Mountain Brook Invitational

After only competing a few athletes at the Spain Park Classic last week, the Rebels were in full swing at the Mountain Brook Invitational this past weekend.

By: Edie Smith

Girls 4 by 400 Relay | Pictured left to right: Abby Allen, Riley Zeanah, Finley Becker, Claire Spooner

Outdoor Track and Field | 4/15/2024 9:21:00 AM

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL – The Vestavia Hills High School Track and Field Team conquered MBI on Friday and Saturday with several top performers and the Boys team bringing home a meet win, placing first over all the teams with a total of 95.33 points.
    The Mountain Brook Invitational is always one of the bigger meets of the Outdoor Track Season. This year, there were 39 High School teams competing in the meet, as well as a Middle School section that was run Saturday morning before the afternoon session.
    In order to help keep the meet running smoothly, events were split between the two days to ensure that athletes can focus on setting competitive marks in multiple races with ample rest. The majority of Friday's track events consisted of prelims, where only the top 8 runners advance to compete in the Saturday meet. The Rebels had 5 individual athletes advance to the Saturday finals of their events, including Abby Allen (400m), Max Armstrong (400m), Reese Beckner (100m Hurdles), Chase Webb (100m & 200m), and Riley Zeanah (400m). The Boys 4 by 100m Relay Team also advanced to the finals and finished in 3rd place overall.
    The Rebels had 14 individual athletes placing in the top 6 of their events. Of these, 9 athletes received medals placing in the top 3. Our first place gold medalist was Christiana Belcher, winning the Girls Long Jump with a jump of 17-09.5. Receiving silver medals were Max Armstrong in both the 800m and the 400m, Chase Webb in the 200m, Reese Beckner in the 100m Hurdles, Jack Stubbs in the Long Jump, Kennedy Moreland in the Pole Vault, and Hollis Smith in the High Jump. In third, with the bronze medal, were Barclay Brown in the High Jump and Molly Mac Sharp in the Javelin.
    "Lots of really good things this week," Head Coach Richard Anderson said. "Christiana had a great day in the Long Jump which was exceptional and Hollis and Barclay both had a good week in the High Jump. We saw some things we need to work on as a team, areas where we've gotta make sure everybody is ready to go heading into Sectionals. But overall, I'm happy with the results and I think our athletes are in a good spot."
    Keep reading to see how Barclay Brown and Nate Bradshaw, our spotlight athletes, did this weekend. The full list of Vestavia athletes placing in the top 6 of their respective events is also listed below.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS — The Vestavia Hills Varsity Team will hit the track next at the Hewitt-Trussville Invitational for one last chance to compete before Sectionals. In addition to the Varsity Meet at Hewitt, the Rebels will be competing in the JV Championships on Thursday to conclude their season.

EVENT OF THE MEET
Girls Javelin | Christiana Belcher and Molly Mac Sharp
    Christiana and Molly Mac are two outstanding throws athletes who have, in several meets, showed up and achieved top tier marks for the Girls Javelin event. At the Mountain Brook Invitational, they brought home silver and bronze medals: Christiana in 2nd throwing 126-02 and Molly Mac in 3rd throwing 124-00. At the Spain Park Classic they swept the podium with 1st and 2nd place marks, along with Emily Spooner who finished in 4th. Over Spring Break, Belcher and Sharp also competed at FSU Relays, one of the most competitive High School Track Meets of the season. At FSU, Belcher threw a 131-01.50 while Sharp threw a 124-04.50.
    For Molly Mac, FSU was a huge breakout meet where she set a new PR by 15 feet and she has been performing very well since then, again reaching 124 feet at MBI. At FSU, both girls were nervous for their event due to the strong competition and rain delays in Tallahassee. But they both proved to be strong and had spectacular results, finishing 2nd and 3rd right behind Brett Jones, the #1 Girls Javelin Thrower in the country. We continue to be excited for these girls and can't wait to see what the championship season will bring for their success.
    "I'm so proud of these girls," Throws Coach Jeremy Andrews said. "They often balance multiple events in a meet and still find time to show initiative to practice well. It's not always easy — at many times the girls run away to do another event, and they come back breathing heavily. But they are still able to concentrate and hit a good throw. The mental fortitude to do what they have done is amazing."

