The Opelika Track and Field team claimed their fifth consecutive state championship in the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) State Track and Field Meet this past Saturday in Trussville, Ala.
After qualifying last weekend at the District V Meet in Lincoln,Ala., Opelika traveled to compete against 16 other city programs at the Hewitt-Trussville Husky Stadium. Opelika beat long-time rival Mobile (386) by 31 points combined boys and girls, followed closely by Trussville (382).
Opelika’s top performances came from Ava Thomas who placed first in the 7 and 8-year-old division in the 50m, 200m, 400m and 800m dash and Kamari Jones who placed first in the 9 and 10-year-old division in the 50m, 100m, and 200m dash. Thomas and Jones joined teammates Kahliya Colud and Kaylee McIntyre to place first in the 4x100m relay in the 9 and 10-year-old division as well.
Other outstanding performances included Opelika Boys placing first in the 7 and 8-year-old division 4x100m relay and first in the 4x400m relay in the 11 and 12-year-old division.
Opelika head coach Gary Clarke acclaimed the team work and effort exhibited by his athletes.
“The kids did an excellent job overall and everyone competed well,” said Clarke. “I’m especially proud of the team’s success considering we didn’t run all middle-schoolers like most of our competitors. State champs five years in a row!”
The following is a complete list of Opelika individual and group statistics.
Girls
7/8 Ava Thomas 1ST-50M, 200M, 400M, 800M
9/10 Kamari Jones 1ST-50M, 100M, 200M
9/10 Kaylee McIntyre 2ND 100, 200M, 1ST 400M
9/10 Caroline Couey 2ND 1600M
11/12 Carlie Moates 3RD 800M
11/12 Shaniyah Finley 3RD Stand Long Jump
9/10 Kahliya Colud 1st 4X100 RelayKaylee McIntyreAva Thomas
Kamari Jones
Boys
7/8 Justin Patterson 3RD 50M, 100M, 2ND 200M
7/8 Mason Sistrunk 3RD 400M
7/8 London Leffler 1ST 800M
7/8 Mason Sistrunk 1st 4X100M RelayAedan McCullough
Caleb Johnson
Justin Patterson
9/10 Aaden Johnson 2ND 50M, 3RD 400M
9/10 Kairi Johnson 3RD 50M, 2ND Softball Throw
9/10 Luke Moates 2ND 800M, 1600M
9/10 Jayden Battle 1ST 400M
9/10 Khris Stoeckel 3RD 200M
9/10 Braedon Dowdell 2ND Run Long Jump
9/10 Team A: 2nd 4X100 Relay
K. Stoeckel
A. Johnson
B. Dowdell
A. Vann
9/10 Team B: 3rd 4X100 Relay
J. Jackson
K. Johnson
J. Battle
K. Bryant
9/10 Aaden Johnson 3rd 4X400 Relay
Khris Stoeckel
Jayden Battle
Braedon Dowdell
11/12 Davian Jones 2ND 100M, 400M
11/12 Connor Mullins 3RD 800M, 1600M
11/12 Dezi Yelder 2ND Softball Throw
11/12 Dezi Yelder 2nd 4X100 Relay
Christopher Kirk
Elijah Foreman
Davian Jones)
11/12 Dezi Yelder 1st 4X400 Relay
Christopher Kirk
Elijah Foreman
Davian Jones
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