James Clemens Finish 1-2 At Indoor Pentathlon State Championships

BIRMINGHAM- James Clemens set a record in the Indoor Pentathlon State Championship and won six medals as the Last Chance Indoor Track Meet held at the CrossPlex in Birmingham. The event was the last chance for athletes to qualify for the Indoor Track State Meet scheduled for Feb. 4. The State Indoor Track & Field Championship is set up where each school can enter their top two athletes who have met the state qualifying mark in each event. James Clemens qualified 20 athletes and four relay squads to the State Meet.

The Last Chance Meet also served as host to the State Indoor Pentathlon Championship. Each athlete competes in five events: 60m Hurdles; Long Jump; High Jump; Shot Put and the 800m for girls and the 1000m for boys. The top five athletes are selected All-State and received medals.

James Clemens made history by finishing as the Individual State Champion and runner-up becoming the first school to claim the top two spots. Benjamin Thomason claimed the first place medal with 3379 points, setting a new school record, while teammate Issac Pollard finished second with a school best 3,198 points. In the pentathlon five events, Thomason set a new school record in the 60M hurdles 8.38 finishing in first place; set a new school record in the long jump 21-6.25 finishing in second place; Seventh place high jump 5-7.25; set a personal record in the shot put 37-2.75 in fifth place; Set a personal record in the 1000M 3:01.20 for fourth place. Pollard also scored more points than the previous school record as he won the 1000m 2:51.37 with a personal record; fourth place 60m hurdles 8.85; seventh high jump 5-7.25; seventh long jump 20-2.75; fifth shot put 33-00.

The James Clemens Boys team claimed 4 medals in the LAST CHANCE INVITATIONAL Senior Jaylen Drake dominated the Shot Put with his best performance of the season 51-1. He finished over three feet ahead of the 2nd place competitor. James Clemens distance runners produced State Qualifying performances: In the 800M, Dylan Dryer ran 1:58.73 (Currently #4 in 7A State); John Luke Stovall ran a season best 800M 2:01.53 and qualified for the State Meet. In the 1600M Luke Alverson set a new Indoor School Record 4:24.89 qualifying for the State Meet; Dylan Dryer has also qualified for State in the 1600M with a 4:25.25. In the 3200M, Luke Alverson set the School Record and qualified for the State Meet with a 9:42.09; Cole Robinson ran his Personal Record in the meet and qualified for state with a 9:47.75 3200M. The JC Boys distance runners qualified for State in the MLK Invitational crushing the School Record by 11 seconds with a 8:04.65 (13th in the Nation) John Luke Stovall; Luke Alveron; Cole Robinson; and Dylan Dryer. This mark qualified them for the National Scholastic Indoor Championship to be held in March in Boston.

The Jets closed out the meet by winning the 4X400. “The positive attitude of this team this season is amazing. Our motto has been nothing is impossible. “BEAST MODE” equals “PR (Personal Record) City,” head coach Drew Bell had told the 4X400 team they were not going to run since Thomason and Pollard had competed in 5 events earlier in the day in the Pentathlon and Dryer had pushed himself to the max in the 1600M and 800M. “The relay squad decided to run anyway, and they not only ran, but won the GOLD MEDAL First Place in the 4X400M with Thomason and Pollard competing in their 6th event of the day.” Robinson, who had just finished racing the 3200M with his best time ever and Ezion Rolingson, who ran a fierce anchor leg refusing to lose as the effort and desire displayed in the race was overwhelming.

James Clemens Lady JETS were led in the meet by Tramani Osley State Qualifying BRONZE MEDAL 3rd place and Personal Record in the Long Jump 16-08 and 8th place Triple Jump 33-05.25. The Lady JETS 4X400 claimed the 4th place Medal: Ayana Lee; Kayla Willett; Claire Colo; and Ella Carter with a season best and State qualifying mark of 4:20.22.

LAST CHANCE INVITATIONAL SCORERS and MEDAL WINNERS
GIRLS:

3rd BRONZE MEDAL Tramani Osley Long Jump 16-08.25

4th 4X400 4:20.22 Ayana Lee; Kayla Willett; Claire Colo; and Ella Carter

BOYS:

1st GOLD MEDAL 4X400 3:33.95 : Ben Thomason; Isaac Pollard; Cole Robinson; Ezion Rolingson STATE QUALIFIER
1st GOLD MEDAL Jaylen Drake Shot Put 51-1
1st GOLD MEDAL Pentathlon 3379 Ben Thomason 3379 STATE CHAMPION & SCHOOL RECORD
2nd SILVER MEDAL Pentathlon 3098 Isaac Pollard STATE RUNNER UP

6th 1600M Luke Alverson 4:24.89 SCHOOL RECORD  STATE QUALIFIER

6th  3200M Cole Robinson 9:47.75 STATE QUALIFIER.

STATE QUALIFIERS FOR THE 7A STATE MEET

9 GIrls

ELLA CARTER: 4X400 4:20.22 & 4×800 10:04.57

MADISON CISZCZON High Jump 4-8

CLAIRE COLO: 4X400 4:20.22 & 4×800 10:04.57

ASHLYN DIEHL Pole Vault 9-0

KYLIE GERO: 1600 5:30.31; 3200M 12:06.16 and 4X400 4:20.22 & 4×800 10:04.57

KAYLEY GILMAN 4×800 10:04.57

AYANA LEE: 4X400 4:20.22

TRAMANI OSLEY Long Jump 16-8 and Triple Jump 35-10

KAYLA WILLETT: 4X400 4:20.22 & 4×800 10:04.57

STATE QUALIFIERS FOR THE 7A STATE MEET

12 BOYS

AUSTIN ABNEY Pole Vault 12-0

LUKE ALVERSON 1600 4:24.24; 3200M 9:42.09; 4X400 3:32.16; 4X800 8:04.65

LUCAS DOWNING High Jump 6-0

JAYLEN DRAKE Shot Put 51-1

DYLAN DRYER 800M 1:58.25; 1600M 4:25.25; 4X400 3:32.16; 4X800 8:04.65

BRANDON FISHER Pole Vault 11-9

GARRETT GALLAGHER 4X800 8:04.65

ISAAC POLLARD 60 M HURDLES 8.85; 4X400 3:32.16

COLE ROBINSON 3200M 9:49.75; 4X400 3:32.16; 4X800 8:04.65

EZION ROLINGSON 4X400 3:32.16

JOHN LUKE STOVALL 800M 2:01.53 4X400 3:32.16; 4X800 8:04.65

BEN THOMASON 60M HURDLES 8.38; LONG JUMP 21-6.25; TRIPLE JUMP 40-4;  4X400 3:32.16.