The 7A division of the AHSAA State Championship closed Saturday, May 2 at Gulf Shores Municipal Track with an upset on the girls side and the deepest individual triple of the meet on the boys side.
Team Standings
Girls - State Champion (Blue Map): Auburn (112.5). Runner-Up (Red Map): Hoover (100).
- Auburn - 112.5
- Hoover - 100
- Hewitt-Trussville - 62
- Opelika - 61
- James Clemens - 50
Hoover entered as the favorite based on seed marks and was edged by 12.5 points by an Auburn squad that scored across the entire program to claim the Blue Map. The Tigers won the 4x100 relay (47.46), got individual wins from senior Katherine Lee in the 100 hurdles (14.58) and senior McKinsie Register in the 300 hurdles (42.47), took the high jump on a jump-off, and racked up scoring placements across both hurdles and field events. Hoover answered with the headline distance performance of senior Reese Gonzalez (8th grade), the pole vault title from Audrey Gault, and the 4x400 relay win, but Auburn's depth was decisive and the Bucs settled for the Red Map. Hewitt-Trussville's 4x800 relay title (9:32.05) anchored the third-place finish.
Boys - State Champion (Blue Map): Hoover (130). Runner-Up (Red Map): Hewitt-Trussville (103.5).
- Hoover - 130
- Hewitt-Trussville - 103.5
- Vestavia Hills - 97.5
- Huntsville - 75
- Auburn - 47
Hoover's boys team kept the championship with their overall team depth. Senior Hunter Purdue doubled in the 100 (11.12) and long jump (24-00.50), Norman Settles won the pole vault at 15-00, Jeremiah Tabb won the 110 hurdles (14.97), and the Bucs took the 4x100 relay (41.63) en route to the Blue Map. Hewitt-Trussville claimed the Red Map on Demetri Hall Jr.'s 300 hurdles win (37.96) and senior Devin Kouanvih's 200 win (22.08), with depth across the relays. Vestavia Hills finished six points back of second on the strength of senior John Hayes's 800-1600-3200 distance triple and a meet-winning 4x800 relay (7:48.34).
Meet Records
Rashad Jones (Foley, 12) broke the 7A boys javelin meet record with a throw of 199-00, four inches better than George Mann's 198-08 mark from 2023.
Individual Highlights
Sprints
James Clemens junior Erihana Johnson won the 100 in 12.07. Junior teammate London Hall won the 200 in 24.28. Alieah Nelms (Opelika, 10) won the 400 in 55.47.
On the boys side, Hunter Purdue (Hoover, 12) won the 100 in 11.12 (he also won the long jump). Devin Kouanvih(Hewitt-Trussville, 11) won the 200 in 22.08, and Mikele Ellison (Huntsville, 11) won the 400 in 47.94.
Hurdles
Auburn dominated the girls hurdles. Senior Katherine Lee won the 100 hurdles in 14.58, and junior McKinsie Register won the 300 hurdles in 42.47. The two events accounted for 20 points toward Auburn's championship.
Jeremiah Tabb (Hoover, 12) won the boys 110 hurdles in 14.97. Demetri Hall Jr. (Hewitt-Trussville, 11) won the boys 300 hurdles in 37.96.
Distance
Vestavia Hills senior John Hayes swept the 800 (1:53.97), 1600 (4:11.10), and 3200 (9:19.51), capping the highest individual point total of any 7A boy at 30. Riley Zeanah (Vestavia Hills, 12) won the girls 800 in 2:14.85. Anna James Litty (Vestavia Hills, 12) won the 1600 in 4:58.00, dipping under five minutes. Reese Gonzalez (Hoover, 8th grade) won the 3200 in 10:50.28.
Field Events
Victoria Weeden (Auburn, 11) won the high jump at 5-06.00 in a jump-off. Audrey Gault (Hoover, 11) won the pole vault at 11-00.00. Kalah Christopher (Bob Jones, 12) won the long jump at 18-10.25. Ava Washington (Oak Mountain, 9) won the triple jump at 40-03.00. Legend Fitzpatrick (Opelika, 11) won the shot put at 44-00.25. Kennady Caldwell (Opelika, 9) won the discus at 143-02. Mary Camille Hodge (Huntsville, 12) won the javelin at 125-02.
On the boys side, Tyrone Clary Jr. (Carver Montgomery, 12) won the high jump at 6-08.00. Norman Settles (Hoover, 12) won the pole vault at 15-00.00. Hunter Purdue (Hoover, 12) won the long jump at 24-00.50. Kymani Clary(Carver Montgomery, 12) won the triple jump at 48-05.00. William Hardy (Huntsville, 12) won the shot put at 57-10.00. Carnell Jackson (Auburn, 12) won the discus at 180-10. Rashad Jones (Foley, 12) won the javelin at 199-00 (meet record).
Relays
Girls: Auburn won the 4x100 in 47.46, Hoover won the 4x400 in 3:51.49, and Hewitt-Trussville won the 4x800 in 9:32.05.
Boys: Hoover won the 4x100 in 41.63, Thompson won the 4x400 in 3:16.79, and Vestavia Hills won the 4x800 in 7:48.34.