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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

J.R. Sosa of Isabella High School, and Will Harrison of Maplesville High School are this week’s athletes of the week following their performances at the track and field sectionals on April 26-27.

Sosa has developed into one of the top javelin throwers not only in Alabama, but the United States, sitting near the top of the U17 rankings nationally. He also ranks seventh across all classifications in the javelin in Alabama, and solidified that spot at the sectional meet at Northridge High School. The sophomore took the gold medal in the 2A boy’s javelin with a 176-foot, 4-inch throw which set a new Isabella school record. The winning throw was more than 15 feet further than second place. Sosa finished third in the event at the state meet in 2023, and his sectional-winning toss was longer than the state-winning toss last year.

Will Harrison won two gold medals at the sectional meet at Northridge, starting with taking down the 1A boy’s 800-meter run with a time of 2:16.74. The time is more than six seconds faster than his state meet time in 2023, and his sectional-winning time would place him 11th compared to the state meet results last year.

The senior’s second gold medal came in the 1A boy’s 1600-meter run with a time of 5:21.86, 19 seconds faster than his 2023 state meet time. Harrison’s sectional-winning time would place him ninth compared to the state meet results last year.

Both athletes will compete in the AHSAA Class 1A-3A State Meet at Cullman High School from May 3-4.