Sam Chandler
Oak Mountain Track and Field
Oak Mountain runner Cole Stidfole (left) will be among the athletes competing in indoor track and field events this winter.
Winter has officially arrived in Alabama, and for track and field athletes across the state that means one thing: It’s time to head indoors.
For sprinters and field event specialists, a long offseason spanning nearly seven months has finally reached its conclusion. Meanwhile, the time has come for distance runners to trade the hilly and uneven terrain of cross-country for the smooth springiness of a synthetic track.
As coaches, athletes and parents prepare for long weekends at the state-of-the-art athletic palace better known as the Birmingham Crossplex, here’s a quick look at some of the top athletes along the 280 corridor.
Girls
Zoe Shore, Spain Park, senior: Distance specialist secured a fourth-place finish in the 3,200 meters at the 2015 7A indoor state meet and earned All-State cross-country honors in the fall for a second consecutive year.
Maddie Hoaglund, Westminster School at Oak Mountain, junior: Distance star won four individual outdoor state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters as an eighth and ninth grader. After a fourth-place finish at November’s 1A-2A state cross-country meet, it remains to be seen if she’ll be able to grab her fifth title.
Nicole Payne, Oak Mountain, freshman: She won the 7A outdoor state championship in the 400 meters last spring as an eighth grader and just claimed All-State honors in cross-country for a third straight year.
Boys
Daniel Nixon, Spain Park, senior: Mid-distance specialist won his first individual title at last spring’s 7A outdoor state meet, shattering through the 1:55 barrier in the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.49. He opened his season with a pair of wins in both the 400 and 800 meters at the Magic City Invitational on Dec. 5
Cole Stidfole, Oak Mountain, junior: Distance standout won the 3,200 meters at the 7A indoor and outdoor state meets in 2015. Considering he clocked the fastest time in the state of Alabama during cross-country in the fall, look for him to continue dominating in his signature event.
Wiley Boone, Westminster School at Oak Mountain, sophomore: Youngster earned a runner-up finish in the long jump and a third-place finish in the triple jump as a freshman at the 2015 1A-3A indoor state meet.
