Springs senior Ethan Edgeworth saved his best for last on Friday at Cullman High School’s Oliver Woodard Stadium on the opening day of the AHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for Class 1A, 2A and 3A.

The University of Tennessee-bound distance runner, who is closing out his final season in the competition, walked away with the 1,600-meter championship for the third time in the past four seasons – with an all-time AHSAA state record 4:03.95 finish – tops in all classifications.

The small-school championships got underway at Cullman High School on Friday and will conclude on Saturday.

Edgeworth broke to a 30-yard lead, finishing the first lap in 58.95 and he completed the race 21 seconds ahead of his nearest competition, sophomore David Layfield of Horseshoe Bend and senior Carson Masterson of Hatton. Both of those runners finished with their personal best times.

But so did Edgeworth, who came into the AHSAA state championships here already owning the state record for the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in his classification. Earlier this season he ran the fastest 3,200-meter time of any AHSAA student-athlete ever when he ran 8:38.49 in a national meet in Arcadia, Calif. To put that in perspective, it equaled two 1,600-meter races with average times of 4:19 in each. That competition against some of the best prep runners in the nation gave him a boost of confidence. He finished sixth in the finals – but was just 3.5 seconds behind the winner.

Cold Springs is the Class 2A boys’ team points leader after the first day with 37 points. Hatton is second with 14, followed by Holly Pond and Mars Hill Bible with 13 points each. Winfield is atop the 3A boys’ leaderboard with 33 points. Madison Academy is second with 32 points and W.S. Neal is third with 24.

Winterboro has a 55-37 lead over Marion County in the Class 1A boys’ competition.

First-day girls’ team leaders are Marion County with 58 points in Class 1A, Whitesburg Christian with 40 points in Class 2A and defending state champion Houston Academy with a one-point 31-30 lead over Fayette County in Class 3A. Winfield is a close third with 28 points.

Last fall, Edgeworth won the state cross country championship in Class 1A/2A for the fourth straight year – also with the state’s best time ever in AHSAA history clocking 14:34.29 over the 3.1-mile course. His nearest challenger finished second at 16 minutes.

“I have so many people who have been pulling for me,” Edgeworth said after his record. “My family, my coach, my friends were all so supportive.”

Cold Springs coach Casey Howell said Edgeworth’s record came thanks to a mental toughness he learned from running against the best competition he could find. “Ethan is so dedicated,” Howell said. “We have tried to challenge our kids to run against the best so when they get to this stage we can be at our best.

“Our fans and parents haven’t always understood it, but I think they can now. Ethan showed everyone just what could be possible,” said Howell, whose boys’ and girls’ outdoor track teams swept the championships last season.

Edgeworth’s time beat the previous record of 4:07.33 set by Vestavia Hills High School’s Alex Leath last season in the Class 7A finals. It also topped the 6A state meet record (4:13.67) set by Steve Dahmer of McGill-Toolen in 1987; the Class 5A record (4:14.04) set by Scottsboro’s Evan Hill in 2023; the 4A state meet record (4:17.67) set by Westminster Christian’s Ryan Ford in 20116; and the 3A record (4:12.24) set by Vinemont’s Lemons in 2023; and his 2A record (4:11.96) from last year. According to the NFHS Record Book, his 1,600-meter time Friday would rank 12th all-time nationally.

The Cold Springs senior is set to run the 3,200 and 800 races Saturday.

While Edgeworth’s monumental win in the 1,600 captured the most attention at Cullman Friday, the most competitive event of the day came in the Class 3A boys’ javelin competition with Madison Academy’s Reese Baker emerging from a talented pack of throwers to win the gold with a winning throw of 184 feet, 8 inches. Right behind was Hokes Bluff’s Conner Wellington with a best toss of 168-03, and Winfield’s Declyn Morgan, who finished third with a throw of 165-07.

See the complete results from Friday’s running and field events at this link.

Among other top performances at Cullman Friday:

GIRLS

EVA ARMSTEAD, HATTON: Won the 400-meter dash in Class 2A with a 57.40 time.

McCAULEY FLANAGAN, HOUSTON ACADEMY: Captured the 400-meter dash gold with a time of 56.09 – finishing just ahead of teammate Katie Langford, who took second place with a 59.32 time – giving Houston Academy 18 points in the event.

KAYLIN JACKSON, PIKE COUNTY: The junior had the best qualifying time in the Class 3A 100-meter dash prelims with a time of 12.53 seconds. Her brother Braylin Jackson, a sophomore, had the 3A boys’ best qualifying time as well.

AVA BARTLETT, ADDISON: Won the Class 1A high jump with a personal best 5-foot clearance for the Bulldogs.

MIRACLE WRIGHT, RED LEVEL: Had the top qualifying time in the Class 1A girls’ 100-yard dash prelims clocking 12.68 seconds.

BOYS

BRAYLIN JACKSON, PIKE COUNTY: Like his sister, he recorded the top qualifying time in the Class 3A boys’ 100-meter dash with a time of 11.16 – just ahead of Jalen Likely of W.S. Neal, who also clocked 11.16.

ARTHUR WOODS, REELTOWN: Earned top seed in the Class 2A 100-meter dash finals clocking 10.93 seconds in the prelim race. Teammate Tae Martin had the next best time – 11.16.

