Patriots girls win second straight state outdoor track title

Homewood's girls made it two in a row while the boys finished second in Gulf Shores.

Homewood’s girls track and field team won the Class 6A  State Championship, the seventh state championship for the track and field program and the 10th for the track and field/cross country program.

Kiara Williams, an Alabama signee, led the team by winning all four of her events (triple jump, long jump, 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles). Kiara broke the state record in long jump by jumping 20 ft. 5 in., and she is currently ranked No. 2 in the U.S.

Sarah Blake, a Kentucky signee, won the javelin and was only four feet away from breaking the state record. The girls 4x400m relay team of Elysa Griffin, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Joy Korley and Hunter Midgett got a win to close out the meet. Ann Mosely Whitsett placed second in the 800m and third in the 400m. Elysa Griffin placed third in the 200m and placed in both the long jump and the 100m. Caroline Lawrence had her best meet of the year and earned All-State honors by clearing 5-2 and placing third in high jump. Many athletes contributed to the win by placing in the top eight and scoring valuable points. Those who placed are listed below.

The boys team lost to an excellent and well-rounded Opelika team. Alazae Hester-Taylor led Homewood by winning the 300m hurdles and placing third in both the triple jump and 110m Hurdles. Andy Smith won a tremendous 1600m and ran a 4:17. Andy also placed third in the 3,200m and fourth in the 800m. The boys 4x800m relay team of Logan Sadler, Sean Conboy, Pierce Jackson and Hunter Poole won with an impressive performance. Logan Sadler earned All-State honors in both the 800m and 1600m by placing in the top three. Dominique Linson got second in the high jump by clearing 6 ft. 4 in. The boys 4x100m of Tommy Donaldson, Lawton Dorough, Dominque Linson and Teverius Lindsey earned All-State honors by placing second.

Homewood is coached by Tom Esslinger, Lars Porter, Josh Donaldson, Deanna Swope, Brittany Steele, Thomas Fowlkes, and Kenneth Hollis.

Individual State Champions

• Sarah Blake – Javelin
• Alazae Hester-Taylor – 300m Hurdles
• Andy Smith – 1,600m
• Kiara Williams – Long Jump, Triple Jump, 100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles
• State Champion Relay Teams
• Boys 4x800m – Logan Sadler, Sean Conboy, Pierce Jackson, and Hunter Poole
• Girls 4x400m – Elysa Griffin, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Joy Korley, and Hunter Midgett

All-State (Top three)

• Elysa Griffin – 200m
• Ann Mosely Whitsett – 400m, 800m
• Caroline Lawrence – High Jump
• Logan Sadler – 800m, 1600m
• Andy Smith – 3200m
• Alazae Hester-Taylor – 110m Hurdles, Triple Jump
• Dominique Linson – High Jump
• 4x100m – Tommy Donaldson, Lawton Dorough, Dominique Linson and Teverius Lindsey

Athletes who scored points (Top eight):

• Elysa Griffin – 6th, 100m; 6th, Long Jump
• Hunter Midgett – 4th, 400m
• Lainey Phelps – 5th, 3,200m; 5th, Pole Vault; 6th, 1600m
• Madison Kirkwood – 8th, 100m Hurdles
• Christian Hill – 7th, Jump; 8th, High Jump
• Sarah Blake – 7th,  Discus
• Sarah Crocker – 5th, in Javelin
• 4x800m – 5th,  Edie Smith, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Virginia Givhan and Mary V. Spencer
• Andy Smith – 4th, 800m
• Hunter Poole – 6th, 1600m
• Alex Ngei – 6th, 3,200m
• Alazae Hester-Taylor – 7th, High Jump
• Jackson White – 5th, Pole Vault
• Jake Vella – 6th, Pole Vault
• Lawton Dorough – 8th, Long Jump
• Patrick Domingo – 6th, Javelin

Tom Esslinger contributed the information in this report.