Future College Football Players Excel in Final Tune-ups Before Sectional Track Meets
Elite Female Throwers from Brooks and Hewitt-Trussville shine in AHSAA Outdoor Track Spotlight
By Josh Bean | For the AHSAA
MONTGOMERY, AL – Athens High School senior Jayshon Ridgle and Benjamin Russell senior Malcolm Simmons have both signed to play college football. Both are making the most of their final season of high school track as well.
Ridgle delivered the state’s fastest 100-meter time of the AHSAA outdoor track season at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships at Trammell Stadium in Scottsboro, and Simmons notched the best high jump and long jump of the season at the Wayne Murphy Invitational in Auburn. The performances landed both future college football players in this week’s AHSAA Outdoor Track Spotlight.
Ridgle, who signed to play football at Houston as an all-purpose back, clocked 10.56 seconds in the 100 meters. He also won the 200 meters in 21.43 seconds, won the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 5¼ inches and won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.95 seconds at the Gold Circuit meet.
Simmons, who signed with Auburn as a receiver, set personal records by clearing 7 feet in the high jump and soaring 24 feet, 1 inch in the long jump. He also won the 200 meters in 21.74 seconds, another personal record. He also established the record for the longest pass reception last December in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic’s 37-year history. He sped 88 yards with a TD reception to put the finishing touches on Alabama’s 26-17 win over Mississippi at the University of Southern Mississippi’s M.M. Roberts Stadium.
On the girls’ side this week, two of the state’s elite field athletes – Hewitt-Trussville’s Madisyn Hawkins and Brooks’ Ellie Partrick – delivered state-best marks.
Hawkins delivered a state-best discus throw of 139 feet, 8 inches, a personal record, at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational. She also won the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 4 inches. Partrick set the state-best mark in the javelin with a throw of 154 feet, a personal record, at the North Alabama Gold Circuit in Scottsboro. She also won the discus with a throw of 126 feet.
Athletes now turn their attention this week to section meets, set for Friday and Saturday, at various sites around the state. The AHSAA state meets are next week, with Classes 1A-3A at Cullman’s Oliver Woodard Stadium on May 3-4 and Classes 4A-7A at Gulf Shores Sportsplex on May 2-4.
Here’s a look at other recent notable outdoor track performances, as reported by www.alabamarunners.com:
GIRLS
TAYLOR CANADA, HOOVER: Clocked 12.11 seconds to win the 100 meters and won the 200 meters in 24.88 seconds at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
SOMER RONE, PARK CROSSING: Won the 100 meters in 12.17 seconds and won the 200 meters in 24.73 seconds at the Wayne Murphy Invitational in Auburn.
KATIE MAE COAN, LAWRENCE COUNTY: Clocked 10:59.60 to win the 3,200 meters at the Florence Pre-Sectional meet.
LUCY BENTON, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Finished runner-up in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:07.90 at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
TY CASON, CHELSEA: Won the 400-meter dash clocking the distance in 57.20 seconds, won the 800 meters in 2:14.98 and finished runner-up in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:12.84 at the Shelby County Championships in Pelham.
CATHERINE JOHNSTONE, ATHENS: Won the 1,600 meters at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a time of 5:14.23.
ALIVIA URRUTIA, BOB JONES: Won the 400 meters at the Florence Pre-Sectional meet with a time of 57.85 seconds.
SARAH TOLE, AUBURN: Clocked 2:19.58 to win the 800 meters at the Wayne Murphy Invitational.
AVERY CAHOON, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Won the 800 meters in 2:13.39 and won the 1,600 meters in 5:01.38 at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
BELA DOSS, BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN: Won the 1,600 meters at the Shelby County Championships with a time of 5:07.33 and finished runner-up in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.34.
MARY HAYES JOHNSON, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Won the 400 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a time of 56.46 seconds.
DAISY LUNA, HOOVER: Finished runner-up in the 400 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a time of 56.47 seconds.
CATARINA WILLIAMS, OAK MOUNTAIN: Finished runner-up in the 400 meters with a time of 57.95 seconds and ran third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.37 at the Shelby County Championships.
EVA ARMSTEAD, HATTON: Clocked 57.81 seconds to win the 400 meters at the Deshler Varsity Meet No. 3 in Tuscumbia.
MIA DUNAVANT, CHELSEA: Finished third in the 400 meters with a time of 57.95 seconds and ran fourth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.44 at the Shelby County Championships.
McKINSIE REGISTER, AUBURN: Won the 300-meter hurdles at the Wayne Murphy Invitational with a time of 44.36 seconds.
ASHANTI SLAUGHTER, MAE JEMISON: Clocked 14.89 seconds to win the 100-meter hurdles and 46.07 seconds to win the 300-meter hurdles at the King of the East meet at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.
