Birmingham, AL – Munford’s Frank, Cherokee County’s Johnson bring home state titles. White Plains’ Conn takes second- and third-place finishes.
By East Alabama Sports Today
A day after receiving the latest two of her state-championship rings in cross country and track, Maddyn Conn put up big finishes in the Class 4A-5A state indoor championships.
The White Plains junior finished second in the 1,600-meter run (5:18.61) and third in the 3,200 run (11:47.42).
White Plains’ 4×800 relay team took third (10:19.87), and the Wildcats finished 10th with 20 points.
Cherokee County was the top area finisher in 4A-5A girls, finishing tied for fourth with 30 points. Scottsboro (72) took state.
In 4A-5A boys, Munford’s Dakota Frank won the 3,200 run (9:24.40) and took second in the 1,600 (4:18.80), and Munford finished ninth with 18 points. State champion Scottsboro finished with 80 points.
Frank and 1,600 winner Arthur Langley (4:18.6), of John Carroll Catholic, broke the previous record of 4:21.47, set by Scottsboro’s Evan Hill in 2023.
Frank and Conn became two-time Class 4A state cross country champions in the fall.
Other highlights:
CHEROKEE COUNTY: Mary Hayes Johnson won the girls’ 4A-5A 400 dash (58.11). The senior edged out another senior, Deja Hines of American Christian, who crossed the finish line at 58.77 seconds.
Johnson also took state in the 60 hurdles (9.28).
The Warrior boys finished 17th with nine points, led by Alex Johnson’s two scoring finishes: fourth in the 400 (51.32) and sixth in the 60 dash (7.18).
ALEXANDRIA: The Valley Cubs’ girls finished tied for 22nd with seven points from two scoring finishes: Tyasha Hunt, fifth in the shot put (31-11.25); and Anna Beth Stewart, sixth in the high jump (4-10).
Donoho’s Connell repeats as state long-jump champions, adds a second- and third-place finish. Oxford’s Figgers, 4×200 relay team take state.
Donoho’s Estella Connell jumped her way into becoming her school’s first indoor track state champion last year, and she jumped her way to another big day in Birmingham on Friday.
She took first place in the Class 1A/3A long jump (15-02.75), second in the high jump (4-08), and third in the triple jump (33-07.50).
She led the area contingent as the Class 1A-3A and Class 6A state meets played out. The remaining classification groups will compete Saturday at Birmingham CrossPlex.
In Class 6A boys, Oxford’s Letreveon Figgers qualified fifth then won the 60-meter dash (6.91), and the 4×200 relay team took state in 1:29.81.
In 1A-3A team competition, Piedmont’s boys took fourth place with 39 points. Cold Springs won with 98. Other area teams included Faith Christian (10th, 23.5), Wellborn and Ohatchee (T21st, four) and Donoho (T24th, three).
Houston Academy won the 1A-3A girls with 117 points, with Donoho leading area teams in sixth (34). Piedmont (14th, nine) and Pleasant Valley (18th, five) rounded out the area teams.
In 6A, Northridge boys won with 82 points, and Oxford tied Mountain Brook for third with 45. Mountain Brook’s girls won with 94 points.
The state indoor championships round out Saturday with competition in the Class 4A-5A an 7A divisions.
Top performers
OXFORD: Besides Figgers’ state title in the 60 dash, Christian Gibson had a scoring finishes at fourth in the 60 hurdles (8.32), fourth in the triple jump (42-06.25) and fifth in the long jump (21-03.50). D.K. Wilson was fifth in the 400 dash (51.27).
PIEDMONT: McClane Mohon finished third in the long jump (20-06.75) and fourth in the high jump (5-10). The boys’ 4×400 relay team (3:42.89) and 4×800 relay team (8:56.07) finished third. Trevor Pike was fourth in the long jump (20-05.50), and Sam Tolbert took fourth in the shot put (41-08.25).
For the girls, Lexi Ray had Piedmont’s top finish of the day with second place in the pole vault (9-06).
FAITH CHRISTIAN: Brady Whitworth sped his way to second in the long jump (20-09.25) and fourth in the 400-meter dash (52.96). The 4×200 relay team took third (1:36.73).
WELLBORN: Jabari Williams finished fifth in the 60 dash (7.29).
OHATCHEE: Ethan Wiggins scored with a fifth-place finish in the pole vault (9-06).
DONOHO: Hunter Hartwell led Donoho’s boys with a sixth-place finish in the 1,600-meter run (4:54.24).
PLEASANT VALLEY: Ella Parris scored with a fifth-place finish in the 400 dash (1:04.54).
