Fort Payne Track Team Finishes Strong
The Fort Payne Wildcats’ track and field teams earned six podium finishes and finished third overall behind Homewood and Pelham while competing for a state title at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores. The Wildcats also broke several school records during the meet.
Madi Wallace earned silver in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 45.76 seconds and set a new school record in the event.
Maggie Groat also set a school record in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.16 seconds in the preliminaries.
The Lady Wildcats’ relay teams both earned silver medals. Fort Payne’s 4×400 team of Maddie Jackson, Maggie Groat, Madi Wallace, and Logan Neil finished second with a season-best time of 4:10.64
The 4×800 team of Gracie Groat, Mollie Sanderson, Anahi Barboza, and Maddie Jackson placed second in 9:44.49
The final podium finish for the Wildcats came when Isabelle Goggans placed third in the javelin with a throw of 119 feet and two inches. This throw set a school record.
On the boys’ side, Matthew Shaddix just missed being crowned a state champion by 0.11 second. He earned silver in the 300-meter hurdles in 40.12 seconds. He also placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.54 seconds.
Ben Anderson placed 14th in the 800-meter run in 2:01.93 just five seconds behind the first-place finisher. Anderson also placed 16th in the 1,600-meter run in 4:42.84
Nate Crane placed seventh in the shot put with a throw of 49 feet, 6.5 inches, and Shane Freeman finished 19th with a toss of 42 feet, 0.5 inches.
Mountain Valley News (MVN) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print.
At MVN, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community.
Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience!
Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.