Falcon first
- Updated: February 3, 2023
Connell jumps way to becoming Donoho’s first indoor-track state champion; Ohatchee’s Ferguson vaults to third state title
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
Estella Connell keeps adding to her resume as an elite high school athlete, and she jumped her way to Donoho history during Friday’s action in the state indoor track championships.
She finished first in the long jump, becoming her school’s first indoor state champion.
Connell wasn’t Calhoun County’s only champion Friday. Ohatchee’s Chris Ferguson won his third title in 1A-3A pole vault and second indoors.
Oxford’s Noah George, the county’s two-time champion in cross country, took second in the 3,200-meter run and third in the 1,600.
Donoho also got a third-place finish from Walker Bodiford in the shotput.
For Connell, who also took second in the triple jump, making history was special.
“Being able to hold this honor of being the first indoor track and field champion for Donoho is absolutely insane, and I am so grateful,” she said. “I truly believe that I am in this position today because of the opportunities God has given me. I truly can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.
“Today I really put my heart in the sand and I’m so beyond excited for what outdoor holds for my team!”
Connell’s winning jump covered 15-07.25, four inches better than Brillian’ts Abbygail Humphries.
“Estella has brought home top-three medals at state before,” Donoho coach Hayley Long said. “However, this indoor long jump was special.
“We have worked hard to increase speed to the pit, and it payed off. This is Donoho’s first indoor state individual champion. I look forward to her outdoor performances.”
Ferguson extended his streak to three gold medals. He swept indoor and outdoor in 2022 and took outdoor Friday.
His winning vault cleared 13-06.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I started off the year rough and finally put it all together today. Had some bad weeks but started to pull it together over the last two weeks.
“Had some good jumps early to build the confidence and just rolled with it. Super happy to be the back-to-back 1A-3A pole vault state champion. Excited to bring the momentum into to outdoor and with extending my run.”
Bodiford’s third-place finish came in his first year to throw shot. He threw 42-06. St. James’ Connor Owens won state at 47-03.
George ran a 9:33.42 in the 3,200, nearly 15 seconds off of the pace set by St. Paul’s Stone Smith (9:18.52). George took third in the 1,600 in 4:22.95.
Indoor State Track
Friday
Birmingham CrossPlex1A-3A
Boys 800 run
John David Taylor (Piedmont) – 10th, 2:11.01 PR
Carson Limbaugh (Faith Christian) – 15th, 2:16.67 PR
Girls triple jump
Estella Connell (Donoho) – 2nd, 34-01.25 (school record) PR AL Top 25
Ashllyn Adderhold (Piedmont) – 4th, 32-10.00 PR AL Top 25
Boys triple jump
Brady Whitworth (Faith Christian) – 38-0.75
Girls 60 hurdles
Rory Parks (Donoho) – 11.42q; 7th, 11.43 final
Allie Haynes (Piedmont) – 11.50q; 8th, 11.48 final PR
Boys 60 hurdles
Cody Holloway (Piedmont) – 9.26 q
Girls 60 dash
Zoe Christopher (Donoho) – 8.78 heat PR
Erin Turley (Donoho) – 8.78 heat P
Boys 60 dash
Jabari Williams (Wellborn) – 7.55 heat PR
Cody Holloway (Piedmont) – 7.555 heat PR
Girls pole vault
Rory Parks (Donoho) – 7-0 (4th)
Girls shot put
Ansley Simmons (Donoho) – 27-02.50 flight
Boys high jump
McLane Mohon (Piedmont) – 5-6 PR
Girls 400 run
Erin Turley (Donoho) – 13th, 1:07.78
Boys 400 run
Brady Whitworth (Faith Christian) – 8th, 54.00 PR
Grayson Johnson (Wellborn) – 9th, 54.48 PR
Max Hanson (Piedmont) – 11th, 55.49
Chase Haynes (Piedmont) – 13th, 56.434
Girls 1,600 run
Mattie Todd (Piedmont) – 13th, 6:15.87
Girls pole vault
Ashlyn Adderhold (Piedmont) – 2nd, 9-6 PR AL Top 25
Lexi Ray (Piedmont) – 3rd, 8-6 AL Top 50
Rory Parks (Donoho) – 4th, 7-0 PR
Girls 4×200 relay
Donoho – 6th, 2:01.21 Haley Hartwell, Rory Parks, Zoe Christopher, Erin Turley
Piedmont – 8th, 2:03.33 Emma Grace Todd and Ashilyn Adderhold (don’t have other 2)
Boys 4×200 relay
Wellborn – 9th,1:41.89 Kyle Bright, Trace Coppock, Xavier Parker, Jabari Williams
Piedmont – 4th, 1:38.53 McLaine Mohon, Max Hanson, Cody Holloway
Faith Christian- 5th, 1:38.90 Jack Strautman, Vinson Montgomery, Eli Mitchell, Brady Whitworth
Boys 4×800 relay
Piedmont – 4th, 9:04.20 Chase Haynes, John David Taylor, Caiden Cardelli
Donoho – 8th, 9:57.44 Jack Thomas, Jack Wallace, Zach Cater, Hunter Hartwell
Girls long jump
Estella Connell (Donoho) – 1st, 15-07.25 AL Top 50
Boys long jump
Cody Holloway (Piedmont) – 6th, 19-02.75
McLane Mahon (Piedmont) – 12th, 18-02.00
Girls high jump
Estella Connell (Donoho) – 4th, 4-06.00
Boys shot put
Walker Bodiford (Donoho) – 3rd, 42-06.00
Sam Tolbert (Piedmont) – 7th, 38-10.50
Tyler Waters (Ohatchee) – 8th, 38-06.00
Fisher Adams (Piedmont) – 11th, 36-06.00
Boys pole vault
Chris Ferguson (Ohatchee) – 1st (3x state champion) 13-06
Boys 4×400 relay
Piedmont – 6th, 3:49.71
Faith Christian – 7th, 3:59.17
Class 6A (Oxford)
Boys 800 run
Evan Somers (Oxford) – 16th, 2:02.06
Girls 60 hurdles
Chaci Whitfield (Oxford) – 9.95q; 7th, 9.83 final AL Top 25
Girls 60 dash
Keziah Mickler (Oxford) – 7.906q; 5th 7.89 final PR AL top 25
Boys 60 dash
Ashton Mitchell (Oxford) – 7.34 heat
Girls 400 dash
Keziah Mickler (Oxford) – 14th, 1:03.13
Boys 400 dash
Damious Wilson (Oxford) – 7th, 51.25 PR
Girls 1,600 run
Katie Keur (Oxford) – 8th, 5:17.60 PR/SR AL Top 25
Boys 1,600 run
Noah George (Oxford) – 3rd, 4:22.95 PR/SR AL Top 25
Boys 4×200 relay
Oxford – 9th, 1:34.46
Girls 3,200 run
Katie Keur – 5th, 11:28.25
Emerson Maniscalco – 11th, 12:19.97
Boys 3,200 run
Noah George – 2nd, 9:33.42 PR/SR
Boys long jump
Ashton Mitchell – 2nd, 21-9.25 AL Top 10
DeAndre Archie – 12th, 19-11.75 AL Top 50
Cover photo: Donoho’s Estella Connell takes her place on the podium after winning a state indoor championship in the long jump Friday at Birmingham CrossPlex. (Photo submitted)
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