Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

Just three games into his Faulkner baseball career, Zach Colby has already established a flair for the dramatic.

A night after his two-run, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth allowed the Eagles to eventually win their season opener in extra innings, the junior college transfer did it again. His walk-off homer against Webber International here Saturday lifted Faulkner to a 7-5 victory and a sweep of a doubleheader at Harrison Field.

The eighth-ranked Eagles (3-0) won the first game 7-4. Webber International, which split a doubleheader with Auburn Montgomery on Friday, fell to 2-4 on the season.

"I’m not much for the dramatic endings, but a win’s a win," Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy said. "What a great start for Zach. We knew he’d contribute early, but who would’ve ever imagined a start like that. Obviously I’d rather us take care of business early. From an excitement standpoint, we couldn’t ask for anything better to open the season."

In Game 1, Craig Massey and David Bishop each had two hits and combined to drive in five runs as the Eagles raced to a 7-0 lead and held on for the victory. Bishop’s three-run homer in a four-run fourth broke the game open for Faulkner starter and winner Damon Porter, who scattered eight hits over four and one-third innings of work. The Warriors scored a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings but could get no closer.

Faulkner appeared on its way to a stress-free victory in the nightcap, building a 5-1 lead through four innings behind starter Will Dismukes, who allowed only one hit in four innings, striking out five. The Warriors rallied against the Eagles’ bullpen, however, scoring four unanswered runs to tie it.

In the decisive ninth inning, Bishop led off with a walk and Colby followed with the game-ender, sending the Eagles’ dugout into a celebratory frenzy for the second straight day.

Faulkner travels to Livingston Wednesday afternoon to take on West Alabama. First pitch is set for 3.

Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

BIRMINGHAM — Spain Park and Hoover swept the Class 6A boys and girls state championships Saturday, St. Paul’s and UMS-Wright swept the boys and girls Class 5A and 1A-4A state titles, respectively, as the AHSAA Indoor State Track

Championships concluded at the Birmingham Metro CrossPlex.
Spain Park totaled 77 points to edge out city rival Hoover’s 71.50 in the 6A boys meet as indoor competition resumed for the first time since the program was discontinued after 2007. The indoor championships resumed this year as the headline event in the new CrossPlex that opened in December.

St. Paul’s outscored runner-up Central-Tuscaloosa 107-84 to claim the 5A boys title. The Saints also scored 149 points to win the girls’ championship. Central’s Falcons were second with 81 points.

UMS-Wright’s boys scored 83 points and the girls totaled 142 points to win both 1A-4A titles. Beauregard finished second in the boys’ competition with 62 points and scored 64 points to claim runner-up in the girls’ competition. Hoover edged Mountain Brook in the 6A girls’ competition, 112-104.

Several state records fell Saturday with Tracy McKinney of Smiths Station capturing the much anticipated 60-meter title with a record time of 6.92 seconds in the exciting finals. Jakaryus Redwine of Oak Mountain was second at 6.93, and Northridge’s Derrick Johnson, who set the state mark in the prelims on Friday at 6.96, clocked a 6.93 to finish third.

Spain Park’s Brandon Hazouri also set a new Class 6A 1,600-meter mark with a 4:21.11 time to better the previous record of 4:21.52 set by Adam Puett of Grissom in 2001. Payton Ballard of Mountain Brook also bettered Puett’s standard with a time of 4:21.52 to finish second to Hazouri.

Hoover’s boys also won the 1,600-meter relay with a record-setting 3:21.76 time in the final race of the two-day meet to close out the 2012 championships.

Carmen Carlos of McGill-Toolen continued her domination of 6A girls’ competition by winning the 1,600-meter run in with a personal best time of 4:57.79, just 39/100ths of a second behind the state record set by Catherine Diethelm of Mountan Brook (4:57.42) in 2007. Carlos also helped McGill-Toolen win the 3,200-meter relay with a state-record 9:21.01, which bested the previous record by almost 13 seconsds. Carlos totaled 32.5 points for McGill in the competition.

