Nixon defends state title

Spain Park High School senior Daniel Nixon entered the Class 4A-7A state meet in Gulf Shores favored to defend his state title in the 800 meters. 

He did not disappoint. 

Nixon, a Mississippi State signee, rolled to a first-place finish in 1:53.11, lowering his own 7A state-meet record. He also placed second in the 400 meters (48.52) and ran a leg on the Jags’ fourth-place 4x400-meter relay. 

All in all, Nixon played a key role in helping the Spain Park boys seal a fifth-place finish with 49 points. 

Christian Strong, Damon Wright and Jerome Kirkland supplemented Nixon’s performance with strong showings of their own. 

Strong finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.80) and fifth in the 300 hurdles (39.82); Wright placed second in the shot put with a heave of 54-8; and Kirkland notched a third-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 23-4.