16 compete in state meet for RHS track teams

Senior EJ King set his new personal record in high jump with a 6-6 jump that landed him second in the state track meet, earning him a silver medal. He was named Class 5A Player of the Year earlier this spring for his basketball season.  

Darron Jones, freshman hurdler, placed third in the state with his new personal record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.12, the new school record for that event. Jones held the record and has broken it three times this season.  

The 4x100m relay placed fifth in the state. King, Jones, Jamarkus Mitchell and Connor Devaney were the team members. 

CONTRIBUTED/CHRIS BOATWRIGHT – EJ King

Skylar Ergle placed ninth in the 110m hurdles, and eighth in the 300m hurdles; both were Top 10 finishes. 

Cade Parker placed in the top 15 in the javelin event. 

Sam Wilson placed in the top 15 in the shot put. 

For the girls team, freshman Angeleah Smith placed in the top eight in the high jump.  

Senior Ari Willingham placed in the top 15 in both the 100m and 200m races. She also helped the 4x400m relay get to state and also set the new school record with a time of 4:29 at the sectionals meet in Scottsboro. 

Hannah Waldrep, Daimar Valdez and Airielle Cooper were the other three girls in the 4x400m relay team. The team placed in the top 25 in the state.  

Keira Cruse made her second state appearance in the long jump and high jump placing in the top 25 in both events.  

Charley Johnson is a freshman shot put thrower who placed in the top 25 in her first trip to the state track meet.  

“We had 16 go to state this season with a silver medal in boys high jump and bronze medal in boys 110m hurdles,” said RHS track and field coach Chris Boatwright. “I have to brag on my coaches because these guys are the best in the state — Coaches Thomas Goode, Deion Belue and Tyrone Wilson. They work our kids hard but love them even more and that is our philosophy.”