Several other state meet records also fell. Among them in the boys competition were:
Ø  Class 6A Triple jump: Myles Charley, Spain Park, 47-11.25.
Ø  Class 5A 60-meter dash: Kylen Towner, St. Paul’s, 7.00.
Ø  Class 5A 60-meter hurdles: Barry Johnson, Wenonah, 8:36.
Ø  Class 5A 400-meter dash: Hunter Hawkins, Walker, 49.97.
Ø  Class 5A 1,600-meter relay: Walker,3:29.23.
Ø Class 5A Shot Put: Devon Lockett, Central-Tuscaloosa, 56-09.
State records set in the girls’ competition included:
Ø  60-meter dash:Joy Maneice-Marbury, Hoover, 7.65.
Ø  400-meter dash: Joy Maneice-Marbury, Hoover, 56.18.
Ø  1,600-meter relay: Hoover, 3:57.7.
Ø  3,200-meter relay: McGill-Toolen Catholic, 9:26.01.
Ø  Triple jump:  Simone Charley, Spain Park, 38-09.50.
Ø  60-meter hurdles: Lacey Dent, St. Paul’s, 9:07.
Ø  400-meter dash: Iris Robinson, Parker, 57.95.
Ø  1,600-meter relay: St. Paul’s, 4:09.90.
Ø  60-meter dash: Katie Brooks Boone, Westminster-Oak Mountain, 7.81.
Ø  400-meter dash: Katie Brooks Boone, Westminster-Oak Mountain, 59.15.
Ø  Triple jump: Raven Stewart, Guntersville, 36-07.75.

Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

ITTA BENA, Miss – In the first game of the second half of the Southwestern Athletic swing the Alabama State women’s basketball team ran out of steam in its 65-50 loss to Mississippi Valley at the Jesse Harrison HPER Complex in Itta Bena, Miss.

The first half of the game saw ASU dig itself into a quick hole down by five (5-0) within the first three minutes of the game.  Alabama State turned the ball over 14 times and missed some important cues that became costly.  Although the Lady Hornets were down Quentori Alford led an impressive first half with seven points and four rebounds, but it wasn’t quite enough as Alabama State went into the half down eight (33-22).

“We came into the game with the right mind set,” said Freda Freeman-Jackson.  “The team played extremely but we just couldn’t close out.  We had too many turnovers in the first half and that caused us to dig ourselves in a hole.  At one point we were holding Valley were we wanted them, and kept them close in range, but we let them get away and they picked up the win.  We are going to continue the game plan and try to finish out the season strong.”

The second half saw the Lady Hornets play a lot better, only turning the ball over eight times totaling 22 turnovers in all. Strong shooting brought Alabama State within one (38-37) with 13:25 left on the clock.  The Lady Hornets continued its sharp shooting and easy lay-up buckets, until Mississippi Valley went on an 8-0 run at the 8:13 mark.  The run continued for the Devilettes ending the contest with a 65-50 victory.

Ka’Neshia Smith scored 14 points and had six rebounds in leading Mississippi Valley to its eight consecutive SWAC win. Mississippi Valley improves to 11-10 overall and 8-2 in league play.  Valley had two other players in double digits in the contest.  Teammates Alia Frank and Khristina Clemmons added 12 points apiece.

Alabama State was led in scoring by Millicent Jones with 12, who not only came off the bench but also made all her points in the second half of the contest.  Ashley Jones led Alabama State in rebounding with nine.  The Lady Hornets won the battle of the boards 43-39. 

“We played aggressive in the inside as far as rebounding,” said Freeman-Jackson.  “We simply just let Mississippi Valley get too many easy shots off.  We also let them get too many second chances around the basketball.”

Alabama State will travel to Arkansas Sunday to face the Lady Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff Monday night at 5:30 p.m.

Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

The No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team scored a season-high 11 runs on a season-best 13 hits in an 11-6 victory over Southeastern on Saturday, to salvage a split in a doubleheader against the Fire at the AUM Baseball Complex.

The Warhawks (5-3) dropped the opening game of the twin bill, 4-1.

In game two, senior Rusty Todd and junior Wes Hughes each finished with three hits, with Todd driving in a career-best five runs and Hughes scoring three runs. Senior Hunter Cross added a pair of hits, including a three-run homer in a game-changing, eight-run third inning. Junior Carson Amick added two runs scored and a stolen base.

Senior starter Cory McGinnis (2-0) earned the victory, after scattering five hits and striking out three in 4.0 innings of work. Fellow senior Wes Cook tossed the final three innings, allowing five hits and striking out six, to earn his first career save.

Johnnie Kirkland (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing eight runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Vincent Caesar and Brandon DeRespiris each drove in a pair of runs for Southeastern.

In the opener, the Fire’s Grant Porter scattered just six hits over 6.0 innings to improve to 1-1 on the season. Phillip Kish tossed a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his second save.

