Speed And State Records Lead Local Schools At State Track Meet
Gulf Shores, AL.- Two record setting performances by James Clemens and the Madison area having the fastest boy and girl by Sparkman and Madison Academy, respectively, highlighted the 2018 State Track Meet held at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex.
Senior Zuri Falkner not only set a new state, but blew away the old mark of 117-feet, nine-inches, in the Class 7A discus. The Southern Mississippi signee set a new distance of 140.08 to claim the state title for James Clemens. She also finished third in the shot put with a toss of 39-05.
The James Clemens 4X400 relay squad set a new state standard with a time of 3-minutes, 48.65-seconds to help lead the Lady Jets to a fourth place team finish. The Jets foursome included Vada Samuels, Ashlee Osaji, Uriah James and Rachel Seeley.
In what seemed to be blur performances, Sparkman junior Charles Lewis won both the Class 7-A 100 and 200 meter races. In the 100, Lewis ran a time of 10.71 while his 200 time was 21.23. In Class 4-A, Madison Academy’s Liyah Nelson copied Lewis’ performances winning both the girls 100 and 200 meter sprints. Her time of 12.29 was in the 100 while her 200 mark was 25.44. Nelson has become a marvel for the Mustangs as she is a freshman.
Sparkman’s Lauryn Hall broke the state record with a time of 11.88 in the Class 7-A Girls 100, but finished second to a sprinter from Hewitt-Trussville who posted a winning state record time of 11.73.
The Madison Academy boys 4X400 relay also topped out the competition by winning the four-man race with a time of 3:27.73.
The team standings were Boys 7-A: 1. Hoover, 138, 11. Sparkman, 22, 14. James Clemens 13 and 16. Bob Jones, 12. In Girls 7-A: 1. Hoover, 125, 4. James Clemens, 78.5, 10. Sparkman, 21 and 13. Bob Jones. In Boys 4-A: 1. Winfield, 65 and 3. Madison Academy, 48. In Girls 4-A: 1. UMS Wright, 93 and 6. Madison Academy, 43.50.
The top three medal winning performances included, Boys 7-A, 100: 1. Charles Lewis, Sparkman, 11, 10.71; 200: 1. Charles Lewis, Sparkman, 11, 21.23; Girls 7-A, triple jump: 3. Ashlee Osaji, James Clemens, 11, 38-11.25; discus: 1. Zuri Falkner, James Clemens, 12, 140-08; long jump: 2. Ashlee Osaji, James Clemens, 11, 18-00.25; 4X100: 3. Sparkman, 47.94; 100 hurdles: 3. Shataeya Ligon, James Clemens, 10, 14.47; 100: 2. Lauryn Hall, Sparkman, 12, 11.88; 400: Vada Samuels, James Clemens, 12, 55.88; 4X400: 1. James Clemens, 3:48.65; javelin: 3. Nichole Harting, Bob Jones, 11, 119.10; shot put: 3. Zuri Falkner, James Clemens, 12, 39-05; Boys 4-A, 4X100: 2. Madison Academy, 42.97; 100: 3. Evan Brooks, Madison Academy, 11, 10.85; high jump: 3. Montrell Campbell, Madison Academy, 12, 6-00; 200: 2. Evan Brooks, Madison Academy, 11, 21.86; 4X400: 1. Madison Academy, 3:27.73; Girls 4-A, 4X100: 2. Madison Academy, 50.16; 100: 1. Liyah Nelson, Madison Academy, 9, 12.29; 200: 1. Liyah Nelson, Madison Academy, 9, 25.44; 4X400: 3. Madison Academy, 4:15.31.