At the LSU Indoor Classic in Baton Rouge, Alabama prep tracksters
faced off against competition from all over the Southeast. Though
host state Louisiana, neighboring Texas, and several track clubs
brought more athletes, Alabama's best were able to win and place
in several events.
Junior Jeffery Rhodes of Coffee, the 5A Cross Country champion, took
the 1600m run in a record time of 4:19.70, twelve seconds ahead of
fellow junior 5A rival Josh Pawlik. Interestingly, the previous record
was held by Sam Nuckols of Huntsville, who won the LSU 1600m after
capturing the 5A cross country title last year.
Alabama high jumpers Xavier Burney (Homewood), Chris Patton (Northridge),
and David Clyburn (Pelham) finished 1-2-3 in their event. Phelon Jones of
Saint Paul's also performed well in the jumps, taking second in both the
long jump (22' 10¼") and triple jump (45' 11¾"). Amelia Anderson, the 6A
state record holder in the triple jump from Smiths Station, finished second
in the event with a best mark of 37' 11¾". However, the triple jump is not
contested in Alabama indoor meets.
Smiths Station teammate and 6A indoor 800m record holder Chris Patrick took first
in the 800m run in 1:58.53, with defending 5A indoor champ Shawn Kays taking third
in 1:59.82. John Brigham also represented Alabama with a win in the 3200m,
his second consecutive LSU 3200m title.
Though Saint Paul's teammateMary Johnston ran under the previous meet record
in the women's 3200m, her time of 11:33.62 was only good enough for second
this year as the winner also set a meet record. Montgomery Academy's Caroline
Wool, Scottsboro's Emily Thompson, and Smiths Station's Emilie Fischer finished
3rd, 4th, and 5th behind Johnston in the race.
Complete results