Tuscaloosa Area Schools Shine at State Meet

This year's Alabama High School Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships was held last weekend, and several West Alabama area schools and individuals were big winners in Birmingham.

According to the AHSAA and Anna Snyder of the Tuscaloosa News,

Get our free mobile app

the Northridge Jaguar boys, coached by Jeff Sparks, finished first overall in Class 6A. The Jags finished with 82 total points, 30 points ahead of the second place squad. Two Jaguars took home individual state titles: Anglin Young in the boys 3,200-meter run (9:37.79) and Khiyon Lewis in the boys triple jump (45-08.50).

"We just had some young man who pulled it all together and did what the seasons standings were," Sparks told Snyder. "They were able to do it (at the state meet). You know, I told them 'All you have to do is what we've been doing all season on that day,' and it'll come out in our favor. We had a good meet, so we are excited."

Northridge wasn't the only successful Tuscaloosa City school, as the Paul W. Bryant girls 800-meter relay, made up of Xariyah Hatchett, Jaliayah Frank, Ja’Kaelyn King and anchor Jaliyah Coleman claimed the state title with a time of 1:46.35. The win marked second-year Stampede coach Sharday's Branch's first state title.

"I'm very proud of them," Branch told The News. "They've been working really hard all season. I just wanted them to go in with the mentality of 'You've done the work to get to the state meet so now you just need to finish the job,' and they did that. I am super proud of them. This is actually a little special to me, because it's my first state championship relay team."

There's more: American Christian Academy's Braden Ary won the Class 5A boys 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.24. In Classes 1A-3A, Fayette County's Aliya Stevenson claimed the girls 60-meter hurdles with a time of 10.64, and the Fayette County boys 800 relay, made up of Orlando Lawson, Hester Whittaker, Riley Vick and Clark Vandiver, claimed the state title with a time of 1:36.31.

Congrats to all these winners from Tide 100.9 and Townsquare Media.