Hoover and Homewood Athletes Shine at MLK Indoor Track Classic

January 23, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Four standout athletes from Hoover and Homewood High Schools delivered state-leading performances at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex earlier this week. Their exceptional results earned them a spot in this week’s AHSAA Indoor Track Spotlight.

Hoover’s Nyel Settles Sets State’s Best High Jump This Season

Hoover High junior Nyel Settles claimed victory in the high jump event with a personal record of 5 feet, 8 inches. This jump is not only Alabama’s best high jump for girls this indoor season but also ranks 4th nationally, as per MileSplit.com. Settles remains undefeated in the high jump across four meets this season, further cementing her dominance in the event.

Homewood’s Emma Brooke Levering Breaks the 5-Minute Barrier

Homewood’s senior distance runner Emma Brooke Levering clocked a personal-best 4:58.43 in the 1,600 meters, marking her as the first Alabama girls’ runner this season to break the coveted five-minute barrier. The reigning Class 6A cross country champion and two-time Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year continues to display her impressive form during the indoor track season.

Boys’ State Leaders—Hoover’s Gideon Newton & Homewood’s John Martin

Gideon Newton, a Hoover freshman, ran a jaw-dropping 48.48 seconds in the 400 meters, the fastest time in Alabama this season. His effort is a personal best and places him 19th nationally.
Homewood’s John Martin leapt 46 feet, 1½ inches in the triple jump to notch another state-leading performance. The win was also a personal best for Martin, who added a career-high 6-foot clearance in the high jump to finish fifth in that event.

Looking Ahead

The performances at MLK Indoor Classic set the stage for next week’s AHSAA Indoor State Track Championships, scheduled for January 31–February 1 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Schools have one final weekend of regular-season meets to fine-tune performances before the battle in the Magic City.

Here’s a look at other top performances from early January indoor track action, according to www.alabamarunners.com:

GIRLS

KATHERINE LEE, AUBURN: Won the 60-meter hurdles at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 at the Birmingham CrossPlex with a time of 9.10 seconds, won the triple jump with leap of 37 feet, 11½ inches, and finished second in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 1¼ inches.

CATHERINE WALLACE, HOOVER: Finished second in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 5:00.83.

ANNA JAMES LITTY, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked 5:10.75 to finished third in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

ROSE BETTS, BREWER: Won the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 5:12.33.

SARAH TOLE, AUBURN: Finished runner-up in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 5:15.06.

EMILY WESTER, PELHAM: Ran third in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 5:16.14.

MILLIE BLACK, VESTAVIA HILLS: Ran fourth in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 5:16.70.

AVA SPARKS, HOOVER: Won the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 11:00.89.

KATIE MAE COAN, LAWRENCE COUNTY: Won the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 11:11.78.

TY CASON, CHELSEA: Finished runner-up in the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 11:22.34.

REESE DUPUIS, HUNTSVILLE: Ran third in the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 11:30.86.

DAISY LUNA, HOOVER: Won the 400-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 56.57 seconds.

ALIVIA URRUTIA, BOB JONES: Won the 400 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 58.76 seconds.

LOEN BOACKLE, THOMPSON: Clocked 59.04 second to finish runner-up in the 400 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

BREELYN JONES, SARALAND: Clocked 59.04 to finish runner-up in the 400 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1.

GRIER JONES, HOOVER: Ran third in the 400 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 59.28 seconds.

MORGAN ROOKS, McADORY: Won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.08 seconds at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

AMIAH MATONE, SARALAND: Finished third in the 60-meter hurdles at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 9.18 seconds.

McKENSIE REGISTER, AUBURN: Ran second in the 60-meter hurdles at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 9.22 seconds.

TAYLOR CANADA, HOOVER: Clocked 7.67 seconds in the 60-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

LEAH RAY, PARKER: Finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 7.77 seconds.

J’DA WILLIAMS, ATHENS: Won the 60-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 7.78 seconds.

ADESYA WOODSON, McADORY: Ran third in the 60-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 7.79 seconds.

RILEY ZEANAH, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked 2:17.16 to win the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

MIA DUNAVANT, CHELSEA: Won the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 2:17.92.

KATELYN VALTOS, RANDOLPH: Ran second in the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 2:19.42.

ABBY ALLEN, VESTAVIA HILLS: Finished runner-up in the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 2:19.99.

CEAIRA WINE, NORTHRIDGE: Finished runner-up in the high jump at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.

BENIYIA HARRIS, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Won the long jump at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a leap of 17 feet.

ISABELLA MAPLE, HOOVER: Cleared 11 feet, 6 inches to finish runner-up in the pole vault at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

KYRA CASEY, HAMILTON: Won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3½ inches and finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 10¾ inches at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1.

ERIN PERNELL, NORTHRIDGE: Won the triple jump at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a leap of 36 feet, 9¾ inches.

TRINITY MILLIGAN, JAMES CLEMENS: Finished runner-up in the triple jump at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a leap of 36 feet, 9¼ inches.

BOYS

IAN CHATTERTON, HOOVER: Clocked 4:18.52 to win the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 and finished third in the 800 meters in 1:59.86.

ERIC MOORE, HUNTSVILLE: Won the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 4:21.17.

SHAWN STEPHENSON, NORTHRIDGE: Finished third in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 4:21.43.

JACK GRUBER, HUNTSVILLE: Finished second in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 4:22.28.

JOHN HAYES, VESTAVIA HILLS: Ran fourth in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 4:23.11.

CONNER CAMPBELL, CHELSEA: Finished third in the 1,600 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 4:23.72.

BRYCE McCLEARY, HAZEL GREEN: Won the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 9:18.38.

BAILEY KENDRICK, DAR: Clocked 9:41.10 to finish second in the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1.

HENRY BOWDEN, HOOVER: Won the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 9:45.30.

LUKE CHAPURAN, HUNTSVILLE: Ran third in the 3,200 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 9:47.71.

JAMESON COLEMAN, HOOVER: Finished runner-up in the 400 meters with a time of 48.55 at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

DeMARION GARDNER, HOOVER: Ran third in the 400 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 48.60 seconds.

JOE QUEZ KEITH, SPARKMAN: Won the 60-meter hurdles at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 1 with a time of 8.35 seconds and finished second in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.03 seconds.

ZAIRE WHITE, HOMEWOOD: Finished third in the 60-meter hurdles at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 8.36 seconds.

TRE PATTERSON, PELL CITY: Finished runner-up in the 60-meter dash at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 6.93 seconds.

MICAH FLEMING, THOMPSON: Ran third in the 60 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 6.95 seconds.

RAJU SUDARSHAN, ALTAMONT: Won the 800 meters in a photo finish at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 1:59.30.

ELIJAY McKOY, CALERA: Ran second in the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 1:59.59.

JACKSON MIZE, VESTAVIA HILLS: Tied for third in the 800 meters at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 with a time of 1:59.86.

JENNINGS HINZ, NORTHRIDGE: Won the long jump with leap of 23 feet, 8½ inches at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

MALIK HUMPHREY, PIKE ROAD: Finished runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 4¾ inches at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2 and finished fourth in the triple jump at 45 feet, 2 inches.

OMARI BRYANT, HOOVER: Cleared 15 feet, 3 inches to win the pole vault at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

DAMIAN REESE, HOOVER: Finished runner-up in the triple jump with a leap of 45 feet, 8¾ inches at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.

K’DEN WEAVER, NORTHRIDGE: Triple-jumped 45 feet, 8¼ inches to finish third at the MLK Indoor Classic No. 2.