SELMA, Alabama — It was a big win for the Bayside Academy track and field Lady Admirals team last weekend in Selma as the girls claimed the Class 3A state track and field championship.

“This Championship speaks volumes to the amount of desire, focus and competitive spirt that all of these girls have in them,” Bayside coach Alan Foster said. “There is not a more deserving group of young ladies. Charlotte (Gill) and Alona (Melendez) really took these girls under their wings all year.”

Senior Charlotte Gill finished her career at Bayside punctuating the teams victory while anchoring in championship style the final and most exciting race of the day - the 4x400 relay. Foster added that Gill put it into overdrive and battled back to pass Winfield’s anchor and nearly edge out Sheffield'’ for a photo-finish silver medal. All three teams finished within one-half of a second for the top three spots and Gill’s efforts only 0.02 (two one hundredths) of a second behind Sheffield, exemplified the type of competitors the Lady Admirals were over both days of competition.

In addition to those important team points, Alona Melendez, a junior, won another three gold medals in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and triple-jump putting her career total at twelve individual state titles. She also set a new school record in the triple jump and was the meets top scoring athlete with 38 pts.

Trista Barry from Bayside led a first, second and fifth-place three-out-of-five finish in the girls high jump for her first individual state championship, while finishing sixth in the triple jump and ninth in long jump setting personal bests in all three events. Isbel Leatherbury set a personal best in the triple jump placing 11th and helped the team score with huge fifth-place points in the high jump.

Emory Builta led our throwers while scoring big points in the discus (silver medal) and shot put (sixth place). Ally Hatfield, Sydney Chandler and Builta finished fourth, fifth and 11th in the javelin to cement the win.

“Our young sprinters fought for every spot possible and were led by Carlisle Calametti who torched the 100-meter dash on the Friday with the fastest time in the state and finished third in the finals just getting out-leaned at the tape” Foster said. “She also led our fantastic 4x400 with an eye-popping 61-(second)-flat, quarter-mile leg and outran all competitors on her leg of the 4x100m Relay.”

Emily Wright(400, 4x800 and 4x4 Relay) and Jane Anne Cicco (seventh)(seventh in the 200 and 4x100 Relay and 4x4 Relay) also played a major role on the final relay team. Ariel Dulaney (100) and 4x100Relay), Meagan Daves (4x100Relay), Catie Caldwell (100 Hurdles) and Natalie Kastner (400)) all earned important state meet experience and look to make big splash next year in the world of track and field.

Molly Pinnix, Charlotte Gill, Emily Wright and Bowen Spottswood smashed the school record in the 4x800 pushing Montgomery Academy’s team to a new all-time state record for the silver medal.

“Molly, Charlotte and Bowen came back on day two of the competition to go third, fifth and seventh in the 800. Molly set a new school record in the 800 with Charlotte and Bowen right behind her - setting us up for the all important team win. Charlotte and Bowen also scored big points in the 1600 on day one (5:39 and 5:42 for sixth and eight)" he added.

Foster said the young Admiral boys also did well with no seniors.

Junior Michael Daves scored impressive races in the 110-meter hurdles and won his heat of the 300-m hurdles running PRs in both events. Another Junior, Davis Calametti finished 11th in the Javelin and looks to have a break-out season next year along with middle-distance/relay team member Weston Robles.

Other Relay members who look to make big contributions next year are Ryan Phipps, Ben Smith, Ben Yockers, Luca Rizzi, Nick Bolten and Jake Melendez. Melendez, Bolten and Trey Barry look to be three of the top returning high jumpers in 2013 as all are growing and use excellent technique. Andy Citrin cleared 10' in the pole vault for sixth place and is only in the eighth grade and Ben Yockers looks to improve on his 10-foot vault PR as well.

Brody Costantini has one of the top 5 Discus throws in the 3A classification as a freshman and is flanked in the throwing events by the prospect of the return of Jonathan Walton who threw a top-three shot put mark of 46-feet, 7-inches as a freshman three years ago.

The Admirals also had solid contributions from Garris Goe in the 4x100, 4x400 relay and triple jump, Ryan Shankle in the 1600, 3200 and 4x800 relay and eighth grader Ash Midyett (3200m Run).