Small School Athletes Shine in Early Season AHSAA Track and Field Meets

March 24, 2025

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Several standout performances have highlighted the early Alabama high school track and field season, with a mix of school records, state-leading marks, and personal bests captivating fans across the state.

Cameron Andrews Equals State Long Jump Record

Excel High School senior Cameron Andrews leaped into the history books with a 24-foot, 10-inch jump at the CCS No. 3 meet in Andalusia on May 14. This mark ties the AHSAA’s all-class state outdoor record set by Anniston’s Orlando Watters 35 years ago at the 1990 Class 6A state meet. Andrews also notched a personal best in the triple jump, recording a leap of 42 feet, 4 inches.

Luke Herring Dominates Shot Put with State-Best Throw

Hackleburg High School senior Luke Herring made his mark at the North Alabama Conference Championship in Winfield, unleashing a state-best throw of 59 feet, 3 inches in the shot put. The Class 1A champion surpassed the season’s second-best throw by more than three feet and improved upon his personal indoor record by nearly six feet.

For context, the AHSAA state meet record for Class 1A, set by Randolph’s Arthur Hughes in 1996, stands at 57 feet, 5 inches, while the overall state record of 63 feet, 0.25 inches was set by Phillips High School’s Frank Warren in 1977.

Skyler Stovall Clears Class-Leading Mark in High Jump

Montgomery Academy senior Skyler Stovall soared to a season-leading high jump of 6 feet, 8 inches at the Monday Madness No. 3 meet on March 10 in Montgomery. Stovall, who competes in Class 4A, is also the defending state outdoor champion, having cleared 6 feet, 6 inches at last year’s meet.

Ty Cason Sets State Bests in Middle-Distance Events

Chelsea High School’s Ty Cason delivered the season’s best times in two middle-distance races. She clocked 2:13.33 to win the 800 meters at the King of the Mountain meet in Vestavia Hills and followed it up with a 1,600-meter victory at the Homewood Invitational on March 14, recording a time of 5:04.81.

Cason began the year with an impressive indoor season, claiming the Class 6A 800-meter title and earning a runner-up finish in the 1,600 meters.

Janie Ford Sets Records in Pentathlon and Hurdles

St. Paul’s Episcopal senior Janie Ford has set the bar high this year, capturing the pentathlon title at the New Balance National Indoor meet in Boston. Ford scored 3,941 points, breaking the previous event record held by defending champion Yuliya Maslouskaya from IMG Academy.

Ford also holds the state’s top outdoor performances in three events so far this season:

Long Jump: 19 feet, 7¼ inches
100-Meter Hurdles: 14.29 seconds
300-Meter Hurdles: 43.13 seconds

At the Jim Tate Relays in Mobile, Ford added more accolades with wins in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and the high jump at 5 feet, 4 inches.

Here’s a look at other top performances, according to www.alabamarunners.com:

GIRLS

BRIANNA STEPHENS, LEE-HUNTSVILLE: Won the high jump by clearing a state-best 5 feet, 5 inches, won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 8 inches, and finished second in the triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 11¾ inches at the James Clemens Invitational in Madison. She also won the high jump at the Cullman Classic by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches and won the triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 1 inch in Cullman.

MEREDITH ROMANS, ATHENS BIBLE: Won the discus at the Cullman Classic with a state-best throw of 127 feet, 5 inches.

COOPER GARRETT, FORT PAYNE: Won the javelin at the Cullman Classic with a state-best throw of 131 feet, 10 inches.

TAYLOR CANADA, HOOVER: Clocked a state-best 24.28 seconds to win the 200 meters at the Homewood Invitational and won the 400 meters in 56.89 seconds. She also won the 100 meters with a time of 12.15 seconds and won the 200 meters with a time of 24.87 seconds at the King of the Mountain meet in Vestavia Hills.

KATHERINE LEE, AUBURN: Won the 100-meter hurdles at the Wetumpka Invitational with a time of 14.63 seconds and finished third in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 1½ inches. She also won the 100-meter hurdles at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 14.38 seconds. She won the long jump at the Homewood Invitational with a leap of 18 feet, 5 inches and won the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 10¼ inches.

