It’s Saturday morning, the second day of the 6A Section 1 Track Meet at Saraland High School. Coach Brewer has piloted the Dolphins bus to this place several times this season, but today a thick, milky fog has engulfed the panorama, limiting the vision of what’s ahead, save for head coach Jason Hill. He’s studied today’s upcoming events and is hopeful for the upset. 

The Dolphins arrive at the tent, still upright from Friday evening and kneeling toward the infield like a camel awaiting a passenger, and several coaches slip their noses inside to hide from one of today’s foes: the sun and heat. Beck Montiel is patrolling the shrinking shade; he’s already collected 8 points in the 1600 and will be graduating this year, leaving behind only his name, photo, and the school records for every distance event. 

“It’s gonna be hot,” one coach says.

Welcome to Alabama in the late spring.

Gulf Shores finds itself in a new Section this year after being upgraded from 5A to one of the toughest sections in the state in 6A, beyond difficult – think more along the lines of brutal – demanding competition in every event and from every team. There are no gimmes. The boys find themselves leading the meet by 7 points after day one. Friday was a good day.

The base of the great pyramid began with the Dolphins winning the 4 x 800, not an unusual occurrence over the last few years – they placed third in the state for 5A last season – but this is 6A, and the team has lost to most of the top teams all season. A change of order and a little rest brought on the first of this meet’s magic. Daniel Foster also uncorked a season best, a school record shot put of 50 feet 11 inches, to win, followed by sophomore Jack Biggs who tossed 45 feet 7.75” for 3 more points. The pole vault saw Matt and Anthony Howe place third and fourth scoring 11 more points and punching tickets to state. Throw in some points (6.5 to be exact) from two guys who didn’t know how to high jump two months ago, Sam Vincent and Arthur Stafford, Montiel’s second in the 1600, Harrison Wright’s school record 400 meter race, finals qualifying times by the 4x100 as well as Carter Davis’ 100 and 200 meter prelim races, and a big sturdy foundation had been laid. 

Coach Hill and his staff abandon the shade to lay the blocks of their respective specialties and assemble the pieces like the ancient Egyptians, forming the unrecognizable into a masterpiece of history, as day two begins. 

Most winning teams have that one shining star that lights the way and leads the faithful to the promised land. Carter Davis is that man for Gulf Shores. His day begins by anchoring the Dolphins to a third-place finish in the 4x100 relay. That's only the beginning, though. With only enough time to watch teammate Travaris Johnson collects three points in the 110 hurdles (he would place fifth in the 300 hurdles as well), Davis proceeds to the 100 meter race, the showcase

event for any track meet. Collecting his wits and all the determination he could muster, Davis works hard the last thirty meters to earn his first gold medal. Teammate Jaden Dobbins placed fifth in the race and punched his ticket to state as well.

Davis isn’t finished. Running steadily faster down the stretch, he held off all competitors

to win the 200 meter race. 

Immediately following that race, the Dolphins sent Harrison Wright and Beck Montiel to do battle in the 800, and they didn’t disappoint. Wright set a personal best 1:57.77 to place second while Montiel followed in fourth. 

The field events for Gulf Shores were busy pulling their own weight. Daniel Foster continued his torrid meet, placing second in the discus, and was joined by Biggs once more who added three more points. Henry Brereton also finished fourth and Foster sixth in the javelin. Eighteen points were added to the team's total.

Momentarily, the scoring appeared to indicate that Gulf Shores only needed to finish in the top 8 of the 4x400 to clinch their first ever title. But the triple jump was still being contested. If Blount could somehow manage to finish first and second, then win the 4x400, they would be the champions. Blount not only had the fastest time in that event but entering with an amazing 3 minutes and 20 second clocking is also a favorite to win state. Davis led off for Gulf Shores, and the team placed fifth, finishing their scoring for the day. That half point in the high jump was looking pretty valuable.

But Blount's task proved too daunting, as they failed to earn enough points to close the gap, also finishing behind UMS Wright. The Dolphins did indeed have enough points in the bank to clinch their first boys Section title in school history.

“It was a total team effort,” Coach Jason Hill said afterward. “We scored in 13 events. Amazing. We’ve got 18 athletes going to state. I’m so proud of all of them.”

The amazing journey reached a program milestone, but it’s not quite finished. Gulf Shores will compete with a home field advantage next weekend at the AHSAA State Meet, which runs Thursday through Saturday at the Sportsplex in Gulf Shores. No one knows the outcome, but the fog lifted on Saturday and everyone could witness history from this upstart

Dolphin team.

Timothy Smith is a guest writer for Gulf Shores News. He is a local author and Gulf Shores High School teacher, who recently wrote a book about three friends who set out to save Gulf Shores from malevolent ghosts before the end of summer and Hurricane Frederic makes landfall. The ghosts that plague the trio are derived from the ghost stories that are plentiful in the area of south Alabama, particular to Fort Morgan itself. The Ghost of Sand Island Lighthouse is available online.