St. Bernard's Andrew Sweeney, left, took bronze in the 3,200 meter. / Josh McBrayer
BIRMINGHAM – Friday was day one of the 2017-18 AHSAA Indoor Track and Field State Championships, and it was a flurry of action from start to finish.
TRACK
Girls 1A-3A 3,200 meter
St. Bernard’s Leahrose Mami looked good in her 3,200-meter run to open the day. She ran the 2-mile course in 12:14.32 good for fifth place, just short of the medal podium.
Boys 1A-3A 3,200 meter
St. Bernard’s Andrew Sweeney made the most of the 1A-3A 3,200-meter and finished the run in third, his first medal in the 3,200. Sweeney clocked in at 9:54.18. Other local runners were (10th) Jonathan Collette, Cold Springs, 11:06.46 and (17th) Seth Walker, Cold Springs, 11:57.72.
Boys 4A-5A 3,200-meter
Fairview Aggie Quinton Chambers was the lone local runner in the 4A-5A 3200 and he ran an impressive race, placing 14th out of 32 qualified runners with a time of 10:36.43.
Boys 6A 3,200-meter
Eli Wilhite represented the Cullman Bearcats in impressive fashion. He flew around the 2-mile track and took silver, only one second off gold. Wilhite’s time was 9:38.04. Cullman’s Will Thompson placed 10th at 10:27.90.
Girls 1A-3A 60-meter hurdles
A false start spelled the downfall for St. Bernard's Gracie Loyd. She was the only local runner in the field.
Girls 4A-5A 60-meter hurdles
West Point’s Sadie Junkins ran the 60-meter hurdles well, coming in seventh at 10.42, placing herself in prime contention for a medal come Saturday.
Boys 4A-5A 60-meter hurdles
West Point’s Hunter Appling (first, at 8.32) and Fairview’s Tyvn Ellis (eighth, at 9.87) both looked impressive in their respective heats Friday. Both runners qualified for the finals Saturday. West Point’s Joshua Couch placed 14th at 10.48.
Girls 1A-3A 60-meter dash
St. Bernard’s Loyd looked good in the 60-meter dash but fell just short of qualifying for Saturday's final, coming in 10th at 8.71.
Boys 4A-5A 60-meter dash
West Point’s Appling put himself in a good position to medal Saturday as he took seventh in the 4A-5A 60-meter dash, at 7.23. West Point’s Couch came in 11th at 7.34 and Fairview’s Ellis was 42nd at 8.01.
Boys 6A 60-meter dash
Despite running a great race, Will Kress was unable to break the top eight and did not qualify for Saturday's finals, coming in 43rd at 7.65.
Boys 1A-3A 800-meter
Cold Springs’ Cole Akridge looked good in the 1A-3A 800 meter but could not pull ahead on the final stretch, coming in 13th at 2:16.09.
Boys 4A-5A 800-meter
Fairview’s Chambers ran well all day but fell just short of his goals in the 4A-5A 800-meter, taking 21st at 2:10.84.
Boys 4A-5A 4×200 meter relay
The West Point relay team was on point for the 4×200 relay but came up three places short on the podium Friday afternoon with a time of 1:38.10.
FIELD
Boys 6A long jump
The field was stacked in the boys 6A long jump, but Cullman’s Cameron Baumgartner held his own with a great showing and a top jump of 19-01.25, earning him 13th place.
Girls 4A-5A shot put
West Point’s Shelby Sellers was full of Lady Warrior pride as she entered the shot-put ring a contender and exited a medal winner. Sellers nabbed third place with 32-01.00. Fairview’s Lorin Zehr came in eighth at 29-03.25.
Girls 4A-5A triple jump
The triple jump field was headed up by local West Point standout Junkins, who placed 17th with a jump of 29-04.25.
Girls 1A-3A pole vault
Being the only athlete to compete from Addison, the pressure was on Emee Baldwin and she delivered. She cleared the bar at 10 feet, good enough for a medal and third place on the podium. St. Bernard’s Anna Faulk came in ninth at 8-00.00. Meek’s Jaycey Bowling came in 10th, also at 8-00.0.
Girls 6A pole vault
Cullman’s Anna Franklin took to the air Friday in the girls 6A pole vault and took home the silver with 9-09.00.
Boys 6A high jump
Cullman’s Colton Smith cleared the bar at 6-02.00, coming in fifth, and missing the podium by just 2 inches.
Boys 6A shot put
Two Bearcats qualified for the 6A shot put but came up short. Garrett Crider finished 16th with 38-10.25 and Will Reid got 18th at 35-10.00.
Girls 1A-3A long jump
St. Bernard’s Loyd jumped as far as her legs would carry her in the girls 1A-3A long jump, but she fell four places short of the podium, coming in seventh at 14-11.25.
Girls 6A triple jump
Lexi Dailey represented Cullman in the girls 6A triple jump, finishing with a final of 32-05.25, in 11th place.
The AHSAA 2017-18 Indoor State Championship continues Saturday starting at 8 a.m.
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