Southeastern rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to erase a 1-0 AUM lead, as Shane Casey, Armando Alvarez and Adam Kemp each had RBI hits.

Junior Jordan Reid (1-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Reid struck out four and walked none in the outing. Senior Logan Remson paced the Warhawks with two hits.

AUM will return to action on Friday, Feb. 10, when it hosts Trevecca Nazarene at 2 p.m.

Trevor Releford drives past an Ole Miss defender in Alabama’s double-overtime win on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Unv. Alabama Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

TUSCALOOSA - The Alabama men’s basketball team improved to 15-7 and 4-4 in Southeastern Conference play with a heart-pounding 69-67 double-overtime victory over the Mississippi Rebels before a boisterous Coleman Coliseum crowd of 12,711 Saturday night.

With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 10-2 all-time in double-overtime games while Alabama head coach Anthony Grantimproves to 3-0 in overtime games during his UA tenure. With the loss, Mississippi falls to 14-8 and 4-4 in the SEC.

"I could not be prouder of the effort our guys gave today," Grant said. "In the first half we really struggled. Give Ole Miss credit, I feel like they shot the ball extremely well and they were tough defensively. At halftime we talked about what we needed to do from a defensive standpoint and I thought from that point forward the defense just continued to get better and better and better over the course of the rest of the game."
Senior forward JaMychal Green led the Tide with 16 points and 12 rebounds, notching the 24th double-double of his career, while junior forward Tony Mitchellscored 14 points. Sophomore guard Charles Hankerson added 10 points, the second-highest total of his UA career.

Following a Mississippi made free throw to open double overtime, Mitchell reeled off four-straight points to give Alabama a 65-62 advantage at the 1:19 juncture. A Rebel basket less than ten seconds later cut the UA lead to one point before junior guard Andrew Steeledeftly scored in the lane as the shot clock was about to expire, giving Alabama a 67-64 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

Following a missed three-point attempt on the ensuing Rebel possession, Alabama built its advantage and closed out the game at the free throw line. All told, the Tide connected on 7-of-9 free throws in the two extra sessions while Mississippi made 1-of-4.

After a first half that featured two ties and seven lead changes, Alabama found itself trailing 33-26 at halftime. Following intermission, Mississippi sustained the lead for the first ten minutes of the second half until a 12-3 UA run fueled by Hankerson gave the Tide a 46-44 lead at the 7:26 mark. Both teams had opportunities to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation and the first overtime but were unable to do so.

Junior guard Nick Williams scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Rebels.

Up next, Alabama travels to Auburn Tuesday for the first of back-to-back SEC road contests. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (CST).

Trevor Releford drives on an Ole Miss defender in Alabama’s double-overtime win on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Unv. Alabama Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(February 5, 2012)

TUSCALOOSA - The Alabama men’s basketball team improved to 15-7 and 4-4 in Southeastern Conference play with a heart-pounding 69-67 double-overtime victory over the Mississippi Rebels before a boisterous Coleman Coliseum crowd of 12,711 Saturday night.

With the win the Crimson Tide improves to 10-2 all-time in double-overtime games while Alabama head coach Anthony Grantimproves to 3-0 in overtime games during his UA tenure. With the loss, Mississippi falls to 14-8 and 4-4 in the SEC.

"I could not be prouder of the effort our guys gave today," Grant said. "In the first half we really struggled. Give Ole Miss credit, I feel like they shot the ball extremely well and they were tough defensively. At halftime we talked about what we needed to do from a defensive standpoint and I thought from that point forward the defense just continued to get better and better and better over the course of the rest of the game."
Senior forward JaMychal Green led the Tide with 16 points and 12 rebounds, notching the 24th double-double of his career, while junior forward Tony Mitchellscored 14 points. Sophomore guard Charles Hankerson added 10 points, the second-highest total of his UA career.

Following a Mississippi made free throw to open double overtime, Mitchell reeled off four-straight points to give Alabama a 65-62 advantage at the 1:19 juncture. A Rebel basket less than ten seconds later cut the UA lead to one point before junior guard Andrew Steeledeftly scored in the lane as the shot clock was about to expire, giving Alabama a 67-64 lead with 30 seconds remaining.

Following a missed three-point attempt on the ensuing Rebel possession, Alabama built its advantage and closed out the game at the free throw line. All told, the Tide connected on 7-of-9 free throws in the two extra sessions while Mississippi made 1-of-4.

