White Plains’ Conn wins one for the (other) thumb, and Alexandria’s Stewart takes her first state gold. Jacksonville boys lead after first day.
GULF SHORES — White Plains’ Maddyn Conn added a state championship for the other thumb Thursday, and Alexandria’s Anna Beth Stewart bounded to gold on the first day of the state track meets.
The Class 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A meets run Thursday through Saturday at Gulf Shores. The 1A, 2A and 3A meets play out Friday and Saturday at Cullman.
Jacksonville leads the Class 5A boys’ team standings with 18 points, one better than Fairview. Hokes Bluff leads the 4A girls’ team standings at 20 points, six better than Westminster Christian.
Conn, a senior for White Plains, won the 4A girls’ 1,600-meter run in five minutes, 20.85 seconds. It marks her 10th state championship in cross county, indoor track and outdoor track.
She had eight state-championship rings going into the state cross country meet in the fall and won her third consecutive state cross country title for her ninth. A back injury kept her out of the state indoor championships, but she got back in time to sweep distance events at the Calhoun County meet.
White Plains’ girls stand in fourth place in the team standings at 13 points.
Stewart won the Class 4A high jump in 5 feet, two inches, leading Alexandria’s to sixth place in the team standings with 11 points. It marked Stewart’s first individual gold at state.
Aaron Nixon led Jacksonville’s boys, taking second in the Class 5A boys’ triple jump (43-05.75).
Central-Clay’s Tristan Wilson took first (43-06.00).
Anniston’s Ahmad Kelly took second in the boys’ 4A long jump (22-02.50).
