Track athletes, golfers head continue into post-season competition

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As spring sports head into their postseasons, golfers and track and field athletes are among those seeking a stellar finale.

TRACK AND FIELD

Athletes representing Russellville High School recently participated in the section track and field meet held in Guntersville, and many qualified for state.Two Franklin County student-athletes also qualified for the state track meet after their performances at the sectional track meet in Winfield over the weekend.

The RHS boys’ team finished second in the two-day sectional meet with 81 total points – one behind Alexandria High School’s total of 82. Russellville’s Dallan Montgomery qualified for state and swept all of the throwing events, with first-place finishes in javelin, shot put and discus. Teammate Tilman Baker also qualified for state by finishing second in the javelin competition.

Other Russellville boys headed to state in Gulf Shores are Conner Warhurst for high jump, Cahlese Phillips for triple jump, Taylor Crumpton for long jump and 400 meters and Eli Cooper for 300-meter hurdles.

Russellville’s girls also had success at the sectional meet. Ari Willingham will be going to state after finishing second in the 200 meters and third in 100 meters. Joining her in Gulf Shores representing RHS will be Ella Burcham for javelin, Maggie Bishop for 100-meter hurdles and Danica Graham for long jump.

The Russellville track and field program is being led this season by head coach Brett Voss.

Belgreen’s Noelle Willingham qualified in Class 1A in the 100-meter dash with a time of 14.20 seconds. She also qualified in the long jump with a distance of 13 feet, 7.5 inches, and the triple jump with a distance of 30 feet, 9.75 inches.

Phil Campbell’s Hannah Welborn qualified in Class 3A in the 400-meter run with a time of 1 minute and 11 seconds. She also qualified in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes and 51 seconds.

GOLF

The Red Bay boys golf team advanced from sectionals to substate. The Tigers played sectionals this past week with a team score of 352 – 15 shots better than their next competitors in the Class 1A-2A division.

Red Bay was led by Buck McRight, who shot a 78 to tie for medalist honors. Cody Carnes shot an 83, Brady Bolton an 86 and Lawson Glover a 105 for Red Bay’s top four scorers.

The Phil Campbell girls team also advanced out of sectionals to the substate. Taylor Wallce shot a 112, Kaylie Motes a 124 and Lydia Garrison a 137 for the Lady Bobcats.

The Russellville boys’ golf team, led by head coach Patrick Odom, finished third in the Class 5A Section 3 tournament held at Cross Creek Golf Course in Cullman, which was good enough to qualify for sub-state.

West Point finished first at the section tournament with a team score of 325. They were followed by Lawrence County with a 337, Russellville at 427 and Fairview at 433 as a team.

Bailey Sutter of West Point shot a 75 and had the best score of any individual.

Russellville’s roster includes Brayden Malone, Braxton Hipps, Will Morgan, Mason Herring, Parker Odom and Maddux Herring. The young team is looking forward to heading to sub-state, which will be held at Twin Bridges in Gadsden.