The third time was the charm for Florala senior Jonathan Burleson at the Class 1A state track and field meet on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Selma.

Burleson scratched his first two attempts at the javelin throw, but soared his third throw 157 feet to capture the gold and state title in the event.

 

“I was excited,” Burleson said about winning the gold medal.

 

In the first two tries of the javelin throw, Burleson threw the rod outside the lines, which he said he’d never done until Saturday.

 

“It kind of scared me,” he said. “It was the first time I had scratched all year.”

 

Burleson said he just kept thinking to throw the javelin in between the lines.

 

Throwing it 157 feet is “pretty long for 1A,” he said, noting that it was his longest throw of his three-year career at FHS.

 

“I’ve been working a long time to win it,” he said.

 

Additionally, teammate John Bess finished in third in the javelin throw, and took home the bronze medal. Matthew Gibbs finished in fourth in the shot put event.

 

“I was proud of all of the kids that competed,” FHS coach Daniel Allison said. “I was very proud of Jonathan. The pressure was on on that third throw.”

 

Burleson said he will be going to Troy University this fall, and will try out for the track team for the Trojans.

 

Opp brought home the bronze medal for its competition in Class 3A over the weekend.

 

Orlando Lacey, Myeke´ Boyd, Tay Smith and Derek Savage finshed third in the 4×100 meter run.

 

Savage placed ninth in the discus event; Boyd came in 11th and Lacey came in 15th in the 100-meter run.