Oak Mountain's Payne Leads Barrage of Record-Breakers In Alabama With All-Time Best 400 (53.55)

By Arthur L. Mack for DyeStat

GULF SHORES, Ala. — It was just a matter of time before records started breaking like glass at the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A-7A Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium on the grounds of the Gulf Shores Sports Complex.

When it did, it was not just in one classification, but all of them.

As expected, Hoover won the Class 7A boys title for the third year in a row. The big surprise came when James Clemens High, in only its seventh year of existence, won the Class 7A girls crown. And in Class 6A, Homewood cemented its reputation as one of the state’s elite track and field programs, winning the boys and girls team titles with relative ease.

Back to the meet records. Some were set in the preliminary rounds of the sprints, only to be broken again in the finals.

CLASS 7A - RESULTS

Hoover’s boys proved again that a well-rounded team will result in a state title almost every time. The Bucs scored 105.50 points, easily beating second-place Vestavia Hills (62.50) and third place Hewitt-Trussville (60). They were able to pull off another state championship win by having people step up to replace several key members who were injured.

In fact, Hoover won only one individual event — John Watkins took the triple jump (48 feet, 2 inches) -- but made up for it by having other athletes place in key events and the 4x100 relay squad won in a time of 41.77 seconds.

“We were shooting for 100 points, and we were over that, so I’m happy with the performance this weekend,” Hoover coach Devon Hind said. “It takes a lot of good athletes to win state, and it takes a lot of depth. Three of our guys who were on the winning 4x400 meter relay were not even supposed to be on that relay — they got on there last week because of injuries to key members. That’s some nice depth.”

Meanwhile, there were several outstanding performances from individual athletes. Vestavia Hills’ sophomore sensation Ethan Strand won the 800 (1:54.52), the 1,600 (4:18.63), and the 3,200 (9:21.31). Harvest Sparkman’s Charles Lewis won the 100 in a wind-aided 10.49, and set a new state meet record in the 200-meter prelims, running 20.96. In the finals, he ran 21.10. Hewitt-Trussville’s Stone Shelnutt won the 400 (48.26), and Oak Mountain’s Trey Allen won the high jump (6-8), while teammate Harrison Dimrick won the discus with a meet record 181-3.

In addition, Hoover Spain Park’s Matthew Gray won the shot (58-8), while Huntsville won a hotly-contested 4x800 relay (7:54.57).

On the girls side, James Clemens narrowly defeated Auburn 82 to 80.50, while Mobile McGill-Toolen Catholic was third (64). For James Clemens coach Drew Bell, it was a matter of sticking together and having some multi-talented athletes.

“It would be no fun without a battle, but we had faith,” he said. “We should have had a title before, and this was the time. “We had some talented athletes, and we shifted them where they were needed. They didn’t ask any questions — they just go.”

Two of the reasons why the Jets won the title were the performances of Ashlee Osaji, who won the long jump (19-7.50) and the triple jump (40-3.75), and also finished second in the 200 (24.18) and third in the 400 (56.18); and Kiara Risher, who along with McGill-Toolen freshman Ella Keaton, tied the state meet record in the high jump (5-6).

Oak Mountain’s Nicole Payne enjoyed a memorable state championship, winning the 100 meters (11.82), the 200 in a wind-aided 23.74 after running that same time in the prelims to set a new state record, and winning the 400 in a state meet record and all-time state best 53.55.

“There were some goals that I wanted to set, but you can’t do it all the time,” Payne said. “But it’s really helpful to have other fast girls around to run these fast times with, because without them, you really can’t. It’s a blessing to be able to get state records, but I have to thank my coaches, parents and teammates, because without them, I don’t think that I can do it.”

Payne was not the only Class 7A girl to break a state meet record. Auburn’s Samantha Rogers, after winning the 1,600 in 4:57.90 on the meet’s first day, came back to break the 3,200-meter meet record with a time of 10:37.67. It broke her record of 10:53.12 from two years ago. Alabaster Thompson’s Makenzie Hogue was also under the old record, running 10:43.56.

McGill-Toolen’s Hannah Daffin broke her own state meet record in the shot put with 43-10.50, breaking her own record of 40-6.25. Hewitt-Trussville’s Lea Townsend also broke the meet record, throwing 42-5.50.