BOYS SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Nate Bradshaw  | Long Jump | 6th, 21-03.75
    Nate is a Junior on the Varsity Team who competes in a wide variety of events including the Long Jump and various sprint events and relays. At the Mountain Brook Invitational, he competed in the Long Jump, setting a new PR with a jump of 21 feet and 3.75 inches. He also raced the 400m dash at this meet.
Prior to the 2024 Outdoor Season, Bradshaw primarily competed in the jump events (both Long Jump and Triple Jump) and the shorter sprints, including the 100m dash, the 200m dash, and the 60m dash (indoors). This season, he has added the 400m to the list, which has proven to be a decent event for Nate as he has consistently run in the 51s. It is always impressive to have an athlete willing and capable of performing so well in multiple events and Bradshaw has truly become a vital part of Vestavia's program in the relays and in his individual events.
    "I'm extremely proud of the way Nate has been performing," Coach Delandus O'Neal said. "We ask a lot of him between the sprints, jumps, and relays. He shows up everyday with the right attitude and puts in the work to be successful. I'm excited to see what the remainder of the season holds for Nate."

GIRLS SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Barclay Brown  | High Jump | 3rd, 5-02.00
    Barclay is a Junior on the Girls Varsity team who competes in the High Jump. She has been having a very successful year, starting with setting a PR at the Indoor State Championships where she cleared 4-10, finishing in 9th place overall. In the 2024 Outdoor Season, Brown has gradually improved her marks by clearing 5-0 in practice as well as in a JV Meet. Barclay set a new PR on Friday at MBI with a jump clearing 5 feet and 2 inches and placing in 3rd overall.
    As one of our most devoted female athletes, Barclay sets herself apart at practice by always working hard and focusing on what she can do to get better. She is a staple part of the Vestavia Hills Track and Field program not only for her marks, but also because she consistently cheers and supports her teammates whenever she is not competing in her own event. In turn, Barclay is always surrounded by her friends and the other high jumpers who enjoy seeing her improve and congratulate her upon setting new personal bests.
    "Barclay did amazing in the high jump," Head Coach Richard Anderson said. "She jumped 5-02 which is a personal best for her. And it's great to see all of her hard work pay off. For us coaches, it was a really heart-warming moment the other week when she cleared 5-0 in practice and several of her high jump teammates immediately jumped up to congratulate her. She keeps getting better and we're all excited to continue watching her compete."

ATHLETES IN THE TOP 6:
Abby Allen | 400m, 6th, 1:00.05
Max Armstrong | 800m, 2nd, 1:54.20; 400m, 2nd, 48.79 (SB)
Reese Beckner | 100m Hurdles, 2nd, 15.97
Christiana Belcher | Javelin, 2nd, 126-02; Long Jump, 1st, 17-09.50 (PR)
Nate Bradshaw | Long Jump, 6th, 21-03.75 (PR)
Barclay Brown | High Jump, 3rd, 5-02.00 (PR)
Chase Kaiser | Shot Put, 5th, 47-02.25
Kennedy Moreland | Pole Vault, 2nd, 11-06.00
Molly Mac Sharp | Javelin, 3rd, 124-00
Hollis Smith | High Jump, 2nd, 6-00.00
Jack Stubbs | Long Jump, 2nd, 22-05.50
Krislyn Thomas | Pole Vault, 6th, 11-00.00
Chase Webb | 100m, 3rd, 10.79 (SB); 200m, 2nd, 21.89 (SB)
Riley Zeanah | 400m, 5th, 59.43 (SB)
Boys 4 by 100m Relay | 3rd, 42.66
Boys 4 by 800m Relay | 2nd, 8:00.39
Boys 4 by 400m Relay | 2nd, 3:21.84
Girls 4 by 400m Relay | 3rd, 4:03.90

A full list of results are available here: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/547616/results

Follow our Instagram page for more race day updates and pictures! @1rebeltrackxc https://www.instagram.com/1rebeltrackxc?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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Players Mentioned

Max Armstrong: Senior; M

Reese Beckner: Junior; F

Christiana Belcher: Senior; F

Barclay Brown: Junior; F

Chase Kaiser: Junior; M

Kennedy Moreland: Junior; F

Molly Mac Sharp: Sophomore; F

Emily Spooner: Junior; F

Jack Stubbs: Junior; M

Krislyn Thomas: Freshman; F

Players Mentioned

Max Armstrong
: Senior; M

Reese Beckner
: Junior; F

Christiana Belcher
: Senior; F

Barclay Brown
: Junior; F

Chase Kaiser
: Junior; M

Kennedy Moreland
: Junior; F

Molly Mac Sharp
: Sophomore; F

Emily Spooner
: Junior; F

Jack Stubbs
: Junior; M

Krislyn Thomas
: Freshman; F

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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