After a first half that featured two ties and seven lead changes, Alabama found itself trailing 33-26 at halftime. Following intermission, Mississippi sustained the lead for the first ten minutes of the second half until a 12-3 UA run fueled by Hankerson gave the Tide a 46-44 lead at the 7:26 mark. Both teams had opportunities to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation and the first overtime but were unable to do so.

Junior guard Nick Williams scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Rebels.

Up next, Alabama travels to Auburn Tuesday, Feb. 7 for the first of back-to-back SEC road contests. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. (CST).

Battles was officially announced as Tallassee’s new football coach and athletic director on Thursday. (Photo by Michael Butler)

By Michael Butler
RRS Correspondent
(February 4, 2012)

The Tallassee City School Board has approved the hiring of Mike Battles, Jr. as head football coach and athletic director at Tallassee High School.

Battles was introduced Thursday in a special meeting at the high school.

Battles has been a head coach for the last 15 years, the previous four at Clas 4A Bibb County in Centerville. His Choctaws team won 46 games in four years with only six losses. Battles overall record is 117-55 (68%).

Battles turned 41 on Monday. He began his head coaching career at Oak Grove High School at the age of 25.

Bibb County went 12-1 last year, losing to eventual state champion Jackson 49-28 in the third round. Battle’s team reached the semi-finals in 2010 with a 12-2 record. That team lost to Thomasville, who also went on to win the state title.

Bibb County averaged 44 points per game last year.
"We were a multiple I. We ran a lot of option, a lot of downhill sweep, (and) play action pass," Battles said. " It’s not so much the formations and the schemes. It’s that our kids bought in to doing everthing right and playing very physical football. That’s the way we practiced. We feel like if you can get through our practices Monday through Thursday, then Friday night’s a piece of cake."

Battles sees similarities in Centerville and Tallassee. "They remind me of when I went to Bibb County, the same atmosphere and excitement. People are hungry and ready to get out there and win some football games," he said.

The salary in Tallassee for Battles will be $78,000 annually. He will officially start his job at THS on February 13.

"I’ve heard nothing but good things (about Tallassee)," Battles added. "I talked with Mark Rose. Mark obviously had a great two years in Tallassee. He talked about how great the people are in the community and how hard the kids worked. I talked to some of the opposing coaches. Everybody’s said what a great place it is, and what a great time it is to be going in there."

Battles father is the head coach at Handley High School in Roanoke, last year’s 3A state champions. The elder Battles coached his son at Walter Welborn High School in Anniston in the late ’80s. Mike, Jr. was a two-time All-State selection. He was a linebacker but also punted and kicked.

"I was the coach’s son," he said. "Coaches teach their kids everything. My dad took the time with me." Battles received a scholarship from Samford University and played for Terry Bowden and Chan Gailey.

Battles and his wife of 12 years, Tara, have two sons; Thomas (9) and Mason (5).

David Bishop blased a home run to help Faulkner win its season opener. (Photo courtesy Ryan Bartels/Faulkner Unv. Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(February 4, 2012)

A season with high expectations began slowly for No. 8 Faulkner, with the bats silenced for much of the season opener against Southeastern here Friday afternoon.

The Eagles struck late to send the game into extra innings, then won 4-3 in dramatic fashion in the first game of a doubleheader at Harrison Field.

Trailing 3-1in the bottom of the ninth inning, Faulkner’s Zach Colby tied it with two-run home run, driving in David Bishop with the long blast. An inning later the Eagles won it when Tucker Willard scored on Bishop’s walk-off single.

"It was a great way to start the season, by battling from behind to beat a good ball club," Faulkner head coach Patrick McCarthy said. "We had to grind it out, but we got the big hits when we needed them."

After Faulkner starter Corey Black faced just one above the minimum in his four hitless innings of work, Southeastern grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fifth, still without recording a hit. A couple of walks and an infield groundout put the Fire on top, and the lead grew to 2-0 an inning later.

Matt Creel singled in a run for the Eagles in the seventh, trimming the margin to 2-1, but Southeastern answered with a run in the top of eighth, thanks to a hit batsman, a balk and a wild pitch, setting the stage for Faulkner’s comeback in the ninth. Creel earned the victory in relief for the Eagles, allowing no runs and three hits in two-plus innings of work.

Willard, Bishop and Colby all had a pair of hits apiece for Faulkner.

