Madison Academy And Sparkman Shine Gold In State Track Meet
GULF SHORES- The 2021 AHSAA State Track Meet is now in the record books and local schools picked up three gold medals with superior performances. Sparkman High won the girls 4×100 relay event in Class 7A while Madison Academy picked up gold hardware in two girls events in Class 4A including the 4×100 relay and the 100-meter.
Overall, James Clemens had nine individual All-State performances while both Bob Jones and Sparkman four each and Madison Academy earning two.
In Class 7A, Sparkman’s 4×100 relay team took the gold with a winning time of 47.44 seconds. The four-girl squad included Janae Hilliard, So., Ayanna Tolbert, Sr., Amanda Davis, Jr., and Madesen Holman, Sr.
Additional medal winning performances in Class &A include 110m hurdles- 2. Tyler Pitts, 12, Bob Jones, 14.47; 300m hurdles- 2. Tyler Pitts, 12, Bob Jones, 38.62; high jump- 2. Cosey Scarebrook, 11, Bob Jones, 6-06, 3. Keenan Walker, 10, James Clemens, 6-04; 4×100- 3. James Clemens, 42.56, Chad Coulter, Manny Sanders, Ephriam Rolingson, Keenan Hill; 100m girls- 3. Janae Hilliard, 10, Sparkman, 12.48; discus- 2. Kirsten Tigner, 12, Bob Jones, 128-04.
In Class 4A, Madison Academy’s senior Liyah Nelson won the 100-meter with a gold medal time of 12.38. Nelson, who has earned an athletic scholarship to Samford in Birmingham, was also the anchor leg of the 4×100 relay squad, which claimed the gold with a winning time of 50.75. Her teammates on the relay team included Angelina Williams, Sr., Libby Privett, Jr., and Rocky Andrews, Fr.
“When I received the baton we were behind three other teams and I kicked it into high gear as it was very challenging how far we were behind,” said Nelson, who is now an eight-time state champions and twice runner-up in her six years at Madison Academy. “I pushed myself as it was very close at the finish line for our win.”
The 5-foot-2 Nelson, who carries a 4.20 grade point average putting her No. 13 in her senior class, signed with Samford after entertaining two other scholarships offers. She set a personal best of 12.01 in the prelims of the 100-meter before taking the gold with her 12.38 time in the finals. “I got out of the starting block very quickly and was focused.”
All-State performances as a top eight finisher and not among the medal winners included for Sparkman, 200m- Johnny Holloway, 12, 200m-girls- Madesen Holman, 12, 400m girls- Madesen Holman, 12; for Madison Academy, pole vault- Aaron Davis, 12; for James Clemens, shot put- Jaylen Drake, 49-005, 200m- Chad Coulter, 22.74, triple jump- Willie Campbell, 44-11, 200m- Manny Sanders, 22.92, girls long jump- Madison Rose, 17-015, javelin- Cadence Huntsinger, 112-0, triple jump- Cadence Huntsinger, 35-11, 4×100- Madison Rose, Tramani Osley, Aniyah Alexander, Riana Wilford, 50.14, 4×800- Kayla Willett, Sydney Freeman, Makensie Parker, Katy Gudgen, 10:21.84.
In team scoring, the final results were. Class 7A Boys- 1. Vestavia Hills 104.5, 11. Bob Jones 26, 14. James Clemens 20, 20. Sparkman 7; Class 7A Girls- 1. Hoover 107.5, 10. Sparkman 23, 14. James Clemens 16, 18. Bob Jones 8; Class 4A Boys- 1. Bibb County 80, 28. Madison Academy 5; Class 4A Girls- 1. Brooks 75, Madison Academy 20.