Jag hurdlers lead way at state
The Spain Park High School boys track and field team finished ninth at the Class 7A state outdoor meet, held May 4-6 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. The Jags tallied 36points behind hurdlers Christian Strong andThomas Jordan.
The two seniors showed out in their signature events: the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.
Strong won the 110 hurdles in 14.57 seconds, and Jordan placed third in 15.29. Strong edged out Thompson’s Craig Clark by less than 0.2 seconds to seal a narrow victory. Strong also captured a first-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles at February’s state indoor meet.
“I’ve never been able to get out first or pull away,” Strong said. “I’m just thanking God for letting me get this title.”
Jordan, who starred at wide receiver for the Spain Park football team, had only run the 110 hurdles four times prior to the state meet. His unfamiliarity with the event didn’t stop him from achieving his goal.
“I was just going for the podium from the start,” he said. “It felt pretty good.”
Strong and Jordan returned to the track less than an hour after their podium performances to compete in the 300 hurdles. Strong took second in the race, finishing runner-up to Auburn’s Christian Brandt by 0.06 seconds. Strong ran 39.18 to Brandt’s 39.12. Jordan placed eighth in 41.16.
Even after the quick turnaround between races, Strong said he entered the 300 hurdles eager to exert another championship effort.
“[It was] only 39 seconds of my life. I might as well give it all,” he said.
Although their high school careers came to an end at state, both Strong and Jordan leave indelible marks on the Spain Park program. They are the fastest hurdlers in school history.
Jags assistant coach Trey Lee, a former Spain Park and Auburn University standout, has coached Strong and Jordan for the past two years. He said their determination has set them apart.
“Both of them have just great work ethic,” Lee said. “Thomas is willing to learn. Luckily, Christian had a good base for learning. But really a lot of it is just work ethic.”
Strong will attend the University of Southern Mississippi, though as of mid-May he wasn’t sure if he’d be running there. Jordan will continue his football and track and field career at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. He’ll be the third generation of his family to attend the NCAA Division III school.
“[I’m looking forward to] just going out there and laying it on the line and doing my best,” Jordan said.
Strong and Jordan did more than hurdle at the state meet. They also teamed up with Kameron McDaniel and Justice Canady to place eighth in the 4x100-meter relay. Individually, McDaniel notched a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash. The sophomore registered a time of 22.18.
Senior Damon Wright, another two-sport athlete, placed third in the shot put. He registered a personal-best throw that sailed more than 55 feet. Like Jordan, Wright starred for the Spain Park football team, playing a key role on the Jags’ defensive line. He will pursue football and track and field at Mississippi College.
“It’s just a great feeling to help out the school, help out the team in points,” Wright said. “Every single time I step on the track, that’s all I want to do, is make sure that I can propel our team to a higher place.”