Local track & field athletes compete at sectional meets

Throughout the state last week, AHSAA sectional track and field meets were taking place with many Franklin County teams and student-athletes participating.

The Russellville Golden Tigers, with 26 section qualifiers, won six medals at the sectional and had six student-athletes qualify for the state meet May 2-4.

Russellville’s six medals at the sectional meet, hosted by Scottsboro, were won by Ari Willingham, who took bronze in the girls 100-meter; Skyler Ergle, who finished third in the boys 110-meter hurdles; EJ King, who placed third in the boys high jump; Tait Barnes, grabbing silver in the boys javelin; and Cash Crumpton, placing second in the boys long jump and third in javelin.

Ergle also set a new program record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.65.

Willingham, Ergle, King, Barnes, and Crumpton all qualified for the state meet and will be joined by teammate Cameron Phinizee, who ran a 11.41 100-meter dash. Willingham also qualified in the girls 200-meter; she finished fourth at sectionals in the event.

Belgreen competed at the section meet held at Winfield with 11 individuals and a 4x100-meter relay team. The Bulldogs’ best final heat finish at the meet came from Briseyda Luna, who came in fifth in the girls 1600-meter race with a time of 6:42.08. 

Belgreen has four athletes heading to the state meet: Tanisha Clay, Alexa Gault, Isabella Tate, and Lillianna Willingham. Clay and Gault both qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, Tate for the 800-meter, and Willingham will compete in the triple jump.

The Phil Campbell Bobcats also sent athletes to the section meet in Winfield. Phil Campbell had 10 individual athletes competing and two relay teams. The Bobcats’ best finish came in the finals of the 4x800-meter relay when they finished second with a time of 13:06.29. Hannah Welborn had the best individual placement, taking eighth in the girls 400-meter dash final.

Red Bay’s Hannah Roberts, Samantha Elders, Shaily Warren, Blake Oliver, and Isaac Bubbles made it to the sectional meet. The Tigers’ top finish was from Warren, who placed 11th in the girls javelin event.

Tharptown High School had 10 competitors at sectionals. The Wildcats' best finishers were Cody McClusky and Jessie Mitchell, who both placed sixth in the boys long jump and boys 400-meter dash, respectively. 

Vina had 20 individuals and two relay teams competing at the 1A sectional. The Red Devils’ Manny Alitriste medaled in the boys triple jump, claiming silver.

The state meet for Classes 1A-3A will be held in Cullman, while the meet for Classes 4A-7A will be in Gulf Shores.