Daniels Photos courtesy of THS Track

Daniels a state champion

By Michael Butler

Being the best in your field is quite a feat. Jalyn Daniels has been among the best on the football field and basketball court. The senior is now on top in another sport - track and field.

Daniels won the Class 5A 100 meters in Gulf Shores on Saturday. The senior ran a 10.64 in the prelims and a 10.86 in the finals to take first place.

"That was jaw dropping. None of us saw that coming," THS head coach Danny Worley said of Daniel's prelim time. "Our best time ever was 10.77 by Dijon Paschal when he was a senior at this race."

Daniel's drew the top seed and lane choice after edging second place finisher Sylvester Smith of Pike Road by a hundreth of a second. In the finals Daniels' was almost a full tenth of a second faster than runner-up Cameron Lacy of Lee-Huntsville. Daniels was also seventh in the long jump (20-05). Tallassee's James Bender was tenth (19-11.25) in the long jump.

Another THS medalist was Jordan May, who finished third in the shot put with a throw of 45-03.75.

"Jordan had a great throw," Worley said. "He set a personal best. He was able - by a quarter of an inch - to get on the medal stand. That was really big. That's the third-best throw we've had since I've been in Tallassee."

Tallassee was ninth overall in the Class 5A Boys standings. UMS-Wright was the overall winner. UMS also was first in the girls team standings. Tallassee was 20th.

Chloe Baynes just missed medaling with a fourth place finish in the girls long jump. She was fifth in the 100-meter hurdles.

Austin Gray had a top-ten finish in the boys javelin. His throw of 138-02 put him ninth overall in 5A.

Daniels with Lee's Cameron Lacy and Moody's Amon Lane

THS Individual Results:

Boys 100 Dash
1 - Jalyn Daniels (10.86)

Girls 100 Hurdles
5 - Chloe Baynes (16.9)

Boys 110 Hurdles
21 - Shawn Ward (19.25)

Girls Javelin Throw
23 - Chloe Baynes (86-04)

Boys Javelin Throw
9 - Austin Gray (138-02)
17 - Josh Boatwright (129-03
21 - Devin Stiff (121-02)

Girls Long Jump
4 - Chloe Baynes (17-01)

Boys Long Jump
7 - Jalyn Daniels (20-05)
10 - James Bender (19-11.25)
13 - Joseph Hooks (19-01.50)

Boys Shot Put
3 - Jordan May (45-03.75)

Boys Triple Jump
16 - James Bender (39-06.75)