MADELINE ALFORD, HOMEWOOD: Clocked 56.37 seconds to win the 400 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
MEG WIGINTON, HAMILTON: Ran second in the 400 meters with a time of 56.47 seconds at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
ANNA ERDBERG, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Won the 3,200 meters with a time of 11:09.39 at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
MARY KATHERINE MALONE, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Ran second in the 800 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a time of 2:14.42.
KINLEY HARRIS, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Clocked 11:14.45 to finish second in the 3,200-meter run at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
AKASHA DUDLEY, THOMPSON: Won the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 3 inches at the Shelby County Championships.
KE’ASIA WASHINGTON, CENTER POINT: Won the shot put at the Jefferson County HS League Championship at Center Point with a throw of 39 feet, 5 inches.
AVA CAMERON, MINOR: Finished runner-up in the shot put at the Jefferson County HS League Championship with a throw of 39 feet, 3 inches.
NIYA TURNER, ARAB: Won the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 4¼ inches the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships.
ISABELLA JOHNSON, MONTGOMERY ACADEMY: Finshed second in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 2 inches and finished second in the discus with a throw of 126 feet, 5 inches at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
MALEA WIGGINS, ATHENS: Finished runner-up in the triple jump the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a leap of 37 feet, 4½ inches.
CAROLINE SANDERS, SCOTTSBORO: Won the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 7 inches at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships and also won the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 1 inch.
ALANA COLEMAN, CARROLL: Soared 18 feet to win the long jump at the CCS No. 5 Pre-Sectional meet in Andalusia.
PRESLEIGH MONTALVO, SATSUMA: Won the long jump at the Admirals’ and Pirates’ Invite in Fairhope with a leap of 17 feet, 11¼ inches.
BENIYIA HARRIS, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Won the long jump the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 17 feet, 8½ inches.
KYNDALL BRUNDIDGE, OPELIKA: Won the triple jump at the Wayne Murphy Invitational with a jump of 38 feet.
KIRSTEN BLANCO, MARENGO: Won the triple jump at the T.R. Miller Meet No. 5 in Brewton with a leap of 37 feet, 3½ inches.
AVA MAYE, NORTHRIDGE: Won the triple jump at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 36 feet, 1½ inch.
ERIN PERNELL, NORTHRIDGE: Finished runner-up in triple jump at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 36 feet, ½ inch.
JALYN COPELAND, NORTHRIDGE: Finished third in triple jump at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 36 feet.
KATIE WILKERSON, BEAUREGARD: Won the javelin with a throw of 127 feet, 8 inches and won the discus with a throw of 138 feet, 7 inches at the Hornet Invitational in Beauregard.
ELLA CRISSEY, NORTHRIDGE: won the javelin with a throw of 124 feet, 6 inches at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship.
COOOPER GARRETT, FORT PAYNE: Finished runner-up in the javelin at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a throw of 124 feet. She was also runner-up in the triple jump with a leap of 36feet, 4½ inches.
KARLEIGH MILLS, NORTHSIDE METHODIST: Won the javelin at the CCS No. 5 Pre-Sectional meet in Andalusia with a throw of 122 feet, 8 inches.
SUMMER SUTHERLIN, AUSTIN: Clocked 12.14 seconds to win the 100 meters at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships.
JALILAH COLEMAN, PAUL W. BRYANT: Won the 100 meters the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a time of 12.24 seconds.
KATHERINE LEE, AUBURN: Won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.69 seconds and finished runner-up in the triple jump with a. leap of 36 feet, 10 inches at the Wayne Murphy Invitational.
LAYLA STRAW, ENTERPRISE: Won the 100 meters in 12.23 seconds and the 200 meters in 24.78 seconds at the Troy Invitational Track Meet No. 4.
ANNIE KERR, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Cleared 13 feet to win the pole vault at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
LIBBY CHANCE, ARAB: Won the pole vault the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships by clearing 11 feet, 7 inches.
KENNEDY MORELAND, VESTAVIA. HILLS: Finished runner-up in the pole vault at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational by clearing 11 feet, 6 inches.
BOYS
DANIEL LEIJA, ALBERTVILLE: Won the 800 meters in 2:04.77, the 1,600 meters in 4:43.48 and the 3,200 meters in 10:39.18 at the Marshall County Championships.
COLLIN PATE, HOOVER: Cleared 16 feet in the pole vault – the best performance by an Alabama athlete this season – at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
GRANT WEIGHALL, HOOVER: Threw the javelin 192 feet, 5 inches – the state’s best mark this season – at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational. He also won the discus with a throw of 150 feet, 11 inches.
T.J. AUTREY, AUBURN: Finished runner-up in the high jump at the Wayne Murphy Invitational by clearing 6 feet, 10 inches.
WILLIAM NUMNUM, NORTHRIDGE: Cleared 14 feet to win the pole vault at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship.
BRADLEY FRANKLIN, THOMPSON: Won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.98 seconds, won the 300-meter hurdles in 37.63 seconds and finished runner-up in the 100 meters at 10.72 seconds at the Shelby County Championships.