CLASS 6A - RESULTS

Homewood defeated Tuscaloosa Northridge 136-86, while Opelika was third with 69. Homewood was led by Will Stone, who won the 800 (1:56.29), 1,600 (4:15.76), and 3,200 meters (9:21.68), and anchored the winning 4x800 relay team, which ran 8:00.01. The Patriots also got big wins from Josh Thomas in the triple jump (47-0) and the 110-meter high hurdles (14.93).

Huntsville Mae Jemison’s Tyler Davis had a strong performance, winning the 100 (10.50) and 200 (21.14), while Bay Minette’s Baldwin County High won the 4x100 in 41.81. Helena’s Jonah Hyde won the high jump (6-6), while Dothan’s Nathan Cooper won the shot put (58-6.25).

On the girls side, Homewood scored 123 points, while Pelham was second with 65.50. Homewood got double wins from Lainey Phelps in the 1,600 (5:02.94) and the 3,200 (11:00.96), and Makiyah Sills in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles (14.02/45.08). The Patriots also got a big win from Aiya Finch in the triple jump (39-9.25).

Another double winner was Park Crossing’s Jasmine Riley, who won the 100 and 200 (11.42/23.79). While the 100 was wind-aided, it was still an excellent performance. Prichard Blount’s Karmen Williams broke a 6A meet record in the javelin with a throw of 145-8. Williams, who also won the shot put (40-5.50), said she was in disbelief that she set the javelin record.

“Anything can happen on any given day, so I was kind of nervous coming into the meet,” she said. “I was so amazed, and I was like, ‘Did I really just break the record?’ I was in my head at first, but eventually, I pulled it together.”

CLASS 5A - RESULTS

Scottsboro swept the boys and girls team titles with narrow victories over Birmingham Ramsay. The boys won by a five-point margin, 83-78, while the girls eked out a 83.70 to 83 victory.

On the boys side, Scottsboro got wins from Cooper Atkins in the 1,600 (4:24.40), and eighth-grade sensation Maddox Hamm in the pole vault (14-9). The highlight of the meet was Etowah denying Prichard Vigor a chance at a third straight 4x100 relay title. Etowah won that race in a state-meet record 41.35, while Vigor ran 41.75. One of the members of Etowah’s relay team, Martavious Davis, won the 200 in a wind-aided 21.33.

Birmingham’s Briarwood Christian’s Jake Nunn won the 400 and 800 (49.00/1:57.57); Center Point’s Jalen Aibogun won the 110-and 300-meter hurdles (14.26/38.67).

Scottsboro’s girls were led by Lauren Hamm, who won the pole vault (11-0), Isabel Wynn, who won the 800 (2:21.47) and Isabella Noble, who won the 3,200 (11:54.18). Ramsay set meet records in the 4x100 (46.99) and 4x400 (3:59.89). Birmingham Woodlawn’s Breanna Brown set a new high jump record (5-10.50) and won the triple jump (37-11.75), and added a second-place finish in the long jump (17-11.75).

Montgomery Brewbaker Tech’s Chanice Spicer won three events — the 100 (11.76), the 200 (24.24), and the 400 (55.93). Spicer broke the 100-meter record of 11.84 in the prelims, running 11.79 in the prelims, while setting the meet record in the 200 in the finals.

CLASS 4A - RESULTS

Greensboro defeated Elmore County 66.50 to 60.50 to win the boys title, while Catholic-Montgomery defeated Montgomery Academy 102-63 to take the girls title.

Greensboro’s boys were led by KaMari Webb, who won the 110-meter high hurdles, while Elmore County was led by DJ Patrick, who won the 400 (48.44) and triple jump (46-0.50). Patrick was also third in the long jump (23-2).

Mobile Christian’s Josiah Harry had a strong performance in the shot and discus, winning both with throws of 57-3 and 176-5, respectively. The 57-3 mark in the shot was a new meet record. Tuscaloosa’s American Christian Academy’s Luke Skinner won the 200 (22.14) and long jump (23-8.50) and was also second in the 400 (50.10); while Brett Bonikowski of Montgomery’s Loveless Academy Magnet Program (LAMP) was also a double winner in the 1,600 (4:27.55) and 3,200 (9:47.09).

Catholic-Montgomery’s girls were led by Amaris Tyynismaa, who won the 800 (2:17.49), the 1,600 (5:01.25), and 3,200 (11:24.78); and Isabelle Cochran, who won the 300-meter hurdles (46.80) and long jump (16-11). Madison Academy’s Liyah Nelson won the 100 and 200 (12.07/25.16).