Poor weather hampers area athletes at regional track championships

This year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association granted a two-week window for track and field regional championships. However, like virtually every day during the spring sports season, it did not matter on which day the meet took place. The weather was lousy on all of them.

Despite the horrendous conditions, which included frigid temperatures, wind and intermittent rain, local schools Bath County, Fleming County and Nicholas County will send 26 athletes entered in 30 entries to Friday and Saturday’s state championships at the University of Kentucky. The top two finishers in each of the state’s seven regions, plus the next 10 best performances receive berths to the state meet.

Bath and Fleming each competed in the Class AA, Region 6 Championships on Saturday the 14th at Mason County. The Wildcat boys finished in third place with 88.50 points, with the Panthers taking eighth with 26.50 points. On the girls’ side, Fleming County led the way in fifth with 48 points, while Bath County claimed seventh with 29.33 points.

Russell’s boys and Ashland’s girls dominated their respective competition as each won by nearly 40 points. Russell tallied 132 to runner-up Boyd County’s 94 and Ashland recorded 148.50 to second place Mason County’s 109.

“We prepared mentally as best we could all week for the weather challenges that we knew would take place … and I believe compared to the other schools there we were able to perform up to par,” Fleming County coach Tim Ham said. “The issue is we are comparing ourselves to other regions that run (on separate days) where the weather is exponentially better.

“I wish KHSAA would create a rule where all regions must compete the same day to try and even the playing field as much as possible. We could have gotten great weather and next weekend the weather be similar to what we endured, and it would be in our favor,” Hamm continued. “Either way, this only hurts the kids that are waiting on those last qualifier spots and waiting to see what the other regions do.”

Rounding out the boys’ field, Rowan County was fourth with 73.50 points, followed by Mason County (64), Ashland (39.50), Greenup County (30), East Carter (four), and both Lewis County and Lawrence County (zero).

“We thought that a runner-up position was possible if everyone was at their best. We knew Russell was going to be hard to catch. They were strong at the Area 7 (meet). We match up close to Boyd County and thought, if things fell right, we could grab second,” Bath County boys’ coach Tim Bailey said. “Placing third for us was a very good effort, though just five and a half points short of what we really wanted. Everyone gave good efforts in spite of the weather; some even got personal records and several were able to get their seasons’ best.

“We have had some good teams in the past and this team was one of the best that just missed out on the hardware,” Bailey continued. “We had four meets where we fell one place short, including three of the big meets of the season, placing third in the indoor state, EKC and regional. They did set a school record in wins at 122 for the season which, will give the teams in the future something to shoot for.”

In the girls’ meet, Boyd County followed Mason County in third with 72 points. Rowan County was fourth (60), followed by Greenup County (32), Russell (26.50), East Carter (24.66), Lewis County (eight) and Lawrence County (zero).

“We did have some outstanding physical and mental performances this Saturday,” Hamm said. “Christen Reid was able to overcome all the weather obstacles and win (the) pole vault. Robert Applegate, waiting all day in the freezing cold, placed second in the two-mile (run) with a huge wind to qualify for state. Jacob Hitch has worked his butt off this year and it showed with his gutsy showing in the 400 (meter dash) where he got second place and (became an) automatic (state) qualifier. Abby Fearin was able to finish in second in the 300-meter hurdles and make it back to state.”

“All of our girls did a great job. They have worked hard and really came together as a team,” Bath County girls’ coach Rick Staviski said. “We have awesome captains in Lexie Crouch and Liz Collins that hold this team together. You don’t see their numbers in the highlights, but it is their leadership that makes it all happen.”

A week after Bath and Fleming’s regional meet, Nicholas County took to the track at Lexington Christian for Saturday the 21st’s Class A Region 5 Championships. Despite competing in adverse weather, both Nicholas County squads excelled. The girls finished second with 95 points and the boys were fourth with 50 points.

“It was an exciting day for the girls’ and boys’ teams on Saturday. The girls’ team finished as region runner-up, with each team member contributing with their best effort,” head coach Greg Letcher said. “Samantha Sowell led the scoring with 40 points and Shelby Watkins contributed 20. … Samantha ‘pr’d in both hurdle events.”

Danville captured the girls’ team title with 112 points, with Owen County sitting slightly behind the Lady Jackets with 91 points. Host Lexington Christian placed fourth with 71 points, followed by Burgin (40), Trimble County (28), Paris (27), Bracken County (25), Sayre (20), Frankfort (12), Augusta (one) and Carroll County (zero).

Lexington Christian repeated as boys’ champs after recording 156 points. Owen County was second with 92 points and Danville was third with 83. Bracken County took fifth with 46 points, followed by Paris (40), Sayre (21), Burgin (18), Frankfort (eight), Carroll County (seven), Augusta (five) and Trimble County (zero).

“J.P. Wagoner led the way scoring 24 points. J.P ‘pr’d in the 110 (meter) hurdles and 200-meter dash,” Letcher said. “I’m extremely proud of our senior members (Nate Watkins, J.P. and Shelby), who have brought a lot of recognition to our track program over the course of their career.”

