CATCH ALL RACE VIDEOS FROM THE AHSAA CLASS 4A-7A CHAMPIONSHIPS
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The Alabama State Track and Field Championships were straight up fire.
Across seven classifications and two event sites, athletes made huge marks on the state-scene, leaving their high school careers with one final memory.
It was pretty obvious to see, however, that some athletes were more dominant than others.
We've examined and reviewed performances from eight athletes who absolutely steamrolled through the competition over the weekend in Alabama, earning distinctions as the top athletes in the state.
For more, check out our coverage of the Alabama State Championships:
Alabama 1A-3A Meet Page
Alabama 4A-7A Meet Page
Ethan Strand, Vestavia Hills, Senior, Class 7A
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Events Won: 800m, 1,600m, 3,200m, 4x800
What an insane performance from Strand in his final Alabama State Track and Field Championships.
Over three days on the Gulf Shores, the University of North Carolina signee put down a PR in the 800m (1:52.73), a PR in the 1,600m (4:11.77, above) and another PR in the 3,200m (9:12.88).
But his best performance came in the 4x800, where Strand made up an eight-second difference in the final leg and willed Vestavia Hills to another title in 7:52.23, in what would be one of four state championships on the weekend.
It all was worth it in the end, as Vestavia Hills captured the AHSAA Class 7A title with 104.5 points.
Strand captured eight individual state championships across his time with VHHS, and he will go down as the team's most dominant track athlete ever -- arguably, one of the most dominant in Alabama history, too.
Cooper Atkins, Scottsboro, Senior, Class 6A
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Events Won: 800m, 1,600m, 3,200m, 4x800
Just as impressive as Strand, though, was Atkins.
He scored four distance titles, too.
There was his PR of 1:53.47 in the 800m, his first sub-4:10 in the 1,600m in 4:08.40, and his awesome 9:01.75 in the 3,200m.
Those three races secured three individual wins for Atkins.
But like Strand, Atkins also carried his squad in a blazing-fast 4x800 (above), even lifting the squad to an Alabama No. 1 and a US No. 2 time of 7:45.74.
That performance will go down as No. 2 in Alabama history, just behind Smiths Station's 7:40.88 from 2007.
With Atkins' incredible string of efforts, Scottsboro finished No. 2 in the Class 6A team race with 72 points. The University of Auburn recruitleaves his outdoor career with four state titles in all.
Jekovan Rhetta, Birmingham Parker, Senior, Class 5A
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Events Won: 100m, 200m
Medals: 400m (2nd)
The wind didn't always cooperate with Rhetta over the weekend.
On Thursday, in particular, it frustratingly didn't cooperate even after he clocked the state's second fastest all-conditions time ever in 10.27 (+3.0) seconds (above).
But Rhetta would go on to follow his performances with two signature wins, first earning a Class 5A title in the 100m in 10.59 seconds.
And then, on Saturday, he clocked a time of 21.23 seconds (+3.8) in the finals, capturing another win. Rhetta also finished the 400m in a season-best time of 47.84 seconds, finishing second overall.
The University of Alabama signee led Parker to a third-place team finish with 68 points.
Chanice Spicer, Brewbaker Tech, Senior, Class 5A
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Events Won: 100m, 200m, 400m
Spicer finished the Alabama State Track and Field Championships much like she started the season: On fire.
The University of Alabama recruit logged an Alabama triple, securing wins in the 100m (11.83), 200m (23.57) and 400m (53.87).
Spicer also split 52.55 on her final leg of the 4x400, giving Brewbaker Tech, which finished second in the team race, another title.
Perhaps those last two efforts, however, were her most significant. In the 400m (above), Spicer dropped the first sub-54 effort of her career, and it landed her nationally at US No. 9. Meanwhile, her wind-legal career best in the 200m put her at US No. 6 nationally.
On top of that, Spicer finished with eight individual state titles over her high school career.
Jarell Stinson, Opelika, Junior, Class 6A
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Events Won: 100m, 200m, 400m
Stinson made sure to make his last one his best one.
The talented sprinter from Opelika scored Class 6A victories in the 100m (10.79), 200m (21.22) and in the 400m (47.74).
To top it off?
Not only was his 200m (above) the fastest performance of the weekend in Alabama, but it was also wind-legal.
After not having a sophom*ore season, and his freshman campaign being his introduction to the Alabama State Championships, Stinson finally saw the payoff for all that hard work.
Crawford West, Vestavia Hills, Junior, Class 7A
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Events Won: 1,600m, 3,200m
Placement: 800m (2nd)
Vestavia Hills certainly didn't only see success with its boys program.
West continued her torrid run through Alabama, snatching a personal record time of 4:53.49 in the 1,600m (above) and another win in the 3,200m, clocking a time of 10:29.08.
Between those two races, West won all five of her races in Alabama over the 2021 season.
In the 800m, West was second overall in 2:15.25.
Those performances, along with a few others, led the Vestavia Hills girls to a third-place team finish.
Rashni Walker, Northridge, Junior, Class 6A
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Events Won: 100mH, 300mH
Placement: 200m (5th), LJ (2nd)
Alabama's next up is Walker.
She captured the state's fastest 100mH (above) performance over the weekend, securing a personal record time of 13.95 (+0.6) seconds in the prelims. Later, she secured her championship in 14.41.
But she wasn't finished.
Walker also authored a win in the 300mH, hitting 43.17 seconds on the clock, was second in the long jump (18-2.75) and fifth in the 200m (25.76).