DAISY LUNA, HOOVER: Won the 400 meters at the King of the Mountain meet with a state-best time of 55.61 seconds and clocked 25.00 seconds in the 200 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

LAYLA STRAW, ENTERPRISE: Clocked 12.14 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Myquell Smith Invitational in Enterprise. She also clocked 24.57 seconds to win the 200-meter dash at the Enterprise Duals No. 1 meet.

McKINSIE REGISTER, AUBURN: Won the 100-meter dash in 12.15 seconds, was second on the 100 meters at 24.91 seconds and won the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 44.97 seconds at the Wetumpka Invitational.

JAZIYA WATKINS, ENTERPRISE: Clocked 12.22 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Enterprise Duals No. 1.

J’DA WILLIAMS, ATHENS: Won the 100-meter dash at the Deshler Varsity Meet No. 1 in Tuscumbia, clocking 12.24 seconds.

KALAHA CHRISTOPHER, BOB JONES: Won the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.39 seconds and ran second in the 100 meters at the King of the Mountain meet in Vestavia Hills clocking 12.24 seconds.

RILEY ZEANAH, VESTAVIA HILLS: Won the 1,600 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 5:07.10.

ANNA JAMES LITTY, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked 5:07.76 to win the 1,600 meters at the King of the Mountain meet in a photo finish and was second in the 800 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 2:17.14.

MIA DUNAVANT, CHELSEA: Won the 800 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 2:16.11.

HADLEY TURNER, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Ran second in the 1,600 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 5:08.22.

AVA FIELDS, OAK MOUNTAIN: Clocked 5:08.95 to finish runner-up in the 1,600 meters at the King of the Mountain meet.

CLAIRE SPOONER, VESTAVIA HILLS: Ran 5:11.22 in the 1,600 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

MARY DUNHAM, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Clocked 5:11.60 in the 1,600 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

ROSE BETTS, BREWER: Won the 1,600 meters at the Cullman Classic with a time of 5:11.69.

BANKS BRADFORD, SCOTTSBORO: Finished second in the 1,600 meters at the Cullman Classic with a time of 5:12.99.

ALIVIA URRUTIA, BOB JONES: Finished runner-up in the 400 meters at the King of the Mountain meet with a time of 57.16 seconds.

MACAULEY FLANAGAN, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Won the 400 meters at the Myquell Smith Invitational with a time of 57.20 seconds.

EVA ARMSTEAD, HATTON: Clocked 57.45 to win the 400 meters at the Deshler Varsity Meet No. 1.

LONDON HALL, JAMES CLEMENS: Won the 400 meters at the James Clemens Invitational with a time of 57.75 seconds, won the 100 meters with a time of 12.22 seconds at the Cullman Classic and won the 200 meters in 24.72 seconds at the Cullman Classic.

CATARINA WILLIAMS, OAK MOUNTAIN: Ran second in the 400 meters at the King of the Mountain meet with a time of 2:16.97.

EMMA BROOKE LEVERING, HOMEWOOD: Won the 3,200 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 11:04.97.

MARY GRACE PARKER, BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN: Finished third in the 3,200 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 11:10.36.

TIERRA AGEE, OPELIKA: Won the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 8½ inches at the Wetumpka Invitational.

MAKENZIE SANSING, J.B. PENNINGTON: Won the shot put at the Cullman Classic with a throw of 42 feet, 5¾ inches. She also won the shot put at the Lincoln Meet No. 1 with a throw of 40 feet, 10 inches.

CARA HUFF, INDIAN SPRINGS: Won the shot put at the Homewood Invitational with a throw of 41 feet, 4 inches.

AKASHA DUDLEY, THOMPSON: Won the discus at the King of the Mountain meet with a heave of 125 feet, 1 inch and finished second in the shot put with a throw of 40 feet, 3¼ inches. She finished second on the shot put at the Homewood Invitational with a throw of 40 feet, 10 inches.

MAR’RICA TRONE, CENTRAL-TUSCALOOSA: Won the shot put with a throw of 42 feet, 5 inches at the King of the Mountain meet.

SARAH AMOS, ENTERPRISE: Won the shot put at the Myquell Smith Invitational with a throw of 38 feet, 5 inches.

TRINITY MILLIGAN, JAMES CLEMENS: Won the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 7¼ inches at the James Clemens Invitational.