KESHAWN ALLEN, WEAVER: Finished second in the 110-meter hurdles at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a time of 14.23 seconds.
ERYK BROWN, CHELSEA: Won the 100 meters (10.63 seconds) and 200 meters (21.44 seconds) at the Shelby County Championships.
JAMAURI McCLURE, GOSHEN: Clocked 10.76 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Troy Invitational Track Meet No. 4.
MAXIMILIAN JOHNSON, CENTRAL-PHENIX CITY: Won the 100 meters in 10.80 seconds and clocked 21.67 seconds to win the 200 meters at the Wayne Murphy Invitational.
ALEX JOHNSON, CHEROKEE COUNTY: Clocked 10.80 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
BRYANT BEUOY, ARAB: Finished runner-up in the 200 meters at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a time of 21.68 seconds.
JOE QUEZ KEITH, SPARKMAN: Won the 200 meters with a time of 21.75 seconds at the Florence Pre-Sectional meet.
ZATHIAN WEBSTER, BOB JONES: Finished runner-up in the 200 meters with a time of 21.80 seconds at the Florence Pre-Sectional meet.
DALLAS BECK, HOOVER: Clocked 21.94 seconds to win the 200 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
R.J. TORBOR, HOOVER: Won the 110-meter hurdles at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a time of 14.20 seconds.
SKYLER CODY, FORT PAYNE: Ran second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.46 seconds, ran third in the 110-meter hurdles in 14.35 seconds and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 8½ inches at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships
JAMARION WILLIAMS, MONTGOMERY CATHOLIC: Won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.38 seconds at the Hornet Invitational in Beauregard.
MAX ARMSTRONG, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked 1:53.64 to win the 800 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
MATTHEW BLAKE, TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN: Won the 800 meters at the Wayne Murphy Invitational with a time of 1:56.03.
MALACHI CARROLL, HALEYVILLE: Clocked 1:56.63 to win the 800 meters at the Lake Guntersville Invitational.
CHARLES PERRY, UMS-WRIGHT: Clocked 1:56.80 to win the 800 meters at the Admirals’ and Pirates’ Invite.
JOHN SHOEMAKER, OAK MOUNTAIN: Won the 800 meters in 1:58 and won the 1,600 meters in 4:17.56 at the Shelby County Championships.
ARTHUR LANGLEY, JOHN CARROLL CATHOLIC: Clocked 4:20.90 to win the 1,00 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
MITCHELL SCHAAF, VESTAVIA HILLS: Finished runner-up in the 1,600 meters at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a time of 4:22.28.
CADEN PHILLIPPI, BAYSHORE CHRISTIAN: Won the 1,600 meters at the Admirals’ and Pirates’ Invite with a time of 4:29.40.
CHRIS HAMM, SPARKMAN: Won the discus at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a throw of 166 feet, 7 inches.
PATRICK ADCOCK, CULLMAN: Won the discus with a throw of 160 feet, 11 inches and won the shot put with a throw of 54 feet, ½ inch at the 1A-3A Andy Page Memorial in Cullman.
TAYGAN HARRIS, SCOTTSBORO: Won the shot put at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a throw of 53 feet, 1 inch.
TYLER MASON, PELHAM: Won the discus with a throw of 160 feet, 3 inches and won the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 5 inches at the Shelby County Championships.
MAXIMUS MARINER, ARAB: Finished runner-up in the discus at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a throw of 155 feet, 1 inch.
TYLER HASKOVEC, BROOKS: Finished third in the discus at the North Alabama Gold Circuit Championships with a throw of 153 feet, 2 inches.
HENRY DREW, VESTAVIA HILLS: Finished runner-up in the discus at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a throw of 150 feet.
GABE PENDLEY, CHELSEA: Won the javelin with a heave of 180 feet, 3 inches at the Shelby County Championships.
BRETT COLEMAN, HALEYVILLE: Won the javelin with a throw of 177 feet at the Lake Guntersville Invitational.
CAMERON ANDREWS, EXCEL: Won the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, 7 inches at the T.R. Miller Meet No. 5 in Brewton.
JACK STUBBS, VESTAVIA HILS: Soared 23 feet, 5¼ inches to win the long jump at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational.
JENNINGS HINZ, NORTRIDGE: Won the long jump at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 23 feet.
DAVIAN JONES, OPELIKA: Won the triple jump at the Wayne Murphy Invitational with a leap of 47 feet, 5½ inches.
ISAIAH RIGGINS, CARROLL: Won the triple jump at the CCS No. 5 Pre-Sectional meet in Andalusia with a leap of 47 feet.
CHARLES CROWDER, HOOVER: Won the triple jump at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational with a leap of 46 feet, 11 inches.
KENMARIOUS HARTLEY, PAUL W. BRYANT: Won the triple jump at the West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County Championship with a leap of 46 feet, 8 inches.