Individually, Bath County’s top finishers included: Sam Barker in the 100-meter dash (first in 11.94) and 200m dash (first in 24.21); Carrie Staviski in the 3200-meter run (first in 12:33.42); Brandon Smallwood in the long jump (first at 19’00.25”), high jump (second at 5’06”) and triple jump (third at 38’09.50”); Dalton Richards in the shot put (second at 42’04.00”); the girls’ 4x800-meter relay team of Staviski, Hannah Bussell, Isabella Copher and Abby Henderson (second in 10:50.92); the boys’ 4x100-meter relay quartet of Kris Krolikowski, Alden Oldfield, Layne Easton and Barker (second in 46.63); Henderson in the 800-meter run (third in 2:37.62); the boys’ 4x200-meter relay foursome of Krolikowski, Bryson McCarty, Oldfield and Barker (third in 1:38.75); Shelby Hedges in the high jump (fourth at 4’00”); Dakota Begley in the pole vault (fourth at 9’06”); Krolikowski in the 200m (fourth in 25.16); the boys’ 4x800-meter relay squad of Kaleb Clemons, Logan McNabb, Begley and Caleb Bowen (fourth in 10:21.01); and Billy Hedges in the 110-meter hurdles (fourth in 20.45).

“We were well pleased with the effort of our 4x800m (relay) team. We were second behind Ashland that ran a well-coached race. We are young at the three and four (legs), but we kept our head in the game and didn’t panic,” coach Staviski said. “Abby Henderson did a great job in the 800-meter run. … She is a first-year freshman and will do great things in the future. Isabella Copher is an up-and-coming star in the sport. Learn her name now. … Carrie Staviski’s 3200-meter regional-championship run was by far the best I have seen her run. She knew (because of the elements) running in the cold and wind that a first- or second-place finish was needed. She started out strong and was able to hold (Boyd County’s) Courtney (Gibson) off in the end. Courtney is an awesome competitor and for Carrie to win here is big time for her.”

Senior Christen Reid was the lone individual winner from Fleming County. She captured the pole vault with a leap of 7’06”. Abby Fearin was second in the 300m hurdles in 52.58, while Jacob Hitch took second in the 400m in 55.36 and Robert Applegate placed second in the 3200m run in 11:04.77. Mackenzie Purvis finished third in the 100-meter hurdles (18.79) as did Ashley Watson in the pole vault (7’00”).

All four Lady Panther relay teams placed among the top five. Alondra Jackson, Melanie Montgomery, Fearin and Purvis were third in the 4x200m race (2:00.42). The 4x100m foursome of Jackson, Carley Dunaway, Montgomery and Baylee Hackworth claimed fourth in 56.07. The 4x400-meter relay also took fourth. The team of Sarah Allen, Purvis, Reid and Fearin covered the distance in 4:52.58. The 4x800m quartet of Allen, Shelby Moran, Sheraden Dales and Courtney Vice was fifth in 12:37.08.

“We had several third places which don’t guarantee a state meet birth,” Hamm said. “But a couple of standouts would be Ashley Watson in pole vault and Mackenzie Purvis in the 100m hurdles. Both (are) hardworking girls that deserve to go to state.”

As it has all season, the trio of Sowell, Watkins and Wagoner led the way for Nicholas County at its regionals. Sowell won all four of her events – the 100m hurdles (17.34), 300m hurdles (51.02), long jump (15’03.50”) and triple jump (34’00.50”). Wagoner nearly did the same, capturing titles in the 110m hurdles (15.64) and 300m hurdles (41.64), and placing sixth in the 200m (23.89). Watkins was second in both the 1600m (5:57.68) and 3200m (13:07.92), and was fourth in the 800m (2:47.18).

Junior Allison Howard defended her discus title with a winning toss of 82’09”. Classmate Aaron Conyers finished in third in the 300m hurdles in 46.04. Both athletes earned berths to the state.

Two others also placed third in their races – Shelby Flanigin in the girls’ 300m hurdles (54.82); and the boys’ 4x400m relay quartet of Conyers, Cody Moon, Wagoner and Julio Zepeda (3:49.61).

Nicholas County also collected six fourth-place finishes. Zepeda in the 400m (56.07), Moon in the long jump (17’04.50”) and Sydney Ishmael in the 400m (1:13.18) all achieved the feat individually. The girls’ 4x100m (Flanigin, Autumn Martin, Maria Soto, Morgan Waymire) and 4x800m (Kenzie Bowles, Ishmael, Kamryn Letcher, Shelby Stafford) and boys’ 4x200m (Conyers, Moon, Nate Watkins, Zach Richardson) groups each did so in the relays. The girl’s 4x200m quartet covered the course in 1:00.47; while its long-distance event teammates clocked 13:56.62 and the boys’ 4x200m foursome finished its race in 1:39.16.