State track and field: Briarwood's Domingue caps comeback with state title

GULF SHORES -- Injuries can be blessings in disguise. Just ask Ashton Domingue. 

Fifteen months ago he had never entered a javelin competition. On Thursday, the Briarwood Christian School junior won a second consecutive state title in his signature event at the Class 4A-7A state outdoor track and field meet. His victorious heave traveled 179 feet, one inch. 

"It's been a long year, but a state championship's a good way to cap off the season," Domingue said.

He has a disgruntled hip to thank.

Domingue used to run the 100-meter dash, but he strained his hip near the start of his sophomore track season. That's when he started looking for another event. 

Javelin seemed like a natural fit for the former Briarwood quarterback. Immediately, he showed promise, throwing over 100 feet on his first attempt. 

"I knew if I got the form I'd be able to execute it," Domingue said.

He recruited one of his friends, who throws javelin at Louisiana State University, to teach him the proper technique. The subsequent results speak for themselves. Over the course of the 2016 outdoor season -- which only lasted about nine weeks -- he lengthened his personal best by nearly 90 feet. 

Domingue won last May's 6A state title with a throw of 190-9. Vestavia Hills' Will Macoy was the only Alabama high school athlete to record a farther mark in 2016. 

"This is a very technical event, and you have to work on the technique a lot," said Briarwood head track and field coach Glenn McWaters. "It's not as much strength as it is technical ability."

Consider Domingue an exceptionally quick learner. He's resilient, too. 

Thursday's state championship carries extra meaning for Domingue, who suffered a severe ankle injury at the beginning of last football season. A tendon tore, a joint dislocated and Domingue's Lions lost their opener to rival Chelsea, 43-15.

Domingue had previously switched from quarterback to running back. The injury required reconstructive surgery, ending his season before it started.  

"I really was praying hard that I would be able to come back better than before," Domingue said. 

He did. After months of rehab, he opened his season in March with a five-foot personal-best of 195 feet. Only Hoover's Luke Ballard has thrown farther in 2017. 

"I was really nervous about trusting my ankle since I had that injury, but I just went for it and my very first throw was 195," Domingue said, "so I knew that God had blessed me to do this."

Domingue lost only once this outdoor season, and that came at the highly competitive Mobile Challenge of Champions. With Thursday's victory, his season record improved to 8-1. 

"Even though today the conditions weren't what I wanted, a win is a win," said Domingue, who battled strong wind gusts during his throws.  "I'll be back next year."

Paced by Domingue, the Briarwood boys are in third place in 5A after the first day of the state meet, which runs Thursday through Saturday. The Lions trail first-place Scottsboro, 23-19. 

Andrew Sherrod contributed points with a fifth-place finish in javelin. Zack Howard placed fourth in the 1,600-meter run. 

 Spain Park

Spain Park senior Damon Wright placed third in the 7A boys shot put. Last year's state runner-up, he registered a personal-best throw of 55-0.75.

"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."

Wright's third-place finish earned Spain Park its only six points on the first day of competition. The Jags on Thursday guaranteed themselves at least one more point by grabbing the final qualifying spot in the boys 4x100-meter relay.

Click here to read about Spain Park's other top performers at the state meet. 

280 Living is in Gulf Shores for this week's Class 4A-7A state meet to bring you up-to-the minute coverage of the Briarwood Christian, Oak Mountain and Spain Park track and field teams. For live updates, follow @sam5k on Twitter and visit 280living.com.