Game 2 was called in the bottom of the fourth inning due to inclement weather with Faulkner on top 4-1. It will not be made up, according to McCarthy.

The Eagles host Webber International in a doubleheader Saturday at Harrison Field. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

Contributed
(February 4, 2012)

The No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team split its doubleheader on Friday against Webber International, taking game one, 3-2, while falling in the second game, 6-0.

As a result of the split, the Warhawks now stand at 3-3 on the season, while the Warriors improved to 2-2.

In the opener, AUM took advantage of a pair of WIU errors to push across the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior Chris Barrentine earned the victory in relief of senior starter Cody Hall, tossing the final 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to record his first victory of the season. Hall threw the opening five frames, allowing five hits and walking two, while striking out eight. In two starts this season, Hall has struck out 18 in 10 2/3 innings, but has not factored in either decision.

Junior Adam Russell put the Warhawks on the board with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, scoring senior Chezz McCann. McCann came in to courtesy run for fellow senior Michael Dugan, who singled to centerfield. The two hits proved to be the only two of the game for AUM, as Warrior starter Rob Lane kept its hitters off balance for the remainder of the contest. Lane allowed just two earned runs, while striking out one, and fell to 0-2 on the year.

The offense continued to struggle for the Warhawks in game two, as they posted just four hits, three of which were singles with two outs. In the contest, AUM had only two runners advance past second base, while Webber International plated a pair of runs in the first, fifth and seventh innings.

The Warhawks also committed three key errors, allowing four unearned runs to score in the game.

Ryan O’Gara (2-0) was masterful on the mound for the Warriors, allowing just four hits and one walk, in the complete-game shutout.

Senior Andrew Morris took the loss for AUM after allowing four runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Morris struck out five, but fell to 0-1 on the year. Junior Blake Woo relieved Morris and tossed the next two frames, allowing two unearned runs, while striking out three. Senior Tyler Dent recorded the final out in the top of the seventh inning.

The Warhawks recorded only four singles, one each from Logan Remson, Drew Walker, Carson Amick and Shane Turner.

AUM will return to action on Saturday, when it hosts Southeastern in a doubleheader, beginning at noon.

Contributed
(February 4, 2012)

Huntingdon gave up three runs in the first inning and three runs in the sixth inning as Mississippi College took a 7-3 win on Friday at Posey Field. It was the season opener for both teams.

“We didn’t play to our potential today,” Huntingdon baseball coach D.J. Conville said. “I thought we were ready to play, but we were very tentative in the first few innings. I hope this is something we learn from as we move forward.

“This game lets us know if we keep playing like this, we’re not going to have much success this year. We’re going to have to play at a higher level to be successful.”                                                                 

Huntingdon gave up four straight singles to start the game and fell behind 3-0 in the first inning. The Hawks (0-1) rallied and trailed 4-3 after five innings. But the Choctaws (1-0) took control in the sixth.

The Choctaws’ Spencer Brunson reached on an error and scored on a Pate Shackelford single. Chad Wooten’s sacrifice bunt scored Mike Kerdock and a Daniel Wass single drove in Shackelford to give Mississippi College a 7-3 lead.  

Senior John Rice (0-1) took the loss for Huntingdon, allowing six hits, three earned runs and striking out four in four innings. Ian Underwood (1-0) picked up the win, giving up four hits, no runs, one walk and striking out five.

Trey Smith, Caleb Astin and Grant Brown were each 2-for-4 to lead the Hawks. Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the second, Astin singled in Smith for Huntingdon’s first run.

The Choctaws scored on Huntingdon error in the top of the third before Huntingdon responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to make it a one-run game. An Evan Agnew triple scored Grant Brown and Agnew scored on a Keegan Lambeth single to make it 4-3.

A missed scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth inning also hurt the Hawks. A Mississippi College error, a hit batter and a walk gave Huntingdon the bases loaded with no outs. But the Hawks couldn’t push a run across. The Choctaws got out of the inning with a pop out, a strikeout and a ground out.

For the game, Huntingdon left eight men on base.

Josh Perez had three hits and scored twice to lead Mississippi College.

The two teams return to action at Posey Field on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Contributed
(February 4, 2012)

AHSAA Class 6A 2011 cross country champion Carmen Carlos of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile shattered the AHSAA state indoor 3,200-meter record here Friday with the fastest recorded time nationally this season on the opening day the 2012 Indoor State Championships at the Metro CrossPlex.

