State meet records tumble in Alabama

By Arthur L. Mack for DyeStat

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA — It was a memorable first day of the Alabama High School Athletic Association's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as numerous records were broken in both running and field events.

No less than 10 records were broken on Thursday — with a large number of them in the Class 7A division. Action continues at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex on Friday, with the meet scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

Here are the records that fell on Thursday:

CLASS 7A — Mobile's McGill-Toolen Catholic's Margaret Ollinger started the record-breaking barrage, breaking her own state meet record of 12 feet, 10 inches in the pole vault by clearing 13-6.25. Moments later, Hoover's Presley Weems broke the girls 1,600 meter record of 4 minutes, 59.76 seconds set last year by Huntsville's Abbey Weitenbeck, winning that event in a blazing 4:52.35. Mountain Brook's Frances Patrick, who finished second, was also under the old record, running 4:58.05.

In the boys 1,600, the old record of 4:20 24 set last year by Auburn's Paul Barlow was broken by Hewitt-Trussville'ss Benjamin Knox, who ran 4:17.82. Hoover's Tommy McDonough, who finished second, was also under the old record, running 4:18.84.

Knox's teammate, Noah Igbinoghene, broke the long jump record of 22-10 ¼ set by Auburn's Alex Evans last year, jumping a state-leading 24-7.50. Auburn's Marrell Parker, who was second, was also broke the old record, jumping 23-5.

Walter Thomas of Vestavia Hills shattered the old shot put record of 52-10 set by Christian Bell last year. Thomas threw a state-leading 59-0.50.

The sprint relays also saw records broken in the preliminary heats. Both Auburn's boys and girls broke the old records for the 4x100-meter relay — Auburn's boys ran a blistering 40.74, under the old record of 41.66 that it set last year, while Auburn's girls time of 47.91 was under the record of 48.03 set by Hoover last year. Hoover, incidentally, was also under the old record, running 47.96.

CLASS 5A — St. Clair County's Tristan Hawkins broke the old shot put record of 55-0 set by Central-Tuscaloosa's Devon Lockett set in 2012 when he threw 55-9.50 on his second throw.

CLASS 4A — A close battle in the boys 1,600-meter run resulted in not only one, but two runners breaking the old record of 4:20.44 set in 2013 by Oneonta's Alex Gilliand. Ryan Ford of Westminster Christian won with a record time of 4:17.67, while Northside's James Patrick Brinyark, who finished second, was also under the old record, running 4:17.68.

Cade Wilson of Florence-Wilson threw a meet record 165-6 in the discus, breaking the old record of 160-6 set by Hayleyville's Heath Batchelor in 2006.