Seven marks qualified for mention on the HHS All-Time Top 10 list

Tops was freshman Berta Amelinaite discus throw of 123-04, a school record and good enough for National Recognition by Milesplit.US. She also made the list in the javelin (73-9) as did Day'zha Sales (83-60. On the boys team Grant Hill improved to 3rd on the discus list (141-06). Making the list for the first time were James Carter shot (45-09), Daniel Junen javelin (106-10), Nathan Vardaman long jump (21-4.75), and David Taylor high jump (6-2)

Here is the Top 10 update from the Alabama A&M Bulldog Relays of March 6, 2010, as far as I know them.

The 400m hurdles and 3000m run are seldom contested so there is not 10 persons in those lists. As a result everyone that finished those races for HHS is now in the Top 10 the easy way.

Girls pole vault: Junior, Liz Detz, cleared 8-6. Still 4th all-time.

Boys Discus Throw: Freshman, Grant Hill, threw 149-1. Moved up to 2nd all-time.

Huntsville easily won both Boys and Girls divisions of this annual two-day meet, taking full advantage of defection by Bob Jones High School. Also absent, but not missed, were Madison County High, Buckhorn and Hazel Green . Strong gusty winds on Saturday kept marks below par in all events. Regardless, there were three upward movements in the HHS All-Time Top 10 List.

Long Jump: 22-1 Nathan Vardaman moved up to #3
Javelin: 120-7 Daniel Junen moved up to #6
115-2 DeTanion Blackburn made the list for the first time at #8

The delayed MCHS Relay meet produced nine relay marks and two individual marks which qualify for the HHS All-Time Top 10 List. The events and list placement are: Girls Relays…4x200(5), sprint medley(3), shuttle hurdle(7), and shot put relay(4); Boys Relays… 4x200(9), 4x400(9), sprint medley(8), distance medley(10), and shuttle hurdle(2). In discus Brian Hill (143-5) moved up to 3rd and in javelin DeTanion Blackman (117-4) improved but stayed 8th.

The MCC is really two track meets. Friday at UMS-Wright was the MCC-Open Division which most of the HHS athletes entered. Saturday at St Pauls Episcopal School was the MCC-Invitational Division which was by invitation only, smaller field but higher quality competition. If you happened to win on Friday you were also allowed to participate on Saturday. This was a long shot but surprisingly four HHS athletes got through in this manner. Another three got in by direct invitation.

Winning on Friday were Nathan Vardaman (LJ, 22-2 PR), Dave Taylor (HJ, 6-2 tied PR), Jacob Fuller (1600m, 4:31.23, PR) and Brennan Parks (300m Hurdles, 40.49) On Saturday Nathan finished 6th (21-7), Jacob was 9th (4:34.11) and Dave and Brennan did not compete. Friday in the javelin, Daniel Junen upped his Top 10 PR to 123-11.

The HHS invitees on Sat did very well: Grant Hill, 3rd discus (155-6.25, PR, SR), Berta Amelinaite, 3rd discus (114-7.25), and Mary Beth Strickland, 5th 800m (2:20.58).

As usual, BJHS overwhelmed the opposition with talent and sheer numbers. They also entered more than the allowed three competitors in 4 events – not that it would have changed the final outcome. Huntsville played by the rules and finished second in both boys and girls divisions.

Five boys improved their positions on the All-Time Top 10 List. Hurdler, Brennan Parks, is now listed in BOTH hurdle events: 2nd in the 300m hurdles (39.15) and 8th in the 110m hurdles (15.37). Our jumpers had a great day with Alex Buchannan’s huge triple jump (43-10) leaping to the 3rd spot, Nathan Vardaman improving (again) to 22-7.5 in the long jump (2nd All-Time) and in the high jump, Dave Taylor finally achieved the long sought 6-4 (2nd tie All-Time). DeTanion Blackburn improved his javelin mark about 20 feet to move to 3rd on the list with a throw of 136-6.

Like nearly all the Section Meets in Alabama, the two-day affair was interrupted by a massive storm. The team finished on Monday with the boys ultimately winning four events and qualifing 13 to the State Meet. The girls had one first place and seven qualified for next week’s championship. The winners were:
Marybeth Strickland – 800m. (2:24.91). Slow for her. Also qualified in the 400m and 4x400 relay.
Grant Hill – Discus (161-1) Another PR, his fourth of the season even with back problems.
Nathan Vardaman – LJ (22-9.5) Fifth PR of the season. Also qualified in 4x400 relay.
Dave Taylor – HJ (6-0) Sixth win of the season but 4” below best.
Jacob Fuller – 3200m (10:09.14) Also qualified in 800m,1600m, and 4x880 Gasp!

Two non-winners improved on the All-time top 10 list: Brian Hill (discus 146-2) 2nd and DeTanion Blackburn (javelin, 145-11) now 3rd. Brennan Parks had an off day for him but still qualified in both hurdle events. Including alternates, others going to the big show are Patrick Junen, Jacob Brooks, Matt Little, Tucker Oliver, Alex Buchanan, Sebastian Alsop, Zack Marsh, Dion Moore, Ravinder Singh, Berta Ameliniate, Jasmine Palmer, Madeline Sharp, Alexis Gaines, Precious Warner, and Jasmine Williams.

At the first meet of the season Berta Amelinaite broke the school record throwing 123-4. In a dramatic final throw of the season she hit 122-10 to become the State 6A Champion. What can the freshman accomplish in her career? Tune in next year.

The next best performance was by sophomore, Nathan Vardaman, who again improved (7th time) to set a school record in the long jump at 23-1.5 and take second place in the meet. Huntsville boys also scored in the discus (Grant Hill, 6th, Brian Hill 8th), shot put (Patrick Junin, 7th, and 8th HHS All-Time), and 3200m (Jacob Fuller, 7th). For the girl’s team only Marybeth Strickland added a point (8th in the 800m).

Congratulations to coach Brad Hill who had four throwers in the meet.