The Class AA meet is a nice meet to whet the pallet of the track and field fans in the state as it is a great mix of talent from every area of the state. Last night, we saw athletes from every corner of the state reach relevance in their different events before the night was over and we once again saw that the level of quality and depth in this division is clearly on its way up. More than anything, though, we saw two complete squads do damage and claim titles this year after they didn’t have everything go as they would have liked, but Central’s boys and Highlands’ girls were so far above the rest that they didn’t need everything to go perfectly to get the win.
Highlands’ ladies did their damage in all kinds of different places, most notably in the sprints and in the field as they ended up claiming four titles on the day. The squad got a school and personal record out of pole vaulter Laura Geiman as she took the pole vault title, clearing 9-6 in the process. There was the 1-2 sweep in the 100 meter dash, where Ashley Collinsworth led Maria Weyer across the line in 12.47 and 12.71, ahead of Western Hills’ Alisha Adiar by the slightest of margins (Adair’s time was also 12.71 officially). Many expected that Collinsworth would be a factor in the 100 meter hurdles and possibly in the 400 and 800 meter relay crews at the state championships, but she did neither and it didn’t seem to phase the team at all. The relay crews followed up their fast regional performances, by outdistancing the competition in both the 400 and 800 meter relays, though it wasn’t quite so clear cut in the 800 relay until Weyer passed CAL’s Chalisa Helm just a few meters before the finish line. Forty-eight points in four events is tough to beat, even if that is all that you have, but Highlands laid down 35 more points throughout the rest of the day with specific help from field event workhorse Taylor Rosenhagen.
If you tried to find another athlete who could score in the shot put, long jump, triple jump, and high jump, I think we might know their name by now, but Rosenhagen, a junior, has quietly become one of the better multis athletes this state has seen. Her 4-10 clearance in the high jump was not her best and was definitely not up to her standards normally, but there was little time to think about the 1.5 points she claimed before scampering off to compete elsewhere. The triple jump was successful for Rosenhagen with a 4th place finish, and the long jump was even more successful for her as she placed 2nd after jumping 16-11.75, a new personal best. The shot put, though, is the one that had to have left everyone scratching their collective heads, but she threw the shot 34-05.25, another personal best, and walked away with another 4th place finish. With just those winners, Weyer in the 100, and Rosenhagen’s work, they Highlands squad would hae beaten runner-up Central just slightly, but the group added a few more in the 200 (Collinsworth 4th, 26.59), 1600 meter relay (5th, 4:14.76), long jump (Lisa Patterson 6th, 33-04), 300 meter hurdles (Collinsworth 5th, 47.51), and 3200 meter relay (7th, 10:21.98). All this was without the use of 6th-grade up-and-comer Lauren Ossege who will almost assuredly add more strength to the group next year when they lose…..wait for it……none of their state meet scorers. It could be a few years before we see anyone else on top of the…., well behind the 1st place awards position anytime soon. (Those who weren’t there last night, there was no awards podium this year.)
As for the boys from Central, this was a challenge for them and the fulfillment of a frustrating runner-up finish at last year’s state finals. This group, though, had no problem piling up the wins all day and ended up scoring in each and every track event, running away with the team title well before the days’ events were completed. The day’s first event, was very similar to how the rest of the meet would play out, as there were several teams that were in the mix in the 3200 meter relay early on, but Central would end up running away with the race before the end of the second leg. It was the same all day as the group took titles in the 800 meter relay (1:30.27), 400 meter relay (43.36), 800 meters (Haile Jemane, 1:56.92), and 3200 meters (Risik Lado, 9:51.19). Add in a couple of runner-up finishes Jaz Hayes in the 400 meters (50.65), Jemane in the 1600 meters (4:22.89) and the 1600 meter relay squad (3:24.71), and the group had enough there to make things tough on everyone else.
Considering that this group didn’t have returning state champion Stephon Robinson to take the 100-200-400 meter dash titles that he did last year and that Diaz Bolden wasn’t able to even score in the 300 meter hurdles after the debacle last year, this group had plenty of reason to whine and complain and settle this year. They refused to do it, though, and found ways to make improvements from last year’s squad. Keon Scott became a big relay piece and placed in the 300 hurdles after being an afterthought last year, Jaz Hayes emerged as an absolute stud as a freshman, Allen ST Gerald became a factor that helped carry their two short relays to titles, and Gerald Young became an even more relevant relay piece in both the 1600 and 3200 meter relays while almost scoring in the 800 meters. It was a great ending to the high school careers for Jemane, Lado, Bolden, and Young and a perfect finish to the story that has been more than a year in the making.
Incredible stories were all over the place on a very warm evening, but there might not have been a more intriguing one than the story of the Mason County sprint crew. They started the meet with a strong 3rd place finish from Seth Adkins in the 100 meters after he ran 11.11, a new personal best, and were supposed to follow that up by running away with the win in the 800 meter relay after twice dipping under 1:30 in the past few weeks. Instead, the first handoff was a disaster and they never recovered before showing in the final results as a DNF. It was the perfect opportunity for a group of athletes to turn on each other and come apart because each of the athletes knew that they “should” have won based on their fastest times of the year, but they didn’t. Even after the 400 meter relay DNF’d as well, the group remained relatively unshaken and stayed focused on their other goals for the day. Josh Harris and Colt Fearis had impressive runs in the 400 meters, running 52.43 and 51.55 respectively, and Fearis was able to claim 5th from the 2nd heat. Then Adkins was able to get the outright win in the 200 meters, running 22.19 for the win and things seemed like they were back on track. The group had talked about doing some damage in the 1600 meter relay and with the day’s results, it was clear that they had the bodies to make it happen. The group was perfectly put together and stayed near the front the whole night before giving Atkins the stick on the final leg and watching him put just enough distance on Jaile Jemane to get the win in a great time of 3:24.16. It was a perfect ending to an imperfect day for the program and they had to feel good about that.
