It was a big weekend for local track and field athletes as they punched their tickets to state at the AHSAA's sectional championships on April 25 and 26.  Shelby County schools were spread throughout multiple locations. The Chelsea Hornets, Spain Park Jaguars, Thompson Warriors, Oak Mountain Eagles, Briarwood Christian Lions and Westminster School at Oak Mountain Knights were at the Hewitt-Trussville Sectional.  Sign up for The Shelby County Reporter's free newslette

In addition, the Pelham Panthers, Helena Huskies, Calera Eagles and Indian Springs School competed in the Northridge Sectional, the Montevallo Bulldogs and Shelby County Wildcats were at the Smiths Station Sectional and the Vincent Yellow Jackets went down to Lochapoka.  For individual events, the top five competitors who met state qualifying standards made it to state plus four wild cards from the four best athletes across all sections who did not automatically qualify. The top three relay teams plus four wild cards advanced to state.  Here are the county athletes who finished in the top three of their respective events.

Pelham's Emily Wester won the Class 6A girls 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:20.69 while Janelle Ramos earned third with a time of 5:21.99.  Wester came in second in the Class 6A girls 800-meter run with a time of 2:18.53 and Ramos earned third with a time of 2:22.26.  Pelham's Emma Grace Howard took second in the Class 6A girls high jump with a mark of 5-02.00 and tied with three other athletes.  Indian Springs' Cara Huff won the Class 4A girls discus title with a mark of 135-05 as well as the shot put with a mark of 40-10.50.  Indian Springs' Quinn Conroy took first in the Class 4A boys 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:40.03 and won the boys 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:03.07.  Calera's Reignan Evans won the Class 6A girls discus with a mark of 110-08.  Pelham won the Class 6A girls 4×400-meter relay with a time of 4:02.95.  Pelham was third in the Class 6A girls 4×800-meter relay with a time of 10:16.69 and also in the boys race with a time of 8:36.49.  Pelham's Tyler Tucker took third in the Class 6A boys javelin throw with a mark of 149-03.  Helena's Michael Sesteli secured second in the Class 6A boys pole vault after clearing a height of 13-00.00.  Pelham's Maria McGough earned third place in the Class 6A girls 200-meter dash with a time of 25.72 seconds.   

Read more at: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2025/04/29/local-athletes-win-outdoor-sectional-titles-advance-to-state/