James Clemens’ girls finish third at state indoor track
The dynamic duo from Bob Jones, Alivia Urrutia, left, and Jasmyne Rochelle, each won gold medals at the AHSAA Indoor Track State Championships. Photo by Brad Jefferson
BIRMINGHAM – Three local schools placed among the top 10 in girls competition at the AHSAA State Indoor Track Championships held at the SportsPlex in Birmingham. James Clemens led the local squads with a third place finish while Bob Jones took seventh and Sparkman in the No. 10 slot. Each girls’ team captured at least one gold medal.
Erihana Johnson, a junior, won the Girls 7A state title in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.49 and is currently ranked ninth nationally. Sophomore Trinity Milligan captured the 7A state title in the triple jump with a mark of 39-03.50, ranking her 13th nationally, and added a sixth-place finish in the long jump. London Hall placed fifth in the 60m and fourth in the 400m and ranks 39th nationally in the 60m and 40th nationally in the 400m.
Relay performances were a major strength for James Clemens. The girls 4x200m relay team captured the 7A state championship with a time of 1:41.84, earning a new Alabama No. 1 ranking and a No. 22 national ranking. Team members include Milligan, Johnson, McKynzie Horton (10), and Hall (11). Meanwhile, the Lady Jets 4x800m relay team recorded an 11-second personal record while earning a new Alabama No. 25 season-best ranking. Team members include Elisa Rolingson (10), Alissa Ferrara (10), Claire Colo (12), and Ella Carter (12).
The Bob Jones Lady Patriots had two first place gold medal winners. Junior Alivia Urrutia took first in the 400m event with a winning time of 55.86 and Jasmyne Rochelle (11) was the highest in the state winning the 7A high jump with a winning mark of 5-feet, 4-inches. Urrutia also brought home a third place medal in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.32. “One of her goals this season was to compete at a high level indoors, run the 60-meter hurdles at a high level, and hold both the indoor and outdoor titles at the same time,” said Brad Jefferson, head coach of the Bob Jones track program, but has been sidelined due to illness and has had three assistant coaches, Zeke Parker, Adriel Walker and Kiara Risher step into leading roles. “On the biggest stage, Alivia PR’d in every event she ran including a personal record in the 400 meters. She was not intimidated. She stayed focused, and when the gun went off, she didn’t just show out, she showed up.”
“I was very emotional about this state title. I was thinking about all the work I have put in over the years specifically for this moment,” said Urrutia, who is being recruited by some of the major college track programs in the country, “My second lap I knew I had to go. I did not want to sit behind anyone, so I went ahead and made my moves as early as possible. I couldn’t feel anything until maybe five minutes after my race. I was just in shock. The next day it finally hit me. I realized this is what I have been chasing for so long. I am content with my efforts, but not finished.”
“Jazmyne is a two-time Indoor State Champion. She won her first title two years ago as a freshman, and now, as a junior, she came back determined to reclaim what she knew she was capable of achieving,” said Jefferson. “Jazmyne is the kind of athlete who always comes prepared. She works hard, she practices with purpose, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. After 27 years in education and coaching, I’ve seen athletes in every form you can imagine, but this young lady has something special. She is truly an once-in-alifetime talent.”
“This championship feels like a statement. I know I have earned this and I am so thankful for both state titles as the emotions I felt were unexplainable,” said Rochelle. “This moment means a lot to me as the past two years I fell short, but I have never quit. I am proud of myself and all the work I have put in to be able to regain that state title. I felt so much joy in that moment after being so nervous all week.”
Sparkman was represented on the medal podium by senior Charity Collier who won the 7A shot put with a throw of 36-feet, 11-inches.
The boys 4x200m relay team also posted a personal record for James Clemens, earning a new Alabama No. 35 ranking. Team members include Mason Rose (12), Brendan Gladney (11), Jaxon Pettigrew (12), and Pierre Carter (11). Additional highlights included season-best performances from John Litavec in the boys 800m earning a new Alabama No.
47 ranking and Nadia Holmes, who placed eighth in the girls 800m. Both athletes recorded three-second personal records. Casey Lochridge (11) recorded a season-best 45-05.00 in the shot put, improving his PR by 1 foot, 5-one half-inches, and earning a new Alabama No. 35 ranking.
Team scores in girls were: 1. Hoover 77, 3. James Clemens 43, 7. Bob Jones 29, 10. Sparkman 24. Team scores in boys included: 1. Hewitt-Trussville 112, 9. Sparkman 17.
