TRACKCATS Earn Medal andset records at State

Dakota Begley cleared 11 feet to finish 11th in the pole vault. Photo courtesy of Ron Weaver/BCHS.

Madelyne English threw the discus a personal record 104-01.00 and Carrie Staviski ran a School Record time of 12:21.08 in the 3200m Run at the KHSSA State Meet as the TRACKCATS all made a great showing at the Championship in Lexington.

After qualifying at the KHSAA Region 6AA Track & Field Championship, at Russell High School, six athletes, Dakota Begley, Hannah Bussell, Carrie Staviski, Kristin Riddle, Madelyne English and Isabella Copher, prepared for the KHSAA Class AA State Championship Meet. The Championship was contested on Friday evening at the University of Kentucky’s Track & Field Complex.

Madelyne English entered the KHSAA State meet ranked 11th in the Discus and ended on the Awards Stand with a 5th Place Medal. Her first toss was wide of the right sector and a foul was called. Her second toss fell in at 89-04 which was 7 feet short of her qualifying mark. After several competitors threw good marks Madelyne prepared for her third throw needing a good toss to make the finals. She entered the circle calm and let fly a perfect discus which left no doubt it was beyond 100 feet when it left her hand. The call came in at 104-01 good enough for the final. In the finials, Madelyne threw 100-05, 96-01 and 104-00 to place 5th and earn the KHSAA Medal in her first State Meet Appearance. She also finished 21st in the Shot Put with a distance of 26-10.75.

Carrie Staviski, competing in her fourth State Meet, entered the final race of the year just seconds from the 3200 Meter School Record. At the 1600m mark she was two seconds off pace and with one 400m lap left she needed less than 1:28.66 to set the record. She completed the final lap in 1:27.08 to finish with the PR and School Record at 12:31.08 topping the old record from June 7, 1985. She finished 16th in Class AA.

Isabella Copher earned the automatic bid to the State Meet after winning the 1600 Meter Run Region 6AA Championship. Isabella finished 11th in the State Meet with an impressive time of 5:38.82. She recorded 400m splits of 1:18, 1:26, 1:31 & 1:23. This was her second State Meet appearance and first in an individual event.

In the Boys Pole Vault event Dakota Begley finished 11th, in his second State Meet appearance, clearing a height of 11-00.00. The Competion started at a height of 10 feet in which Dakota cleared on his second attempt. At the 10-06 and 11-00 mark her again cleared each on his second attempt and just missed the 11-06 mark on his three attempts. The senior completes his high school career having cleared 11-06 which he did on April 22 of this year.

The Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Team of Carrie Staviski, Hannah Bussell, Kristin Riddle and Isabella Copher earned the automatic bid placing second at the Regional Meet while setting a School Record. The Team finished with an 11:09.66 and placed 20th in the Class AA State Meet. This was Hannah Bussell’s second State Meet appearance with the 4x800 Meter Team and Kristin Riddles first. Bussell, a senior will attend Eastern Kentucky University in the fall.

The 104-01.00 discus throw by Madelyne English and Carrie Staviski’s 12:31.08 in the 3200 Meters were Personal Records the each athlete.

The State Qualifying athletes were going by several TRACKCATS and family. TRACKCATS that made the trip to Lexington included Maykayla Blackburn, Gabby Hill, Abby Henderson, Kaylee Staviski, Amelia Oldfield, Jaycie Bussell and Troyal Cox. Also in attendance were Bart Williams and his family and Ron Weaver taking multiple pictures. The Team and families gathered at Ramsey’s in Lexington, after the Meet, sponsored by the Track and Field Booster Club.

Isabella Copher as part of the 4X800 team and also finished 11th with a time of 5:38.82 in the 1600 meters. Bath County competed in 5 events at the State 2A track meet on Friday. Photo courtesy of Ron Weaver/BCHS.