State Indoor Track Meet Features New State Record By James Clemens Athlete
BIRMINGHAM- All four Madison local area schools were represented on the medal stand at the 49th Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) State Indoor Track and Field Meet held at the Crossplex in Birmingham. Among the top performances was Kiara Risher of James Clemens who set a new AHSAA Class 7A state meet record in the girls high jump while Jayden Gilbert of Bob Jones was runner-up while she tied the old state record.
“I knew I could clear the 5-6 mark as I’ve been training for it and I concentrated on getting my hips up quickly and over the bar,” said Risher, senior Lady Jet who has looked at several colleges for track scholarships including Austin Peay, Jacksonville State and Samford. She plans on studying biology. “Once I cleared the bar I knew I had the state record and it was very exciting.”
Her mark was 5-feet-6 inches, while Gilbert’s post of 5-4 was good for the silver medal.
Risher was part of the school’s second-place 4×200 relay squad. She was ninth in the 60-meter and was part of the 4×400 relay team that finished eighth.
Risher is also an accomplished baton twirler as she been participating in that hobby since kindergarten. Her talents have given her numerous awards in baton twirling that she continues to participate in today.
Ashlee Osaji of James Clemens continued her dominance in the girls 7A Long Jump as the senior posted a jump of 18-02 to pick up the gold medal.
“It wasn’t a good jump for me as I was tired from prelims and races I was in and one of the competitors jumped a 17-9, so when I approached my final jump I sort of just busted out and did my best by making sure I jumped off my correct foot,” said Osaji, who is looking at Southern Miss, Auburn, Louisville and Samford at possible college choices for an athletic scholarship. “I don’t like to get beat. My frustrations got to me. I know I could do better in the triple jump as I’m ranked fifth nationally.
Osaji was also fourth in the 400-meter and triple jump while being a part of the 4×200 relay, which took second place.
The one additional gold medal winner was William Bailey of Madison Academy. He won the boys Class 4-5A Shot Put with a toss of 47-09.5.
The remaining medal winners at the season-ending meet included: 7A Boys Long Jump- 3. James Palmer, Sparkman, 20-00.15; 7A Boys 800-meter- 3. Shafi Muhammad, Bob Jones, 1-minute, 57.88 seconds; 4-5A Boys 60-meter- 3. Evan Brooks, Madison Academy, 7:01; 7A Girls 4×200 Relay- 2. James Clemens, 1:45.27- Ashlee Osaji, Ariana Martinez-Kilgore, Audriana Blakey, Kiara Risher.
The final team standings included: Boys 7A- 1. Hoover 105, 12. Bob Jones 21, 15. James Clemens 9. 19. Sparkman 3; Girls 7A- 1. Mountain Brook 71, 5. James Clemens 47, 15. Bob Jones 12; Boys 4-5A- 1. Scottsboro 76, 8. Madison Academy 21; Girls 4-5A- 1. Catholic Montgomery 80, 16. Madison Academy 8.
