3 in their event.”

Girls winners in field events were Kennedy Reese shot put, Zuri Falkner discus, Ashlee Osaji triple jump, and Jennifer Reis pole vault. Boys winners in field events were Noah Graham pole vault, Eric Bradshaw javelin and James Edmonds high jump.

In the running events Shataeya Ligon won 100m Hurdles and the Jets 4 x 400 relay team of Audrey Blakeley, Rachel Seeley, Uriah James and Ashley Osaji came out on top. Eric Bradshaw won the boy’s 110 hurdles.

Bob Jones Track and Field Coach Brad Jefferson reports that thanks to strong performances by the girls, 28 athletes qualified for state.

Leading the way is the 4×100 relay team of Kiara Risher, Samya Knox, Aaliyah Washington, and Ruth Battle that finished second behind Sparkman.

Battle qualified in four events: 200 and 400 meter dash and 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams. Kailyn Vinson also qualified in four events: 4×400 and 4×800 relays, 400 and 800 meter dashes.

Kiara Risher won the high jump, Malika Harry won the long jump, and Nicole Harting won the javelin.

All three are among favorites to win a state title.

The Bob Jones boys 4×100 relay team of Brad Anderson, Terrell Jennings, Khalil Griffin, and AJ Harris finished second to Sparkman.

Shafi Muhammed qualified in four events. Distance runner Jean Pierre Leroux qualified in the 3200M and the 4×800 relay team. Michael Weaver qualified in three events including the 4×800. Terrell Jennings qualified in the 100M, 200M, and 4×100 relay.

“We will be well represented in all the events,” Jefferson said. “We had a lot of personal records here at the sectional. We have a lot of bright spots and the kids are coming around at the right time. Everybody was fresh today, we didn’t travel as much and it helped our kids perform better.”

The AHSAA State Track and Field Championships start Thursday in Gulf Shores.