RYLANN SHAW, SOUTHSIDE-GADSDEN: Won the shot put at the Albertville Varsity Meet No. 2 with a throw of 37 feet, ½-inch.

HALEY MELTON, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Won the triple jump at the King of the Mountain meet with a jump of 37 feet, 2 inches.

KIYAH CORE, SMITHS STATION: Won the triple jump at the Glen Copeland Open in Beauregard with a leap of 36 feet, 6 inches.

NYLA FRANKLIN, GASDEN CITY: Cleared 5 feet, 4 inches to win the high jump at the Gadsden City Meet No. 2.

MADELINE WHARTON, GUNTERSVILLE: Won the pole vault at the Cullman County vs. Marshall County meet in Arab by clearing 10 feet, 8 inches.

KENDALL BROWN, BAKER: Finished runner-up in the triple jump at the Saraland Invitational with a leap of 36 feet, 8 inches.

CAROLINE DAWSON, SCOTTSBORO: Finished second in the javelin at the Cullman Classic with a throw of 124 feet, 2 inches.

EMMA KATE DICKEY, NORTHRIDGE: Won the javelin at the UWA Tiger Invitational in Livingston with a throw of 122 feet, 10 inches.

BOYS

JOE QUEZ KEITH, SPARKMAN: Won the 400 meters at the King of the Mountain meet with a time of 48.16 seconds, the fastest 400-meter time of the season, and won the 300-meter hurdles in a state-best time of 38.08 seconds at the same meet.

CHASE WEBB, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked the fastest 100 meters in the state so far this season, finishing in 10.46 seconds at the Homewood Invitational.

ZATHIAN WEBSTER, BOB JONES: Clocked 21.59 seconds to win the 200 meters at the King of the Mountain meet, the fastest 200-meter time of the season.

JOHN SHOEMAKER, OAK MOUNTAIN: Won the 3,200 meters with a state-best time of 9:15.63 at the King of the Mountain meet.

MALIK HUMPHREY, PIKE ROAD: Won the long jump (22 feet, 11½ inches) and triple jump (47 feet, 11½ inches) at the Wetumpka Invitational. His triple jump is the state’s best so far this season.

GRANT WEIGHALL, HOOVER: Won the javelin at the King of the Mountain meet with a state-best throw of 199 feet, 10 inches.

LAZERIC JOHNSON, BLOUNT: Won the 110-meter hurdles at the Jim Tate Relays with a time 14.36 seconds and clocked 14.65 seconds to win the 110-meter hurdles at the Saraland Invitational.

ZYAN GIBSON, GADSDEN CITY: Clocked 10.53 seconds to win the 100 meters at the Gadsden City No. 3 meet.

TYANTHONY ELMORE, JAG: Won the 100 meters in 10.63 seconds, won the 200 meters in 21.92 seconds, and won the 400 meters in 48.99 seconds at the Wetumpka Invitational.

TYRONE CLARY JR., WETUMPKA: Won the high jump at the UWA Tiger Invitational with a leap of 6 feet, 6 inches.

TY WATKINS, FAIRHOPE: Clocked 10.65 seconds to win the 100-meter dash at the Jim Tate Relays in Mobile and won the 100 meters at the Saraland Invitational with a time of 10.76 seconds.

MYLES JOHNSON, T.R. MILLER: Won the 100 meters at the T.R. Miller meet No. 1 in Brewton with a. time of 10.70 seconds.

RODERICK JONES, WOODLAWN: Clocked 10.71 seconds in the 100 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

CHASE WEBB, VESTAVIA HILLS: Clocked 10.73 seconds to win the 100 meters at the King of the Mountain meet.

TERRENCE MILLER, BLOUNT: Clocked 10.74 in the 100 meters at the Jim Tate Relays in Mobile and finished runner-up in the 100 at the Saraland Invitational with a time of 10.79 seconds.

JEREMIAH FRANKLIN, HUFFMAN: Ran runner-up the 100 meters at the Gadsden City No. 3 meet with a time of 10.77 seconds.

CHRISTOPHER LAWLEY, HOOVER: Ran second in the 100-meter hurdles at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 14.40 seconds.

DYLAN COPE, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.52 seconds at the King of the Mountain meet.

KESHAWN ALLEN, WEAVER: Won the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.54 seconds at Gadsden City Meet No. 2.

