BY DANIEL SCHMIDT
THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — Auburn High School’s girls track and field team captured the Class 7A state championship on May 2, ending a four-decade drought with a 112.5-point performance that topped runner-up Hoover High School (100 points) and third-place Hewitt-Trussville High School (62 points).
It is the first girls team state track and field title for the Lady Tigers since 1986.
AHS’s title run was powered by a balanced effort across hurdles, jumps, throws and relays. Victoria Weeden won the high jump, while Kinsie Register claimed the 300-meter hurdles, with teammate Elina Penderson taking second in the same event.
Katherine Lee added a first-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, where Register placed second. Register also finished as the runner-up in the 200-meter dash.
In the field, Carnell Jackson won the boys discus and set a school record with a throw of 180 feet, 10 inches. Elias Holtzclaw placed second in the boys high jump, and Anne Morgan Howell took third in the girls pole vault. Jyleel Fitch finished second in the boys 300-meter hurdles.
The Lady Tigers’ 4×100-meter relay team won its event, while the 4×800-meter relay squad placed second. The Tigers’ 4×100-meter relay finished third.
Opelika High School
The Opelika High School track and field team also took home numerous medals.
Freshman Kennedy Caldwell was the headliner for the Lady Bulldogs, breaking the Class 4A-7A girls discus state record with a throw of 143 feet, 2 inches to win the event.
Legend Fitzpatrick also won the girls shot put, and Alieah Nelms took first in the 400-meter dash. Caroline Couey medaled in both distance races, finishing third in the 1,600-meter run and second in the 3,200.
On the boys’ side, Jamel Griffin placed second in the 100-meter dash, Braeden Dowdell finished second in the triple jump and Richard Howard took third in the 110-meter hurdles.
Lee-Scott Academy
The Lee-Scott Academy girls finished third in Class 3A with 64 points, behind champion Whitesburg Christian Academy (142 points) and runner-up T.R. Miller High School (67.5 points).
Ann Tate Persons paced the Lady Warriors, winning the 300-meter hurdles and placing second in the 100-meter hurdles. Lizzy Gregory was the runner-up in the 100-meter dash and took third in the 200.
LSA also won the girls 4×100-meter relay and finished third in the girls 4×800.
Beauregard High School
Kam Torbert won the Class 5A girls discus, and Kalise Culbertson placed second in the javelin throw.
Beulah High School
Tristen Robinson placed second in the Class 3A boys 100-meter dash, and Kyndal Sharpe finished third in the girls 300-meter hurdles.
Loachapoka High School
Vennecia Cobb finished second in the Class 2A girls high jump and third in the 300-meter hurdles. AaLaisha Pitts took third in the 400-meter dash, and the girls 4×100-meter relay team placed second. Peter Chenier finished third in the boys javelin throw.
