Wildcat Classic RECAP


SPRINTS

Girls Sprints

The girl's sprints saw many of the same names near the top of the results, as several athletes ran some impressive doubles or even triples. Taliyah Townsend , Alexis Gibbons, and Brooke Raglin all showed their versatility and competitiveness over multiple events within a short period of time. Ke'Asia Johnson-Bell of Eastern, the 300 meter hurdle champion from year's Class AAA state meet, opened the day with her victory in the 60 meter hurdles running 9.38 (VIDEO). She was followed by Alexis Gibbons of Butler, competing in her first of three events of the day, in 9.42. 

In the girls 60 meter dash, Brooke Raglin of Bryan Station returned to Nutter Field House to retain her Wildcat Classic title in a PR performance of 7.68 (VIDEO). The run ties her for the 33rd fastest time in the country this year. Raglin was followed closely by the Louisville Male senior Taliyah Townsend in 7.78 seconds. Freshman Trinity Gay of Lafayette claimed the third position with her 8.06, putting her in the top-20 freshmen in the event in the country this year.

As expected, the 200 meter dash saw Raglin and Townsend once again battling for the win. However, this time around there was a relatively unexpected reversal of roles, with Townsend edging out Raglin 25.32 to 25.47 (VIDEO). Brooke Raglin, runner-up and top Class AAA returner from last year's 200 meters at the state meet, certainly has a new threat to watch in Townsend, who finished 5th in the state championships last year. With her victory, Townsend set a new Wildcat Classic Record, which was previously 25.34 set in 2013.

The 400 saw a good battle between Alexis Gibbons of Butler and Townsend yet again (VIDEO). Gibbons hit the break first and never looked back, claiming her second title of the day (Long Jump) with her 58.40 to Townsend's 59.72. The time set a new Wildcat Classic record, breaking the old mark of 59.15 by nearly a second.  


Boys Sprints

In the 60 meter dash, Kasaun James of North Hardin put on a clinic as he exploded from the blocks and convincingly separated himself from the field by a full 0.2 seconds. His 6.78 victory ties him for the fastest performance in the country this year and set a new Wildcat Classic meet record. All of that on, as James says in his interview, two days of practice with his school this season. Hopefully this is just the tip of the iceberg of a great season for James.  Henry Clay teammates Davonte Robinson and Langston Jackson took second and third place respectively, running 6.98 and 7.10 (VIDEO).

As was expected, the 400 was a show of dominance from Will Allen. Already clear of the field at the break, Allen came home in an impressive 47.50, bettering his own meet record by over a second and making him at third fastest in the country this year (VIDEO). Robbie Lofton of Tates Creek, Korie Cleveland of John Hardin, and Langston Love of Tates Creek all turned in solid early-season marks under 52 seconds.

The 200 was perhaps the highlight of the day. Newly-minted national leader in the 60 meter dash Kasaun James was going up against the 200-meter juggernaut Will Allen of Dunbar. Allen had already run the third fastest time in the event this year coming into the meet and had just run the third fastest 400 in the country earlier in the day. The atmosphere in the fieldhouse was electric as the race went off. James jumped to an early lead and seemed to come off the turn slightly ahead of Allen. However, Allen showed his 400 meter strength by powering past James the final 50 meters and taking the win in a new meet record 21.46 to James' 21.76 (VIDEO). With that run, Allen remained at #3 in the country while James entered the list at #8. This could be a fun spring of racing between these two.

Isaiah McCall of Bryan Station, the double Class AAA state champion from last year's state meet, showed good early form by running away from the field in the boy's 60 meter hurdles. His 8.36 puts him in the top-50 performers in the country this year and was enough for a comfortable margin of victory over the field (VIDEO).