Discovery, Liberty Finish 1-2 At State Middle School Indoor Track Championships

BIRMINGHAM- In what is regarded as the closest finish in a championship track meet in the history of Alabama high school athletics, Discovery and Liberty Middle Schools finished 1-2 in boys at the recent Middle School Indoor Track Championships. Under the high school banner of Bob Jones, Discovery took the championship trophy by a mere two-thirds of a point over Liberty (James Clemens) in team scoring 46-45.25.

The championship was not determined until the final event of the meet. With Liberty holding a 3.25-point lead over Discovery, the two battled for the title in the 4 X 200 relay. The Discovery Panthers posted a winning time of 1-minute, 41.61-seconds to take the race and hoisted the championship trophy. Liberty finished third in the race with a time of 1:44.11.

In girls’ competition, Bumpus Middle School took the title while Liberty finished seventh and Discovery ninth.

The top three medal places in individual events included the spectacular performance of Discovery’s Cosey Scarebrook who set a new state record by claiming the gold medal in the high jump. His new standard mark is 5-feet, 10.5-inches. Liberty’s Johnathan Campbell won the silver medal with a mark of 5-feet-4. Campbell would also win a silver medal in the 60-meter hurdles by setting a new Liberty school record of 9.26-seconds. Meanwhile, fellow Liberty teammate Tyrik Walker claimed the silver in the long jump with a new school record of 18-feet, 1.25-inches. Keenan Hill of Discovery took bronze with a jump of 18-01.

Liberty’s Xanayah Edwards earned her place among the best with a gold medal in the long jump (15-2) and a bronze medal in the 60-meter sprint (8.59).