Bob Jones set to host Class 6A, Section 4 Track Meet
Madison- So far this season the Bob Jones track and field team has had success in meets at Metro in Huntsville and at the Patriot Games which Bob Jones hosted.
But this weekend things get serious as qualifying spots for the 2012 AHSAA State Track and Field championships in Gulf Shores will be on the line for athletes from six high schools who will converge at Bob Jones High School as the Patriots host the class 6A, section 4 meet.
High on the list of hopefuls for Bob Jones is Peyton Tyler in the mile. Tyler’s personal best is 4:38 but it may not be good enough to get him to state this time. “It’s probably going to take a 4:35 or below” to qualify for the state meet Tyler said. “It’s a lot of good competition so you can pace off each other and hope for a better time.” Tyler is a freshman who said that his goal is to get in the 4:20 range.
Chris Myrick will try to get back to state where he competed in the 2-mile last year. After leading in the first mile he faded and finished in the back of the pack. This year he says he has learned to “just go at a smarter pace and run a smarter race. This year it will be tough to get in,” said Myrick.
The younger members of the team look to senior Nick Beavers to score points and perhaps another state title in his field events
“It’s a time where the team has really improved and we’re looking to do something special,” said Beavers. He anchors the 4 x 100 relay team and wants one last crack at the school record in what will be his last state meet.
“The 110 Hurdles, I hope to get a tailwind and if I get it I should run a 13.9. That is my goal and should get me to state. The 300-meter hurdles I have been running good and I look to get a good low time to get in position for the state meet,’ said Beavers who signed a track scholarship with Army and will attend West Point . “It’s a thrill every time I have been down to the state meet,”
Beavers should know, he has qualified for the state meet every year since he was an eighth-grader. But he has some extra incentive this year. He will be out to reclaim his title from 2 years ago in the 300-meter hurdles. He is a former state champion in both the 300-meter hurdles and was a member of the state champion 4 x 400 meter relay team 2 years ago.
As for the sectional this weekend, Beavers said “there is a lot on the line. You have to show up and compete. Everybody is going to have to run and put up good marks.”
On the women’s side, Bob Jones has several athletes that have had good years in some of the field events.
Maria Lorge is one of the top three pole vaulters in the state according to Bob Jones Track and Field Coach Robin Gaines. He expects several pole vaulters to make the state meet. Lorge has a personal record of 11 feet in the pole vault. Shelbie Martin has a 9 feet 6 inch personal record.
“We can make a big impact on the state level in the pole vault if they hit their PR’s,” Gaines said.
Lorge also runs the 4 x 800 meter race along with Tiahane Holmes, Sarah Buckelew, and Vanessa Cardwell.
Tierra Jones will compete in the long jump and triple jump. Jasmine Jones had a conflict the weekend of the state meet so it is unknown if she will compete in sectionals.
“If she is in the mix then it really changes our outlook,” Gaines said of Jones, the reigning Miss Basketball in the state of Alabama. Jones competes in the high jump and shot put.
Friday will be the preliminaries in the 100 and 200 meter races, the short hurdles, and finals in the 1600-meter, 400-meter races. Also the 4 x 800 meter relay finals will be Friday. Saturday will be finals in the 4 x 100-meter race as well as the 100 and 200-meter races, and the 100-meter and the 300-meter hurdles.
Teams from Bob Jones, Huntsville, Florence, Sparkman, Buckhorn, Hazel Green and Grissom will compete. The state meet will be May 4 and 5 in Gulf Shores.
