By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

BIRMINGHAM–Helena High School sophomore Kirsen Gardner came away a state champion at the 48^th AHSAA State Indoor Track Championships at the Birmingham Crossplex on Saturday, Feb. 4.

With a throw of 39 feet 3 inches or 11.96 meters, Gardner won the girl’s 6A individual shot put championship by a wide margin.

Gardner out threw Opelika High’s Lazoria Yancey by nearly four feet as Yancey finished in second place in 6A with a throw of 35 feet 4.5 inches.

Gardner’s mark of 39 feet 3 inches was the best mark in the state for all classifications 1A-7A. The second best throw was Beauregard High School senior Sam Dailey’s throw of 37 feet 5.5 inches.

Gardner’s teammate Erin Fuller finished in third place in the 6A shot put competition with a throw of 34 feet 6.5 inches.

The Helena High School girls and boys teams both finished in sixth place in team rankings at the AHSAA State Indoor Track Championships in the first year of competition at the 6A classification level.