Boyce right on time
- Updated: May 6, 2017
One year after missing his chance, Weaver junior finishes second in 3A boys shot; PV’s Faucett, Munford’s Robinson win state championships
By East Alabama Sports Today
CULLMAN – Brandon Boyce waited a whole year to make up for missing his start time in last year’s state meet. When he got the chance to do it Friday, he didn’t waste any time.
The Weaver junior had his personal best in the shot put, throwing 47-6¼ to finish second to a record-setting winner on a good first day for the Bearcats in the Class 3A meet.
It was windy, rainy and cold at the Cullman track, but that didn’t stop Pleasant Valley junior Rachel Faucett from winning her fourth straight 3A girls outdoor high jump crown and seventh overall state title.
Meanwhile, in better conditions at the Class 4A-7A meet in Gulf Shores, White Plains eighth-grader Savannah Yates gave the Wildcats their second runner-up finish in the pole vault when she jumped 9-6 to tie for second in Class 4A girls. Munford’s Jakari Robinson won the boys 4A shot put (50-7½).
Boyce missed his chance to throw last year when he didn’t hear the call for his event from the team’s tent on the other side of the track. He blamed himself for not looking at the schedule and was eager to make amends.
He threw his personal best on his second attempt and was leading the competition, then Holly Pond’s Matt Cahoon put his winning (and record) throw of 48-10 ¾) right on top of him. Ohatchee’s Cameron Ray was fifth in the event (41-9½). Cahoon set records in the shot and discus and also won the javelin.
“I never really get mad, but that was something that kind of angered me,” Boyce said of last year’s experience. “I knew my coach wasn’t happy with me. I told him today I thought he was a little nervous and I said, ‘Coach, I got you.’”
“He just launched it,” Bearcats coach Marcus Herbert said. “When it left his hand it was like a jump shot; you knew it was good.”
The Bearcats scored 12 points and go into Saturday’s final day with 12 points. Pleasant Valley and Ohatchee are tied for eighth (with Daleville) with eight points apiece.
“It cold and rainy; it was awful,” Herbert said. “Other than that, the kids weathered it and did their best and competed. It came down to whoever wanted it the most, I believe.”
Pleasant Valley coach Brad Hood called the conditions “treacherous.”
Faucett wanted another state title and she grabbed it at 5-2 in a 1-2 PV finish in the high jump with Cammy Cochran. Faucett, who has won four outdoor state titles, an indoor and two cross-country crowns, also finished third in the 400 (1:02.58). Mikala Simpson was third in the shot put (30-3) and the 4×800 relay was second (10:37.09).
The Lady Raiders scored 39 points and are in fourth place, one point out of third and eight behind leader American Christian.
“Last year we got 11 medals as a team and we’ve gotten 12 on Day 1,” Hood said. “I thought last year was a great showing at State and here we are with 12 on Day 1 Kids did well we got 12 medals relays, last year we got 11 medals as a team and we got 12 on day 1. We’ve still got 25 or 30 points in it; we could score if it all goes our way.”
The conditions were much better at the 4A-7A championships in Gulf Shores – they had their rain problems the day before – and Yates parlayed it into tying her school record at 9-6 for second place. She made three attempts at 10 feet and got over the bar each time, but it didn’t stay as she fell to the pad.
“It really wasn’t what I wanted, but I was happy to get second,” Yates said. “I think I went in a little early early and was a little tired. I really wanted to clear 10 because at practice I’d been clearing it. I think I’m going to start coming in later and push harder at the end.”
Munford’s jakari Robinson won the 4A shot put at 50-7½. He finished third in the discus (138-4).
Local scorers
GIRLS
CLASS 1A
4×800: 6. Donoho (15:57.72)
CLASS 3A
High jump: 1. Rachel Faucett, Pleasant Valley, 5-2; 2. Cammy Cochran, Pleasant Valley, 5-0.
400: 3. Rachel Faucett, Pleasant Valley, 1:02.58.
1600: 7. Trinity Roberts, Pleasant Valley, 5:44.28.
4×800: 2. Pleasant Valley, 10:37.09.
Shot put: 3. Mikala Simpson, Pleasant Valley, 30-3; 7. Lulu Jackson, Piedmont 28-7.5.
CLASS 4A
Pole vault: T-2 Savannah Yates, White Plains, 9-6.
Shot put: 4, Aniyah Robinson, Jacksonville, 33-6.
CLASS 5A
Discus: 3. Anna Bragg, Cleburne County, 107-7; 5. Taylor Spradley, Alexandria, 98-2; 8. Kalee Johnson, Alexandria, 90-11.
BOYS
CLASS 1A
4×800: 8. Donoho, 10:34.47.
CLASS 3A
1600: 7. Matisse Miller, 4:47.35.
4×800: 3. Pleasant Valley, 8:57.72
Shot put: 2. Brandon Boyce Weaver, Weaver, 47-6-.25; 5. Cameron Ray, Ohatchee, 41-9.5.
Discus: 5. Matt Elston, Weaver, 118-07.
Javelin: 5. Cameron Ray, Ohatchee, 141-3.
CLASS 4A
400: 4. Lariae Ball, Munford, 52.18; 7. James Johnson, Jacksonville 52.63.
4×800: 8. White Plains 9:00.30
Shot Put: 1. Jakari Robinson, Munford, 50-7.5; 8. Jordan Brooks, Saks 43-0.
Discus: 3. Jakari Robinson, Munford, 138-4.
CLASS 6A
4×800: 7. Oxford 8:45.10
Team scoring
CLASS 1A Girls: 15. Donoho 3.
CLASS 1A Boys: 22. Donoho 1.
CLASS 3A Girls: 4. Pleasant Valley 39, 15. Piedmont 2.
CLASS 3A Boys: 5. Weaver 12, T-8. Pleasant Valley 8, T-8. Ohatchee 8.
CLASS 4A Girls: 19. White Plains 6.33; 20. Jacksonville 5.
CLASS 4A Boys: T-7. Munford 21, 15. White Plains 9.
CLASS 5A Girls: 13. Cleburne County 6, T-14. Alexandria 5.
CLASS 6A Girls: 6A girls: Oxcord 2
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