Strong performances marked Day 1 of the Alabama High School Athletic Association Outdoor Track & Field Championships for Classes 4A-7A at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores on Thursday.

Several records were broken during the preliminary rounds of the Class 7A 100-meter dashes. Although wind-aided, the times were still impressive.

In Class 7A boys, Fairhope’s Ty Watkins led all qualifiers with a 10.33 second clocking, under the old record of 10.49. Carver-Montgomery’s Maurice Conner (10.40) and Vestavia Hills’ Chase Webb (10.41) were also under the old record.

In the Class 7A girls’ 100-meter prelims, two James Clemens runners — Zaria Parker (11.51) and Erihana Johnson (11.53), were under the old record of 11.65, set in 2023. James Clemens also broke the meet record in the girls’ 4X100-meter relay prelims, running 46.45 and breaking the old record of 46.52 set in 2017.

Vestavia Hills, paced by a 1-2 finish in the long jump by Jack Stubbs (24-4 ½) and Nate Bradshaw (23-9 ½), led Class 7A boys’ with 36 points after Thursday’s competition. Hoover, led by Nigel Thomas’ record-breaking throw in the shotput (59-5), was second with 21 points while Hewitt-Trussville was third with 20.

Opelika led Class 7A girls’ competition with 17 points, while Hoover was second with 15 and Auburn 13.

In Class 6A, McAdory led Spain Park 15-14 after Day 1 of the competition. Wetumpka, led by Tyrone Clay Jr.’s win in the high jump (6-8), was third with 10 points. Mountain Brook led Class 6A girls’ competition with 24 points, while Chelsea (15) and Northridge (12) rounded out the top three. Fort Payne’s Cooper Garrett broke the Class 6A girls’ record in the javelin with a throw of 150-4, breaking the old record of 145-8 set in 2019.

Jacksonville led Class 5A boys competition after with 18 points. Fairview was second with 17 and Scottsboro, led by Ryder Lavelle’s convincing victory in the 1,600-meter run (4:20.97) was third with 15. In Class 5A girls, Scottsboro led Guntersville 23.50 to 20, while Bayside Academy was third (15). Scottsboro’s Banks Bradford led three runners under the old meet record of 5:05.20 in the Class 5A girls’ 1,600, winning in 5:01.43. The old record was set last year.

In Class 4A, Hokes Bluff led the boys’ competition with 20 points, while Westminster Christian was second with 14 and Brooks third with 12. Brooks led Class 4A girls with 17 points, followed by Ashville (14.50) and Hatton (14).

Two records were set in Class 4A competition on Thursday: Jackson’s boys’ 4X100-meter relay team set a new meet record of 42.14 in the preliminary rounds, while Indian Springs’ Cara Huff set a new meet record of 45-7 ½ in the girls’ shot put, breaking the old record of 43-8 ½ set in 2016.

Action resumes on Friday at 8:30 a.m.