Madison Academy And Sparkman Shine Gold In State Track Meet
The Sparkman High girls 4×100 relay team took home first place in the 2021 AHSAA State Track Meet in Gulf Shores. The Lady Senators on the winning relay squad were, left to right, Janae Hilliard, Ayanna Tolbert, Amanda Davis and Madesen Holman. Photo Contributed
GULF SHORES- The 2021 AHSAA State Track Meet is now in the record books and local schools picked up three gold medals with superior performances. Sparkman High won the girls 4×100 relay event in Class 7A while Madison Academy picked up gold hardware in two girls events in Class 4A including the 4×100 relay and the 100-meter.
Overall, James Clemens had nine individual All-State performances while both Bob Jones and Sparkman four each and Madison Academy earning two.
In Class 7A, Sparkman’s 4×100 relay team took the gold with a winning time of 47.44 seconds. The four-girl squad included Janae Hilliard, So., Ayanna Tolbert, Sr., Amanda Davis, Jr., and Madesen Holman, Sr.
Additional medal winning performances in Class &A include 110m hurdles- 2. Tyler Pitts, 12, Bob Jones, 14.47; 300m hurdles- 2. Tyler Pitts, 12, Bob Jones, 38.62; high jump- 2. Cosey Scarebrook, 11, Bob Jones, 6-06, 3. Keenan Walker, 10, James Clemens, 6-04; 4×100- 3. James Clemens, 42.56, Chad Coulter, Manny Sanders, Ephriam Rolingson, Keenan Hill; 100m girls- 3. Janae Hilliard, 10, Sparkman, 12.48; discus- 2. Kirsten Tigner, 12, Bob Jones, 128-04.
In Class 4A, Madison Academy’s senior Liyah Nelson won the 100-meter with a gold medal time of 12.38. Nelson, who has earned an athletic scholarship to Samford in Birmingham, was also the anchor leg of the 4×100 relay squad, which claimed the gold with a winning time of 50.75. Her teammates on the relay team included Angelina Williams, Sr., Libby Privett, Jr., and Rocky Andrews, Fr.
“When I received the baton we were behind three other teams and I kicked it into high gear as it was very challenging how far we were behind,” said Nelson, who is now an eight-time state champions and twice runner-up in her six years at Madison Academy. “I pushed myself as it was very close at the finish line for our win.”
The 5-foot-2 Nelson, who carries a 4.20 grade point average putting her No. 13 in her senior class, signed with Samford after entertaining two other scholarships offers. She set a personal best of 12.01 in the prelims of the 100-meter before taking the gold with her 12.38 time in the finals. “I got out of the starting block very quickly and was focused.”
All-State performances as a top eight finisher and not among the medal winners included for Sparkman, 200m- Johnny Holloway, 12, 200m-girls- Madesen Holman, 12, 400m girls- Madesen Holman, 12; for Madison Academy, pole vault- Aaron Davis, 12; for James Clemens, shot put- Jaylen Drake, 49-005, 200m- Chad Coulter, 22.74, triple jump- Willie Campbell, 44-11, 200m- Manny Sanders, 22.92, girls long jump- Madison Rose, 17-015, javelin- Cadence Huntsinger, 112-0, triple jump- Cadence Huntsinger, 35-11, 4×100- Madison Rose, Tramani Osley, Aniyah Alexander, Riana Wilford, 50.14, 4×800- Kayla Willett, Sydney Freeman, Makensie Parker, Katy Gudgen, 10:21.84.
In team scoring, the final results were. Class 7A Boys- 1. Vestavia Hills 104.5, 11. Bob Jones 26, 14. James Clemens 20, 20. Sparkman 7; Class 7A Girls- 1. Hoover 107.5, 10. Sparkman 23, 14. James Clemens 16, 18. Bob Jones 8; Class 4A Boys- 1. Bibb County 80, 28. Madison Academy 5; Class 4A Girls- 1. Brooks 75, Madison Academy 20.