JOHN ANDREWS, W.S. NEAL: Won the Class 3A 400-meter dash gold with a personal best time of 49.42 seconds.

SETH COTTON, FLORALA: Had the top seed time in the 110-meter hurdles in Class 1A with a personal best 16.71 seconds.

EMERY BARNETT, HOLLY POND: Ran the best qualifying time in Class 2A in the 110-meter hurdles clocking a personal best 15.12 seconds.

KESHOWN ALLEN, WEAVER: Ran a 14.98 in the 110-meter hurdles for the best qualifying time in Class 3A.

TYE MADISON, MARION COUNTY: Won the Class 1A pole vault with a personal best 12-foot clearance and also tied with Florala’s Ronald Johnson in the high jump competition with each jumper clearing 6 feet, 2 inches.

Friday’s Day 1 team standings for Class 3A, 2A and 1A:

AHSAA OUTDOOR

TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 1 Team Standings

BOYS

CLASS 3A

1) Winfield, 33; 2) Madison Academy, 32; 3) W.S. Neal, 24; 4) Westminster-Oak Mountain, 19; 4) Hillcrest-Evergreen, 19; 6) Ohatchee, 18; 7) Hokes Bluff, 15; 8) Altamont, 14; 9) Vinemont, 13; 10) Trinity, 10; 11) Dadeville, 9; 11) Alabama Christian, 9; 13) Ashford, 8; 13) J.B. Pennington, 8; 13) Daleville, 8; 16) Westbrook Christian, 7; 17) Weaver, 6; 18) Fayette County, 5; 19) Lauderdale County, 4; 19) Piedmont, 4; 21) Indian Springs, 3; 22) Northside Methodist, 2.

CLASS 2A

1) Cold Springs, 37; 2) Hatton, 14; 3) Holly Pond, 13; 3) Mars Hill, 13; 5) Sand Rock, 12; 5) St. Luke’s, 12; 7) Lexington, 10; 7) Francis Marion, 10; 9) Abbeville, 8; 9) LaFayette, 8; 9) Horseshoe Bend, 8; 12) Winston County, 6; 12) Alabama School of Cyber Technology, 6; 12) Locust Fork, 6; 15) Cornerstone, 5; 15) Tanner, 5; 15) B.B. Comer, 5; 18) Holy Spirit, 4; 18) Lanett, 4; 20) Vincent, 3; 21) Woodland, 2; 21) Pleasant Valley, 2; 23) Goshen, 1; 23) Pisgah, 1.

CLASS 1A

1) Winterboro, 55; 2) Marion County, 37; 3) Faith Christian, 28; 4) Bayshore Christian, 23; 5) Florala, 21.25; 6) Pleasant Home, 17; 7) Hackleburg, 14; 8) Alabama School for the Blind,13; 9) Loachapoka, 12; 10) Calhoun, 9; 11) Cedar Bluff, 8.6; 12) Addison, 8; 13) Donoho, 6; 14) Alabama School for the Deaf, 3.6; 15) Georgiana, 3; 16) Meek, 2; 16) Athens Bible, 2; 16) Wadley, 2; 16) Gaylesville, 2; 20) Houston County, 1.6.

GIRLS

CLASS 3A

1) Houston Academy, 31; 2) Fayette County, 30; 3) Westminster-Oak Mountain, 28; 4) J.B. Pennington, 26.5; 5) Altamont, 26; 6) Northside Methodist, 17; 7) Indian Springs, 14; 8) Dadeville, 13; 9) Opp, 12; 10) Weaver, 9; 11) Vinemont, 8.5; 12) Beulah, 8; 13) Clements, 7.5; 13) Pike County, 7.5; 15) Lauderdale County, 7; 16) Piedmont, 6; 17) Hillcrest-Evergreen, 5; 17) Trinity, 5; 19) Saks, 4; 19) Straughn, 4; 21) St. James, 2; 22) Alabama Christian, 1; 22) Ashford, 1.

CLASS 2A

1) Whitesburg Christian, 40; 2) Francis Marion, 24; 3) Sand Rock, 16; 3) J.U. Blacksher, 16; 5) Lexington, 13; 6) Cold Springs, 12; 7) Hatton, 10 7) Holly Pond, 10; 7) Decatur Heritage, 10; 10) West End, 9; 11) Alabama School of Cyber Technology, 8; 11) Lamar County, 8; 11) Reeltown, 8; 14) Sheffield, 6; 14) Winston County, 6; 14) Pisgah, 6; 17) Holy Spirit, 5; 17) Pleasant Valley, 5; 17) Barbour County, 5; 20) Lanett, 4; 20) Fayetteville, 4; 22) St. Luke’s, 3; 22) Falkville, 3; 24) Highland Home, 2.

CLASS 1A

1) Marion County, 58; 2) Marengo, 20; 3) Cedar Bluff, 17; 3) Winterboro, 17; 5) Athens Bible, 16; 6) Florala, 14; 6) Donoho, 14; 8) Bayshore Christian, 13; 9) Addison, 10; 9) Pleasant Home, 10; 9) Houston County, 10; 9) Wadley, 10; 13) Brantley, 8; 14) Covenant Christian, 5; 14) Meek, 5; 14) Linden, 5; 14) Phillips, 5; 18) Pickens County, 4; 19) Billingsley, 2; 19) Georgiana, 2; 19) Calhoun, 2; 22) Skyline, 1.