Thomason wins AHSAA decathlon state title

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

HOOVER - He posted the fourthbest performance among high school athletes in the country and with his efforts Benjamin Thomason of James Clemens High won the AHSAA Decathlon State Championship for 2023.

“I did my best in all the events, but I could have done better in a couple of them, but I just didn’t have the time to practice,” said Thomason.

The junior Jet scored 6,166 points to outdistance runner-up Heath Whigham of McGill-Toolen Catholic who posted 5,844 points. Thomason’s three James Clemens junior class teammates also participated in the state title event with the end results: 10. Isaac Pollard 5,249, 15. Austin Abney 5,100 and 28. Brandon Fisher 3,930.

For Thomason, who won the Indoor Penthalon State Championship just a few months ago, scored well in all the 10 events that make up Decathlon. His final results in each individual event included: 100m, 6., 11.20; 400m, 5., 51.62; 1500m, 5., 4:44.66; 110m hurdles, 2., 15.26; high jump, 9., 5-07.75; long jump, 4., 2106.75; pole vault, 25., 9-00.25; discus, 14., 95-10.00; javelin, 4., 139-11.00; shot put, 3., 41-01.00. Pollard was second in the 1500m with a time of 4:41.01 while Abney was second in the shot put (42-02.00) and fifth in the pole vault (12-05.50).

“My best event was the hurdles, but I could have gone faster, but I need to work on my overall stamina for this event,” said the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Thomason. “I did well in the hurdles as I spent a lot of practice time on that event. To do well, you must concentrate, be focused and remember to run over the hurdle and not jump over them. You must trust yourself.”

Thomason started in track through mutual friends, and he said he used to partake in mile runs in both elementary and middle school activities. Once among the track program at James Clemens he was enticed to try his shot at the decathlon by an assistant coach. “I was open to the idea and the first day me and my friends tried the sport we really enjoyed it. Now, there are four of us on the team and we’ll all be back next year, and will fight it out for the state championship,” added Thomason. A college education in his future as he hopes to tag up with a Div. I school to study mechanical engineering as he will carry a 3.4 grade point average into his senior year. When not partaking in track events this time of year he works his neighborhood lawn mowing business where he currently has nine lawns he mows with his push mower. He said it’s a great workout and good income he may be able to use for college in 2024.

Jets track coach qualifies for world championships at XTERRA Trail Run National Championships

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

PELHAM - Drew Bell feels blessed he’s been able to compete at a high level in 2023 as he’s won two National Championships, one national runner-up, and earned 12 All-American performances. His latest blessing came at the XTERRA Half-Marathon Trail Run National Championships held at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham where the 57-year-old finished second in the 55-59 age division and qualified for the 2023 World Championships scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Sugarloaf Resort in Maine.

“Just to get the opportunity to continue on my journey is incredible as I’ll be training through the summer and I will be focused for the world race,” said Bell.

The half-marathon distance is 13.1 miles and Bell posted a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 11 seconds to earn his place among the world’s elite in October.

The Oak Mt. trail course was brutal, according to Bell, as the elevation change was 1,242 feet, most of which was a steep climb as the anticipated course had to be rerouted due to three days of rain. The change caused the participants to run more of a steep ascend through pine straw to avoid the red clay of the trail. The course was so demanding many of the runners dropped out due to injuries, dehydration or just plain mental exhaustion.

“The Alabama humidity played a big part in the race as the temperature and humidity were high and caused issues for others as they were just worn out,” added Bell. “The steep incline was very difficult and I had enough energy to get back down the mountain. Coming down the incline was tough as I focused on not falling and not reinjuring myself. I truly believe the mind can override just about everything.”

During his participation on April 1 at the National Championship 10-mile race in Washington, D.C., Bell suffered a hamstring injury, which curtailed some of his preparation efforts for the XTERRA event. Bell said he fought through the struggles and his faith in Jesus did the rest.

Madison’s Drew Bell made another notch in his quest for a World Championship as he placed second in his age division at the XTERRA Trail Run National Championships and qualified for the World Championship set for Oct. 1 in Maine.

“I met several people during my race endeavors and we have shared our faith with one another,” added Bell. “This is what this journey has been about. Sharing Jesus along with loving and serving people. I try and get people to live their dreams in- stead of just existing from day-to-day and year-toyear. I thought my running participation was over last year after battling COVID numerous times and battling other health issues, but God has a plan for me.” For Bell, his next step in his journey will be July 7-14 when he will an Alabama representative at the Senior Olympics in Pittsburg. At the Senior Olympics, Bell will run in the 10K and 5K races along with the mile run and 800m event in the National Senior Track Meet.

Ezzell, Hotalen, and Bodine named to NCBWA All-South Region Squads

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced their 2023 All-South Region team on Thursday, and The University of Alabama in Huntsville was represented by Landon Ezzell and Will Hotalen as First Team All-South Region honorees and Garrett Bodine as a Second Team AllSouth Region performer.

Ezzell – a native of Russellville, Alabama – was the Chargers’ leading hitter this season in a number of categories, including batting average (.412), OPS (1.092), runs scored (51), hits (80), doubles (14), and RBI (46). He played at both third base and in the outfield to earn First Team AllSouth as a utility player.

The senior was First Team All-GSC and held a hitting streak of 19 games during the season and struck out fewer than ten times this season. This is Ezzell’s second appearance on the NCBWA’s All-South team.

The Attala, Alabama, native Hotalen

See UAH Page 8A