Hartselle’s Mason McGee and Austin Caudle of James Clemens had a close finish in the 110M hurdle race
(RECORD PHOTO/Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- Cool weather and brisk north wind didn’t deter spectators or athletes from coming to the James Clemens Invitational Saturday. Twenty six teams came for the track and field events.

James Clemens Track Coach Drew Bell relies on parents and volunteers to help with parking, gate, and set up.

“We have 21 certified officials here at James Clemens and they run the meet. It is a good run through because we are about a month out from sectionals and we will host three classifications and thirty seven teams will be here that day,” Bell said.

At one o’clock, cars were still coming in as the running events were getting underway.

Unlike some other meets this season, the smaller school teams had some success.

Cullman, Hartselle, Wilson, Madison County, and DAR all scored wins in running events.

In the boys 1600M Cullman’s Kyle Norris won and Nate Santiago of Bob Jones came in second.

Hartselle’s Mason McGee won the boys 110M dash by one one hundredth second over Austin Caudle of James Clemens.  Savannah Smith of DAR won the girls 400M dash.

Cullman’s Savannah Cantor was a surprise winner in the girls 100M hurdles as James Clemens top hurdler Dekante Gistarb tripped over a hurdle and hit the track hard. She later got up and was not seriously injured. Sierra McGinnis of Lee-Huntsville won the girls 300M hurdles.  Her time was 49.19.

James Clemens won the 4 x 100 relay with Josh Burks, Aaron Anderson, Christian James, Sterling Fisher, and Justin Jamar. Burks later won the 100M and 200M dash.

Burks made sure he qualified for next weekend Challenge of Champions in Mobile.

A 6-foot-2, 175 pound senior, Burks is the #2 ranked sprinter in 7A. He is expected to sign a track scholarship in the next few weeks. His favorite is Auburn but he could go with Mississippi State, or Alabama. His times this week and next week in Mobile are critical.

Josh Burks

“The competition has been great, they have been pushing me and I’m hoping for a personal best in the 100M. It’s a little bit cold today which can slow you down but the wind is at our backs so it will even out,” Burks said.

“There will be a lot of college coaches in Mobile. I’m getting interest from Auburn and Alabama so I want to be at my best,” said Burks who qualified in three events.

Bell said he will carry about 30 athletes to Mobile next weekend.

It was no surprise when the final team scores were tallied from the Invitational. James Clemens won both the boys and girls with Cullman second in both.

“It was a great showing with over 1000 athletes and the largest track fan crowd of spectators ever at James Clemens,” Bell said afterward. “Our coaches and parents and officials ran a great meet.”