Alabama high school track: 29 Gadsden area athletes to watch at the indoor state meet
The Alabama high school indoor track season is wrapping up this weekend in Birmingham at the Birmingham Crossplex.
The indoor season is a little different as there are no sectional meets that athletes can compete in to qualify for states. The best performances, up to 16 athletes across the state, are invited to compete as long as they hit minimum standards.
Here are 29 athletes to watch from the Gadsden area along with the relay teams that will be competing from the area:
GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alabama high school basketball: 33 Gadsden area girls players to watch going into postseason play
BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alabama high school basketball: 30 Gadsden area boys players to watch going into postseason play
Boys
Tyler Anthony, Fort Payne
Events: 1,600 meters
Why: Anthony was a Gadsden Times all area selection this fall in cross country and comes into the state meet with a time of 4:36 in the 1600-meter.
Ben Frampton, Cherokee County
Events: 60-meter dash
Why: Frampton ran a best of 7.25 this winter.
Alex Johnson, Cherokee County
Events: 60-meter dash, 400 meters
Why: Johnson ran a best of 7.23 this winter in the 60-meter and a 52.17 in the 400.
Connor Kinsley, Fort Payne
Events: Triple Jump
Why: Kinsley has a best of 39-feet and 10-inches this season.
Tristan Little, Pisgah
Events: 1,600 meters
Why: Little was a Gadsden Times all area selection this fall in cross country and comes into the state meet with a time of 5:03 in the 1,600.
Mclaine Mohon, Piedmont
Events: High Jump, Long Jump
Why: Mohon has a high jump of 5-feet and 10-inches and a best of 19-7 in the long jump.
Cooper Morrison, Guntersville
Events: High Jump, Long Jump, Pole Vault
Why: Morrison has a best jump of 5-10 this winter, seeding him third in the class in the high jump and a best long jump of 19-3. To close out his triple threat he has a best pole vault of 9-6.
Trevor Pike, Piedmont
Events: High Jump, long jump
Why: Pike comes in with a jump of 5-2 in the high jump and a best of 19-1 in the long jump.
Hayden Presley, Fort Payne
Events: Shot put
Why: Presley has a long throw of 40-9 in the event.
Cooper Scott, Albertville
Events: High Jump
Why: Scott has a best jump of 5-10 this winter.
Rashun Tatum, Albertville
Events: High Jump
Why: Tatum has a best jump of 6-2 this winter.
John David Taylor, Piedmont
Events: 800 meters
Why: Taylor came in with a 2:13 time and looks to make some noise.
Carter Tinker, Fort Payne
Events: Shot put
Why: Tinker has a long throw of 40-9 in the event.
Sam Tolbert, Piedmont
Events: Shot put
Why: Tolbert comes into the state meet with the third best distance in Class 1A-3A with a distance of 40-feet.
Landon Watkins, Pisgah
Events: 60-meter dash
Why: Watkins has a time of 7.4 in the sprint.
Girls
Abbie Cagle, Guntersville
Events: Pole Vault
Why: Cagle has a best of 8-6 this winter in the pole vault.
Claudia Dempsey, Piedmont
Events: 800-meter, 400-meter
Why: Dempsey comes in with a time of 2:46 in the 800 and 1:05 in the 400.
Aubrey Evans, Fort Payne
Events: Triple Jump, high jump
Why: Evans has a best of 33-8 this season in the triple jump and a best of 5-2 in the high jump.
Allie Hayes, Piedmont
Events: 60-meter hurdle
Why: Hayes comes in with a time of 11.17 in the sprint event.
Kyndal Hughes, Fort Payne
Events: 1,600, 3,200
Why: Hughes was a Gadsden Times all area selection in cross country this fall and comes into the state meet with a time of 5:31 in the 1,600 and a 12:10 in the 3,200.
Mckenna Jackson, Fort Payne
Events: Shot Put
Why: Jackson comes in the top half of seeding with a long throw of 34-11.
Mary Hayes Johnson, Cherokee County
Events: 60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash, 400
Why: The South Alabama track commit has a time of 9.6 in the 60-meter hurdles, a 8.14 in the 60-meter dash and a 59.33 in the 400 meters.
Ruthie Jones, Fort Payne
Events: 400 meters
Why: Jones comes in with a time of 1:02 in the 400.
Taylor Knight, Ashville
Events: 1,600, 3,200
Why: Knight ran a best of 5:45 this winter in the 1,600 and a time of 12:28 in the 3,200.
Cesleigh Martin, Guntersville
Events: Shot Put
Why: Martin is fourth in the class so far this winter with a best throw of 32-5.
Shamiya McElrath, Cherokee County
Events: 60-meter dash, 400 meters
Why: McElrath ran a 8.27 in the 60-meter this winter and a 1:02 in the 400.
Kyla Price, Gadsden City
Events: 400
Why: Price comes into the event with one of the top times in the 400 meters, running a 59.49.
Madeleine Wharton, Guntersville
Events: Pole Vault
Why: Wharton has a best of 8-6 this winter in the pole vault
Lydie Varnadore, Fort Payne
Events: Triple Jump, High Jump
Why: Varnadore has a best of 33-10 this season in the triple jump and a best of 5-feet in the high jump.
Relays
Albertville
4x800-meter
Ashville
Boys 4x400-meter
Boys 4x800-meter
Cherokee County
Girls 4x200-meter
Fort Payne
Boys 4x200-meter
Boys 4x400-meter
Boys 4x800-meter
Girls 4x400-meter
Girls 4x800-meter
Guntersville
Girls 4x200-meter
Girls 4x400-meter
Girls 4x800-meter
Boys 4x200-meter
Boys 4x400-meter
Boys 4x800-meter
Piedmont
Boys 4x200-meter
Boys 4x400-meter
Boys 4x800-meter
Girls 4x200-meter
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: 29 Gadsden area athletes to watch at the indoor state track meet
