Reprinted from the Birmingham News:

Calera boys stand tall, but Pelham, Oak Mtn. win titles
04/13/04
DAN WILLIAMS
News staff writer

The Calera High School boys track team doesn't have much history, but Glynn Dowdell and his teammates are using a fearless attitude to put the Eagles on the map. Dowdell was one of several Calera athletes competing in several events in the Shelby County Track and Field Championship Monday at Pelham High School. Dowdell won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, four inches, and he placed third in the high jump, clearing 5-6 in his first competitive effort at the event. Calera has only had a track program for two years. "We're picking up a little momentum," Dowdell said. "The people we do have out there are pretty good." The Class 2A Calera boys team finished fourth, but the three schools ahead of it were all Class 5A or 6A. Calera beat out Vincent, last year's 2A state champion, by two points. Pelham won the championship with 205 total points, while Oak Mountain came in second at 146 points and Briarwood was third with 64 points. Then came Calera at 55 and Vincent with 53. For the Panthers, David Clyburn, Montez Billings and Jason McMillan led the way. Clyburn was named the meet MVP. He won the 110-meter hurdles and the high jump and finished third in the 300-meter hurdles and triple jump. McMillan cleaned up in distance events, winning the 3200-meter run, the 1600 meters and the 800 meters. Billings, who is also one of the top junior football players in the state as a wide receiver, won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.87 seconds. He also won the 200-meter dash and the triple jump. On the girls sides, Oak Mountain was aided by the relentless legs of a couple of freshmen in its commanding victory. Frosh Mary Grace DeCastra and Hannah Farmer each had top three finishes in at least four events. Oak Mountain won the meet with a total of 198 points. Vincent edged Pelham by one point for second place, scoring 79. The Panthers were third at 78 points, Briarwood was fourth with 75 points and Thompson was fifth with 53 points. DeCastra was named the girls meet MVP for her impressive all-around performance, which included first-place finishes in the pole vault (8-6) and the triple jump (32-6). She also finished second in the javelin and second in the 300 meter hurdles. Farmer won the long jump with a leap of 15-8. She tied for first in the high jump and came in second in the pole vault and the triple jump. Gabby Williams of Pelham was the girls' only three-event winner. She finished first in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 400-meter dash.

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