James Clemens Jr. High Track Team: “Best Ever”
MADISON- “This is the best junior high track team I’ve had in my 32-year career as a coach,” said Drew Bell, head coach of the James Clemens track program. Bell’s comment came after the Jets posted a dominating win in the boy’s division and a runner-up trophy by a mere point in the girl’s division of the annual James Clemens Junior High Track Meet.
“If there was a boy’s junior high national championship this squad would win it,” added Bell.
The team scoring in the recent event, which featured 20 schools, had James Clemens winning the boys with 196 points while Bob Jones was third (67) and Sparkman sixth (28). In girls, Bob Jones edged their city rival James Clemens in the final scoring 88 to 87. Sparkman was fifth (42).
Three athletes posted strong individual showings as Keenan Hill of Bob Jones won both the boy’s 100 and 200-meter races, James Clemens’ Keenan Walker won the triple jump and high jump and fellow James Clemens runner Tyrick Walker took gold in the long jump and a silver medal in the 200-meter.
Final results and medal winners in the event included- Boys: discus- 1. Edgerrin Watson, James Clemens, 142-feet, 7-inches, 3. Jackson Henderson, James Clemens, 125-09; long jump- 1. Tyrick Walker, James Clemens, 19-00.75, 2. Mike Osaji, James Clemens, 18-07.50; high jump- 1. Keenan Walker, James Clemens, 5-02, 2. Mike Osaji, James Clemens, 5-00; triple jump- 1. Keenan Walker, James Clemens, 39-02.75, 2. Mike Osaji, James Clemens, 38-11.50, 3. Kameron Barnett, James Clemens, 38-02.25; pole vault- 2. Andrew Woodrow, James Clemens, 8-00, 3. Nicholas Rushton, James Clemens, 7-06; shot put- 2. Amari Hassen, Bob Jones, 43-04.50, 3. Edgerrin Watson, James Clemens, 41-01.50; 4×100- 1. James Clemens 47.19 seconds (Olumayowa Ayileka, David Ross, Bryan Preer, Tyrik Walker), 3. Bob Jones 48.44; 1600-meter- 3. James Garrison, Bob Jones, 4:50.51; 400-meter- 2. Davon Debose, Sparkman, 55.13; 100-meter- 1. Keenan Hill, Bob Jones, 11.50, 2. Tyrik Walker, James Clemens, 11.80; 110-meter hurdles- 1. Johnathan Campbell, James Clemens, 17.54, 2. Bryan Preer, James Clemens, 18.58, 3. Michael Ross, James Clemens, 18.92; 800-meter- 1. Isaul Rubio-Montano, James Clemens, 2:13.59; 200-meter- 1. Keenan Hill, Bob Jones, 24.11, 3. David Ross, James Clemens, 24.72; 4×400-meter- 1. James Clemens 3:57.04 (Olumayowa Ayileka, Pierce Roper, Isaul Rubio-Montano, David Ross), 2. Bob Jones 3:59.15.
Girls: discus- 3. Alayna Langston, James Clemens, 67-00; pole vault- 2. Sydney Truesdail, Bob Jones, 7-00; triple jump- 2. Xanyah Edwards, James Clemens, 30-02.50, 3. Alicia Stanford, James Clemens, 30-02; shot put- 3. Aja Black, Bob Jones, 30-03; high jump- 1. Brenna Powell, Bob Jones, 4-08, 3. Lily Melton, James Clemens, 4-06; 4×100- 1. Sparkman, 51.98; 1600-meter- 2. Sydney Freeman, James Clemens, 5:58.18; 400-meter- 2. Rian Edwards, Bob Jones, 1:03.62; 800-meter- 1. Marjorie Baumbach, Bob Jones, 2:34.86, 2. Sydney Freeman, James Clemens, 2:38.45; 200-meter- Rian Edwards, Bob Jones, 27.52, 3. Rasia Graves, Sparkman, 28.04; 4×400- 1. Bob Jones, 4:45.56, 3. Bob Jones-B, 5:01.21;
The James Clemens’ boys are currently undefeated on the outdoor track season and combining both the girls and boys have 10 athletes nationally ranked among the top 25 in the country.
