Out of state talent adds heft to 

Mobile Challenge of Champions 

By Arthur L. Mack for DyeStat

Illinois long jump champion Ja'Mari Ward and the Hungtington boys from Long Island, N.Y are among those flying in for the 24th annual Mobile Challenge of Champions Track and Field Meet in Mobile, Ala. to mix it up with top athletes from across the Southeast.

Action begins with the Open Division at UMS-Wright's Erwin S. Cooper Stadium on Friday at 3 p.m. CDT. This division will have more than 1,000 athletes from numerous schools throughout the nation, and is sure to be very competitive.

Despite the threat of rain, the meet will go on, according to meet director Steve Schoenewald.

“We're going rain or shine,” he said.

Historically, the Open Division has had its share of surprises, as athletes who perform well enough will have a chance to compete in the Invitational Division if there is space resulting from last-minute scratches. And if even there are last-minute scratches, this year's Invitational Division — which will take place on Saturday at St. Paul's Episcopal School's E.E. Delaney Stadium — will have some solid nationally ranked talent indeed.

Key races to watch in the Invitational Girls division include the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, where Brittley Humphrey of Hoover (and the daughter of University of Alabama football great Bobby Humphrey) will compete. The younger Humphrey is ranked sixth in the nation in the 100-meter hurdles, and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.

Humphrey's strongest competition in the short hurdle race will come from teammate Caitlyn Little and Michelle Nkoudou, and Cortney Jones of Conyers GA's Rockdale County. In the 300-hurdles, Humphrey faces a stiff challenge from Alabama Class 7A runner-up Javonda Peagler of Prattville; Alexis Jones of Smyrna Campbell, the Georgia 6A state champion; and Louisiana 5A state champion Ebony Hills of John Ehret.

The girls 2-mile race should be loaded, with six runners who have gone under 11 minutes. Headlining the field is Sara Platek of Jamestown, N.C. Ragsdale. Platek was fourth in the World Youth Trials. Another runner to watch is Starkville (Miss.) star Kate Maddox, last year's Mississippi State 6A champion, along with Huntsville (Ala.) standout Abby Weitenbeck, the defending Alabama 7A state champion at 3,200 meters.

The girls 4x100 relay should be a treat, as Campbell of Smyrna, GA; Hoover, and James Clemens (Madison, AL.) plus Baton Rouge (La.) Magnet, the defending meet champs do battle. In the 4x800, three Alabama schools — Hoover, Huntsville, and Mobile's McGill-Toolen Catholic — are among the favorites.

In the Invitational Boys division, the 110-meter high hurdles should be a barn burner. Two Alabama athletes — Trey Cunningham of Winfield, the 3A state champion, and 7A state champion Emmanuel Tait of Alabaster Thompson, are expected to battle with Matthew Moore of McDonogh, Ga's Union Grove, who recently gained the No. 1 time in the U.S.

The relays should be intriguing as well. In the 4x100, two nationally ranked teams from Georgia — Southwest DeKalb of Decatur and Newton of Covington — are ranked first and sixth in the country, and should get a tough test from Alabama 7A state champ Auburn, highly regarded Edna Karr of New Orleans, and Cahokia IL.

In the 4x400, Southwest DeKalb should be the favorite, but could get a battle from Newton as well as Huntington NY — the New Balance Indoor National champions. The 4x800 should be interesting, as two Alabama schools, Auburn (last year's meet champion) and Mountain Brook (which finished second in the New Balance Indoor Nationals), should have a battle on their hands with always tough Baton Rouge Catholic.

In the field events, the shot put should be interesting, as Isaiah Rogers of Campbell (Smyrna, Ga.) comes into the meet having thrown 62 feet plus; while in the long and triple jump, Cahokia standout Ward comes into the competition afterr jumping 25-3.50 last weekend at the Illinois Top Times. He was also the national leader last yeara in the triple jump (51-11).