ORANGE BEACH — Just a few months removed from opening their brand-new multimillion-dollar multi-sport facility, Orange Beach Middle and High School hosted its inaugural track and field meet.

The Makos took the podium in nine events, including three event victories that included a win in the boys 4x100 relay, Brooke Barnett in the girls 3200, and Anthony Hawkins in the boys high jump.

Gulf Shores and Foley competed as well in the eight-team meet, both delivering impressive team showings. The Lions finished with 23 podium finishes on the day, including 11 event winners. The Dolphins had four first-place finishers and totaled 18 podium finishes as well.

As for the athletes, Rashad Jones continues his outstanding season for Foley track and field. The University of Mobile signee became just the second athlete in the last decade to throw the javelin 200 feet in Alabama, setting both a personal and school record along the way.

He also claimed first in the discus and pole vault at the Orange Beach meet, setting a personal best in discus with a 146-foot toss. Teammate Kayvion Winter and Gulf Shores’ Matt Howe were the only other competitors to clear 10-plus feet in the pole vault alongside him.

Abigail Ables of Foley highlighted the girls field events with two individual wins in the javelin and discus. Teammate Kindle Potter finished runner-up in both the javelin and shot put, rounding out a strong meet for the Lions in the field events.

In the girls pole vault, Gulf Shores freshman Claire Anthony claimed the win with a 7-foot-6 jump. Teammate and Dolphins junior Harley Barnhill tied for runner-up with a 7-foot jump as well.

In the sprint and distance events, Carter Davis of Gulf Shores added to his “fastest man in Alabama” title with another 100-meter win. The standout junior also claimed victory in the 200. His teammate Harrison Wright finished third in the 100 and runner-up in the 400, while Foley’s Rashaud Robertson took runner-up behind Davis in the 100 before later winning the 400-meter race.

Foley dominated both sides of the hurdles as Jakobe Williams swept the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, while LilliAnn Blaeser won the 100-meter hurdles and finished runner-up in the 300. The Lions stayed strong on the girls sprint side as well, with a 400-meter win from Evelyn Mims and a runner-up finish in the 200 from the freshman.

Along with Barnett’s 3200-meter win for Orange Beach, Hailey Ables took third in the 1600 for Foley. Rounding out the distance events on the boys' side, Foley finished runner-up in the 4x400 relay followed by Gulf Shores’ relay team. Orange Beach’s Aaron Tierce and Gulf Shores’ Nolan Langley were the only two county athletes to podium in both the 1600 and 3200, while Lincoln Strickland claimed the 800-meter win followed by Tierce and Gulf Shores’ Jake Rogers finishing behind him in order.

Despite being a smaller meet than some of the other programs around the county have hosted this season, the inaugural Orange Beach meet served as the start of great use of one of the best athletic facilities in the South.