| Weekend's Top Performances | ||
|---|---|---|
 Tara Lenn of the Saint Paul's 4x800m (photo: Dyestat) |
Alabama track & field athletes sought competition beyond the state's borders this past weekend. Small-school distance runners Brandon Smith
and Joy Griffith put on a show for their future collegiate team at the Mississippi State High School Invitational in Starkville, where the
men's and women's teams of Central Tuscaloosa took first in the team standings.
|
Finally, in New Orleans, Mobile-area athletes had great showings at the Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic. Courtney Goulston of BC Rain set a new
meet record in the 300m hurdles at 44.99 seconds, and Rhiannon Jaet of McGill-Toolen became the first vaulter in Alabama track history to
clear twelve feet or higher. Jaet won the vault competition at 12' 2". Here are some of the best of the best from state athletes over the
weekend: |
 Rhiannon Jaet and Coach Drew Bentley (photo: Dyestat) |
|
Brandon Hamilton (Central-Tusc) - 58' 00" shot put, best in AL in at least 5 years. Tomi Lason (Central-Tuscaloosa) - 122' discus is best from AL since 2000. Paul Wynn (Central-Tuscaloosa) - 23' 2" in LJ before leaving w/ pulled hamstring. Markus Manson (Hillcrest) - 22' 11" in long jump, just inches behind Wynn. Rhiannon Jaet (McGill-Toolen) - 12' 2" vault to become new state All-Time leader. Jeremy Protz (Scottsboro) - 14' 11" vault at Florida Relays, 2nd only to Chip Hauser. Natalie Neely (McGill-Toolen) - 36' 7" TJ- one of four Elite performances for Neely at Sugar Bowl Classic (long jump, pole vault, 100m hurdles). Shaquanda Banks (Guntersville) - 36' triple jump at Mississippi State. Hoover 4x1600m Relay - 18:01.63, nearly a record, still a win at Florida Relays. Williamson 4x400m Relay - 3:23.18 at Florida Relays, only other Williamson teams as fast or faster in 5A since '98. Saint Paul's 4x800m Relay - 9:52.89, more than 10sec better than current 5A SR. Tara Lenn (Saint Paul's) - 5:19, 11:31 in distance races to go along with 4x800m. Joy Griffith (American Christian) - 11:06 in 3200m run at MSU for 72-second win. Tara Colvin (Central-Tusc) - 57.45 in 400m, 2nd time under 58 this year. Kirby Patterson (Daphne) - 2:18.27 in 800m in New Orleans for new state-best. Courtney Goulston (BC Rain) - 14.96 in 100m hurdles, second under 15 in AL this year. Courtney Goulston (BC Rain) - 44.99 in 300m hurdles, new Nokia Sugar Bowl record. RESULTS MSU Bulldog Invite; Starkville Florida Relays; Gainesville, FL Sugar Bowl Classic; New Orleans, LA | ||