The 4A division wrapped up at Gulf Shores Municipal Track on May 2 with one of the closest team finishes in recent memory on the girls side and a 34-point boys championship for Anniston.
Team Standings
Girls - State Champion (Blue Map): Hamilton (52.5). Runner-Up (Red Map): Altamont (52).
- Hamilton - 52.5
- Altamont - 52
- Montgomery Academy - 49
- Westminster Christian - 45
- Saint John Paul II - 44
A half-point separated the Blue Map and Red Map. Hamilton claimed the state championship largely behind senior Kyra Casey, who won four individual events on her own - the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump, and triple jump - accounting for 40 of the team's 52.5 points. Altamont answered with a distance corps led by sophomore Elle Sellers, who swept the 1600 and 3200, and added the 4x800 relay title at 10:00.32, securing the runner-up trophy. Montgomery Academy's depth in the sprints and 4x400 kept the third-place team within striking distance through the final running event.
Boys - State Champion (Blue Map): Anniston (82). Runner-Up (Red Map): Catholic-Montgomery (48).
- Anniston - 82
- Catholic-Montgomery - 48
- Hamilton - 46
- Dar - 35
- Oneonta - 33
Anniston claimed the Blue Map by 34 points behind senior Elijah Lanier (110 and 300 hurdles double) and the Bulldogs' winning 4x400 relay (3:23.65), with Keddrick Jordan and Liberty Lewis's contributing across the sprints. Catholic-Montgomery secured the Red Map on the strength of senior Cayden Dees (shot put, discus double) and sophomore Cole Henson, who set a new meet record in the 1600.
Meet Records
Cole Henson (Catholic-Montgomery, 4:15.74 in the boys 1600) erased the 4A meet record of 4:17.67 set by Westminster Christian Academy's Ryan Ford in 2016. Henson came back the next day to win the 800 in 1:56.35.
Cara Huff (Indian Springs, 12th) shattered the 4A girls discus record by nearly 19 feet, winning at 151-00 to break Erin Jewell's 132-01.25 mark from 2016. Huff also won the shot put at 45-06.50, just one inch off her own meet record from a year ago.
Individual Highlights
Sprints
Senior Eva Armstead (Hatton) swept the 100 (12.53), 200 (24.95), and 400 (53.31). The 400 was her widest margin - she won by more than two seconds.
Braylin Jackson (Pike County, 12) doubled in the 100 (11.36) and 200 (22.28). Brent Acker (St. Michael, 12) took the 400 in 48.55.
Hurdles
Kyra Casey (Hamilton, 12) won the 100 hurdles in 15.20 and the 300 hurdles in 43.83. Elijah Lanier (Anniston, 11) won the 110 hurdles in 15.24 and the 300 hurdles in 38.69.
Distance
Elle Sellers (Altamont, 10) won the 1600 in 5:20.58 and the 3200 in 11:35.37. Abigail Norris (Westminster Christian, 10) won the 800 in 2:18.14.
On the boys side, Cole Henson (Catholic-Montgomery, 10) won the record-setting 1600 (4:15.74) and the 800 (1:56.35). Bailey Kendrick (Dar, 12) won the 3200 in 9:34.77.
Field Events
Kyra Casey (Hamilton, 12) won the long jump at 18-09.25 and the triple jump at 38-02.00.
Cara Huff (Indian Springs, 12) won the shot put at 45-06.50 and the discus at 151-00 (meet record). Mia Goss(Brooks, 11) won the javelin at 117-04.
Cora Rimes (Madison Academy, 8) won the high jump at 5-02.00 and Katie Lowe (Saint John Paul II, 12) won the pole vault at 11-00.00.
On the boys side, Cayden Dees (Catholic-Montgomery, 12) won the shot put at 54-02.25 and the discus at 176-05. Josh Storey (Talladega, 12) won the javelin at 182-01. Elijah Stegall (Handley, 10) won the triple jump at 48-06.00, and Michael Hill (Oneonta, 9) won the long jump at 22-07.75. Josiah Dorsey (Saint John Paul II, 11) won the high jump at 6-04.00, and Knox Wingate (Montgomery Academy, 12) won the pole vault at 13-00.00.
Relays
Girls: Anniston won the 4x100 in 49.61, Dar won the 4x400 in 4:08.17, and Altamont won the 4x800 in 10:00.32.
Boys: Jackson HS won the 4x100 in 43.88, Anniston won the 4x400 in 3:23.65, and Hamilton won the 4x800 in 8:25.72.