Carlos, a junior, lapped the entire field in clocking a 10:34.02 time as she passed the other 11 runners in her heat. The time beat the previous record set by Jennifer Dunn of Austin (10:42.83) in the last indoor meet held at Priceville in 2007.

The AHSAA indoor track championship program was discontinued after that meet and returned this season with the opening of the state-of-the-art CrossPlex facility in December.

According to milesplit.com, her record-setting time was the fastest recorded this season nationally. Audrey Batzel of Ocean Lakes, VA, ran a 10:39.96 last weekend at the St. Christopher Invitational at Richmond, Va., to rank first until the performance by Carlos. Her 10:45.04 time last week at the CrossPlex in the Last Chance Invitational was ranked fourth nationally, giving her two of the five fastest times in the nation in 2012.

The AHSAA state meet continues Saturday at 9 a.m. Raycom will be live streaming Saturday’s events. The weblink can be accessed at www.ahsaa.com.

A live results feed for event is also available at www.ahsaa.com, thanks to Express Timing and Alabama Runners.com.

Carlos also won the 6A 800-meter run Friday with a winning time of 2:14.94 – just missing the state record (2:14.46) set by Catherine Diethelm of Mountain Brook in 2007 by just 48/100ths of a second. Her 20 points earned helped McGill-Toolen hold a slim 40-36 edge over Mountain Brook heading into Saturday’s events.

 The best race of the day came in the final event of the night with four relay teams besting a 17-year-old Class 6A record in the 800-meter relay finals. Quincy Smith, a senior from Smiths Station, made a strong push at the finish line to give the Panthers the win and the record with a time of 1:30.23. Jeff Davis set the previous mark with a 1:32.12 in 1995.

 Smith teamed with Tracy McKinney, Antonio Morgan and Terrance Nellon to set the new mark. Hoover finished second at 1:30.40, Northridge was third at 1:30.45 and Auburn finished fourth at 1:31.20 – all better than the Vols’ 1995 mark.

 St. Paul’s leads the scoring in Class 5A girls’ competition after the first day with 42 points. Scottsboro is second with 33 and Central-Tuscaloosa third with 26. UMS-Wright holds a commanding 67-37 lead over Montgomery Academy in the 1A-4A girls’ standings.

In the boys’ first-day standings, UMS-Wright has a slim 32-24 lead over Beauregard in Class 1A-4A. St. Paul’s leads Class 5A with 38 points while Walker is second with 28 and Scottsboro third with 25.

Several records also fell Friday – especially in the Class 6A 60-meter dash. Four runners – all running in different heats – either equaled or bettered the standing indoor state meet record of 7.0 seconds set by Titus Ryan of Tuscaloosa County in 2002. All four will square off in the finals Saturday at 1:20 p.m.

 Derrick Johnson of Northridge set the new state record Friday afternoon with a 6.96 qualifying time in Heat 5. Tracy McKinney of Smiths Station won Heat 3 with a record-bettering time of 6.97 seconds. Johnson’s Northridge teammate Jamarcus Howard won Heat 4 with a 6.98 time, and Oak Mountain senior Jakaryus Redwine equaled the previous record in Heat 1 with a 7.0 time.

 In the Class 5A girls’ 800-meter relay, Parker and Central-Tuscaloosa bested the previous state record with a photo finish. The Thundering Herd foursome of Iris Robinson, Tiffany Holloway, Rochelle Knight and Kia Dowdell  won the event and the state mark with a winning time of 1:47.91. Central clocked 1:48.28. Northridge had set the record of 1:48.63 in 2002.

 Hoover’s girls also bested the old Class 6A mark in the 800 relay by almost three seconds with a winning time of 1:42.25. Central-Tuscaloosa also set a boys record in the 800 relay with a winning time of 1:33.36.

Brandon Bell, Central-Tuscaloosa: Clocked a 5A record time of 8.36 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.

Kylen Towner, St. Paul’s: Ran 7.02 in the 60-meter dash for a new 5A mark.

Joy Maneice-Marbury, Hoover: Set a 6A record in the 60-meter dash with a winning time of 7.73 seconds.

Kathryn Lazarchick, UMS-Wright: Won the 800-meter run in a 1A-4A record time of 2:19.23.

While many Friday events were prelims, several individual state champions were crowned in distance events and several field events in addition to Carlos’ double win in the 3,200 and 800.