Thompson's McKenzie Hogue and Viktor Turek win state track and field titles

McKenzie Hogue and Viktor Turek highlighted the second day of competition for the Thompson High track and field teams competing at the AHSAA Class 7A State Championship in Gulf Shores. Hogue captured her second state championship in as many days and Turek broke a state meet record while winning the discus competition.

Hogue, who won comfortably in the 1,600 meters on Thursday, beat Auburn’s Samantha Rogers to the tape in the 3,200 meters on Friday. Hogue finished in a time of 11:00.72 and Rogers, who set the state meet record last season, had a time of 11:00.73. Both finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of third place finisher MacKenzie Culpepper of Spain Park High.

Hogue also won both the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in the AHSAA Indoor Track Championship earlier this year. She will attempt to add an 800-meter outdoor title on Saturday.

Turek won the discus competition with a top throw of 178-00.50, which easily outdistanced the Class 7A state meet record of 167-06 set by Auburn’s Michael Robinson. On Friday, Turek would have set the state record with five of his six throws and won this year’s title with all six of his throws. His closest challenger was Foley’s Isaac England, who had a best throw of 154-01.

It wasn’t a flawless day for either Thompson teams but each enter the final day in seventh place in the team competition.

Zoria Miller scored points for the Warriors, finishing seventh in the javelin with a distance of 109-07. London Wooley finished ninth in the high jump and Julianne Knight finished 12th. Both had a best jump of 5 feet.

Zakiria Holifield (24.59) and Alandria McCurdy each qualified for the 200 meter final. Holifield was fourth overall and McCurdy (24.99) was seventh.

On the boys side, the 4 x 800 relay team finished fifth to earn four team points. Samuel Holmes finished 12th in the 400 meters and Van Smitherman was 14th. Holmes narrowly missed qualifying in the 200 meters.

Julian Woods was 11th in the triple jump, with a top jump of 42-03. In the high jump, Phillip Lewis was 10th and Jared Hurst was 15th.