DEVIN KOUANVIH, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Ran second in the 200 meters at the King of the Mountain meet with a time of 21.75 seconds and won the 200 at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 21.68 seconds.

BRAEDON GOODE, SPARKMAN: Clocked 21.94 seconds to finish second in the 200 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

PEYTON HOLDERER, UMS-WRIGHT: Won the 1,600 meters at the Jim Tate Relays with a time of 4:24.76.

JOHN HAYES, VESATVIA HILLS: Finished second in the 3,200 meters with a time of 9:37.99 at the King of the Mountain meet.

BAILEY KENDRICK, DAR: Won the 3,200 meters at the Cullman County vs. Marshall County meet in Arab with a time of 9:38.64.

FOSTER LAIRD, HOMEWOOD: Clocked 9:39.11 to win the 3,200 meters at the Homewood Invitational.

JALEN THOMAS, OPELIKA: Finished second in the 400 meters at the Wetumpka Invitational with a time of 49.26 seconds.

COOPER JEFFCOAT, OAK MOUNTAIN: Won the 800 meters with a time of 1:53.54 at the King of the Mountain meet.

MALACHI CARROLL, HALEYVILLE: Clocked 1:56.83 to win the 800 meters at the Buttahatchee Bottom Invite in Hamilton.

JACKSON MIZE, VESTAVIA HILLS: Won the 800 meters at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 1:56.95.

BRADEN LITTLE, MOUNTAIN BROOK: Clocked 1:57.74 to finish runner-up in the 800 meters, leaning past Bob Jones’ Caleb Johnson (1:57.87), at the King of the Mountain meet.

KEVIN PORTER JR., HILLCREST-EVERGREEN: Cleared 6 feet, 6 inches to win the high jump at the Saraland Invitational.

GABE PENDLEY, CHELSEA: Finished second in the javelin with a throw of 179 feet, 2 inches at the King of the Mountain meet.

GRAYSON EVANS, HUNTSVILLE: Won the javelin at the Cullman Classic with a throw of 178 feet.

JACK STUBBS, VESTAVIA HILLS: Leaped 23 feet, 5 inches to win the long jump at the King of the Mountain meet and soared 24 feet, 2¼ inches to win the long jump at the Homewood Invitational.

TOMON FELTON, HOMEWOOD: Leaped 23 feet, 5 inches to finish runner-up in the long jump at the Homewood Invitational.

SHAW HELFRICH, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Cleared 15 feet to win the pole vault at the King of the Mountain meet and cleared 15 feet to win the event at the Homewood Invitational.

WADSWORTH PAPE, McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC: Cleared 14 feet to win the pole vault at the Saraland Invitational.

RAPHAEL BOAKYE-YIADOM, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Soared 46 feet, 6 inches to win the triple jump at the Homewood Invitational.

KWESI JACKSON, HAZEL GREEN: Won the triple jump at the King of the Mountain meet with. Leap of 45 feet, 8 inches.

KYMANI CLEARY, WETUMPKA: Won the triple jump at the UWA Tiger Invitational with a leap of 45 feet, 6 inches.

ZION WESTRY, HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE: Finished runner-up in the triple jump at the Homewood Invitational with a leap of 45 feet, 3 inches.

ZACHARY ERICKSON, SPAIN PARK: Won the discus with a throw of 161 feet, 1 inch at the Homewood Invitational.

CARNELL JACKSON, AUBURN: Won the discus at the Wetumpka Invitational with a throw of 160 feet, 7 inches and finished runner-up in the event at the Homewood Invitational with a throw of 157 feet.

CHANDLER TAYLOR, UMS-WRIGHT: Won the discus with a throw of 156 feet, 8 inches at the Jim Tate Relays.

SEAN WYERS, WINFIELD: Won the discus at the Buttahatchee Bottom Invite with a throw of 155 feet, 6 inches.

JAKOHRI JOHNSON, DEMOPOLIS: Won the discus with a throw of 151 feet, 5 inches at the UWA Tiger Invitational.

NIGEL THOMAS, HOOVER: Won the shot put at the Homewood Invitational with a throw of 55 feet, 5 inches.

ANTHONY JONES, ST. PAUL’S EPISCOPAL: Won the shot put at the Saraland Invitational with a throw of 54 feet, 5 inches.