The girls’ competition had two races that stood out as the 400 meters and 300 hurdles were incredible races to watch. Ironically, both were won by the returning champions (Michaela Hunter of Rockcastle County in the 400 and Jessica Gabhart of Elizabethtown in the 300 hurdles), but it was the quality and depth that showed off the clear improvement occurring in this division. Hunter, a freshman, needed every step of the race to secure the win over two other 9th graders, as Tia Weston of Fairdale (2nd) and Alisha Adair of Western Hills (3rd) both stayed close all the way to the line as the three posted times of 58.51 (Hunter) and 58.79 (for both Weston and Adair). After the depth in the girls Class AAA 400 meters last year, it would take plenty to impress, but this group was so impressive that Lauren Little of Union County ran 1:01.10 and didn’t score! In the hurdles, it was just as impressive as Class AA record holder Gabhart was the first across the line, but Maddie Roark of Russell was close behind (46.33) as was Sadie Stone of CAL (46.54). Last year, we only saw Gabhart break 48 seconds in this event, but 2nd place last year would have been a distant 6th this time around as high jump champion Cha’ Niquia Gore of Central and Ashley Collinsworth of Highlands also dipped under the 48 second mark. It was a great reminder for Hunter and Gabhart that winning once might be considered a fluke and twice you must be talented, but it’s pretty clear that it won’t be a given for either to claim the next one.
We can’t write this article without talking about Robert Sandlin either, as he came in with so much hype surrounding him and delivered in his own way. Sandlin had apparently been dealing with some ankle issues coming into the postseason and had been advised to focus on just the 1600 or possibly that and the 3200, but it sounded like he would test the waters in an intriguing attempt to triple. The 1600 race that he ran was a thing of beauty as he did exactly what he wanted to do with the group after watching Matt Smith of Covington Catholic get a big lead in the first 400 meters. When Big Shot Rob decided it was time to race, though, it was clear that he had only one peer in Haile Jemane. Sandlin threw down the gauntlet and the crowd was treated to an incredible duel over the last 400 meters before Jemane started to fade a bit in the straightaway and Sandlin, after almost stealing the 1600 title last year, had captured one of his own. Following that, though, there were big questions surrounding what would happen next and rumors were spreading quickly about a blister that someone had seen on his foot as he was looked at by the trainers. Eventually, he was seen, but he wasn’t on the track again the rest of the night.
For most, it was a sad end to a high school career that could have been decorated with as many as four titles, but, in retrospect, it seems to have worked out well for everyone involved. Sandlin’s last race was an incredible run to a state title and his talent was on full display as he ran a controlled and well-orchestrated race and then obliterated a strong group with a devastating final 400 meters. The crowd was still treated to three incredible races as the 800 meters was a race that came down to the final 30 meters as Jeremy Rice of North Oldham tried to hold off Jemane and the 3200 meters was an incredibly tactical battle with Risik Lado of Central outdueling Daniel Thurston of Western Hills in the end. Those races wouldn’t have had the same drama and likely would have come together much differently if not for Sandlin being on the sidelines and who even knows if he could have won or even been up with the leaders in both races given the talent that was on display. As much as some will want to ponder and pontificate what might have been, we came away with a great set of stories in the end and isn’t that what keeps us coming back for more?
On the girl’s side, Brittany Crawford of Henry County was a story of frustration for sure. Crawford had battled for supremacy in the 100 meter hurdles all year and entered in very good position to claim the title in yesterday’s final heat. Crawford was right on the lead all the way down the straight and was blowing over the hurdles all the way to the last set of the race. Crawford clipped the final barrier and went stumbling to the ground in a damaged heap. She lay there for a second collecting herself and figuring out what had just happened before finally rising, after what seemed like ages, and crossing the finish line. The senior had been so close this time, and very close before after placing 2nd last year by 7-hundredths, but would have to settle for walking across the finish line in her final attempt at the state title. Instead of packing it in, though, Crawford picked herself up and went on to place 4th in the high jump and 5th in the long jump. It was a sign of the toughness and determination that Crawford has relied on over the course of her high school career. Henry County will miss her talents, but they will likely miss her attitude and her will to win even more, as will the athletes that she challenged all the way to the line every week.
Overall, it was an incredibly fun meet to watch and spectators will probably leave feeling like they were treated to their full $10 worth. The team races were over early, but the team battles for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th went on all night and kept the meet results relevant. Looking at next year, Highlands ladies will likely still be just as powerful, but Central does not lose much and with another year of experience, they will likely close the gap. Also, look for a fast-improving Elizabethtown crew to stay relevant and if Michaela Hunter of Rockcastle County is able to compete in the jumps at next year’s state championships, her team will continue to be relevant. On the boys side, Central loses so much that it opens the door for Paducah Tighlman to take over the top spot again as they bring back plenty, but, on paper, these two squads could be challenged by North Oldham as they lose just two points from their 4th place finish this year and will likely be able to make it very interesting with an improved Zach Evans and another year of experience on their distance crew.
Bring on some more!