Locals compete at state track meet
By Staff
Kim West
Franklin County Times
All six Franklin County high schools sent at least two athletes from sectionals to the state track meets this weekend in Troy (Class 1A-3A) and Gulf Shores (Class 4A-6A).
In Class 1A, Tharptown, Belgreen and Vina sent 23 individual qualifiers to state.
The Belgreen girls competed in the 4×100, 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Will Hester, Cody Glasgow, Lydia DeVaney and Bridget Thompson each made it to state in the 800-meter run, while Thompson also qualified for the 1600 and 3200-meter runs and DeVaney advanced in the 1600-meter run.
Also qualifying for the Bulldogs were Shelby Smith (shot put), Cody Welch (300-meter hurdles and triple jump), Katy Britton and Alex Graham (javelin), Katelin Barber (100-meter dash) and Jessica Putman (100 and 300-meter hurdles).
Ashley Nicholson and Tyler Cagle represented Tharptown by qualifying for the discus throw.
The Vina boys ran in the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays, while the girls made it in the 4×800-meter relays. Three Vina athletes qualified for three events as Emily Davidson advanced in the 800, 1600 and 3200-meters and Nash Creekmore and Cass White each participated in the long jump, triple jump and 200-meter dash, while freshman Claudia Townsend made it in four events (long jump, triple jump, 100 and 200-meters).
Also qualifying for the Red Devils were Bryan Darracott (100 and 400-meter dash), Jessie Norwood and Kayla Raper (400-meter dash), Aaron Gray and Talon Vallejo (1600 meters) and Blake Thorn (400 and 800-meters).
In Class 2A, Phil Campbell sent three representatives and a 4×100-meter girls relay team, while Red Bay had four individuals and the 4×100-meter boys relay team make it to state.
For the Bobcats, Whitley Yocum and Landon Hutcheson each made it in the 1600-meter dash, while Lyle Raper competed in the discus throw.
For the Tigers, Bradley Rhodes (shot put), Kellie Sella (100 and 300-meter hurdles), Cody Tucker (100-meter dash) and Pablo Makepeace (javelin and 100 meters) all advanced from sectionals.
In Class 5A, Micah McCulloch (boys long jump, high jump and triple jump) and Martin Allison (girls 800, 1600 and 3200-meter runs) represented Russellville.
Editor's note: Results from Saturday's final heats at the state meets will run Wednesday.
Kim West is sports editor for The Franklin County Times. She can be reached at kim.west@fct.wpengine.com or (256) 332-1881, ext. 30.
