Humphrey headlines Hoover High athletes bound for national meets

Brittley Humphrey achieved more in four years than most athletes achieve in a lifetime.

During her decorated career at Hoover High School, the Class of 2016 graduate collected 13 individual state championships, nine state team titles and three state records. She also garnered a trio of All-America honors and represented the United States on the world stage.

But up until recently, one accolade continually eluded her: a golden ticket to the Brooks PR Invitational.

She can now check it off her list.

On Saturday, June 18, Humphrey will compete in the 100-meter hurdles at Brooks PR against an invite-only field. Held in Renton, Washington, the meet draws a contingent of the nation's top track athletes.

“I’ve been waiting for an invite for a while, so it was exciting to finally get one my last year,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey enters the meet having registered the sixth fastest 100-hurdle mark in the nation this outdoor season. In April, she clocked a personal-best time of 13.24 seconds at the prestigious Brooks Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California.

“It makes me feel really good to know that I’m capable of even running one of the best times in the country and being able to compete among the best,” she said. ”It’s also very humbling because I know that I am not the best yet. There are still people that are faster than me and at the same speed as me, but it always feels good. I feel very blessed to be out there in that position.”

This will be Humphrey’s first time back in action since her memorable performance at the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A-7A state meet in early May. Within 90 minutes, the LSU signee scored 36 points across four events, notching two victories in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100-meter and 200-meter races.

Humphrey said she took a week-and-a-half break following the meet but has been training hard since resuming workouts.

On Saturday afternoon, she’ll look to cap her illustrious prep career with one last title.

“I feel good; my body feels good; I feel fast,” Humphrey said, “so I’m excited.”

Start time for the Brooks PR Invitational girls 100 hurdles is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. CDT on Saturday. Flotrack.org will be live streaming the event beginning at 3:30 p.m. CDT.

Additionally, four other Hoover High track and field athletes will travel to Greensboro, North Carolina, this weekend to compete at New Balance Nationals Outdoor. Held June 17-19 at North Carolina A&T University's Irwin Belk Track, the meet serves as the de facto national championship of high school track and field.

Below are the Bucs who will be competing:

Caitlyn Little: Humphrey’s training partner, Little will compete in the championship division of the 100 hurdles. She finished second in the event at May’s 7A state meet and ninth at last year’s New Balance Nationals Outdoor meet, missing the finals by .01 seconds. A breakthrough could be on the brink for the rising senior.  

Presley Weems: Weems, a Class of 2016 graduate, has strung together a series of high-profile performances in the past month and a half. After setting the Alabama prep record for 800 meters with a time of 2:08.99 at May's state meet, she bolted to another 800 triumph at the Music City Distance Carnival in Nashville. The Samford signee will ride her wave of momentum into the championship division of the 800 and emerging elite division of the 400.

Tommy McDonough: Although the rising senior recorded two runner-up finishes and one third-place finish in a trio of distance events at the outdoor state meet, he has dark horse potential. In April, he ran 4:13.53 for the full mile at Mt. SAC against top-notch competition. He will compete in the championship division of the mile.

Luke Ballard: A rising senior, he placed second in the javelin throw at the state meet with a heave of 181 feet, 4 inches. He owns a personal best of 185-7 and will compete in the championship division of his signature event.

To keep up with meet results from New Balance, visit the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation website: http://www.nationalscholastic.org/nbon/results.