BIRMINGHAM —
Six individuals and one team from Cullman County returned home from last week's Alabama State Games with medals for top-three performances in their respective sports and events. Thousands of athletes representing all age groups descended upon the Birmingham metro area for the 30th running of the annual competition.
Zachary Douglas and Walker Long claimed two golds apiece.
Douglas, of Vinemont, won the 19- to 24-year-old male discus (38.40 meters) and shot put (distance not provided). Long, of Cullman, took first in the youth male discus (42.69 meters) and javelin (39.18 meters).
Nathan Graves and Tyler Boland both earned goals in one event.
Graves, of Cullman, beat the field in the 30- to 34-year-old 10K challenge, while Boland, of Vinemont, posted the distance to beat in the intermediate male triple jump (12.66 meters). Boland also snagged bronze in the intermediate male long jump (5.81 meters).
Cassi Still, of Cold Springs, ran to silvers in the intermediate female 1,500- (6:30.87) and 3,000-meter runs (4:23.62).
Rounding out the individuals earning medals was Garrett Boland, of Vinemont. He finished with bronze in the youth male triple jump (10.62 meters).
The Cullman Chaos soccer team, pictured, wound up with the bronze medal in the 12-and-under boys division.
Masters Games
A handful of local competitors recently claimed top-three finishes in Huntsville at the district level of the 2012 Alabama Masters Games.
Fred Ponder made his mark on the basketball court in the 70- to 74-year-old division, winning the free throw (29 of 30) and 3-point (10 of 20) contests. Sam Hawkins made 27 of 30 free throws, good for second.
Harry Chandler was the top table tennis player in the 80-and-over division. He also claimed second in horseshoes.
Herbert “Sonny” Writesman and Bobby Hestla finished first and second in bowling.
Because of their top-three status, Ponder, Hawkins, Chandler, Writesman and Hestla are all invited to compete in the State Masters Games in October.
% The Times' sports editor Rob Ketcham contributed to this report.
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