The Harlan County track team hosted its first all-comers meet of the season Friday. The boys dominated, winning their division with over 100 points, while the girls finished second to Leslie County.
“I’m very proud of our kids tonight in some tough conditions,” Harlan County coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “I thought they all competed hard and I’m proud of how they battled through the elements.”
To lead the Bears, Luke Kelly won the 100- and 200-meter dash. Jacob Schwenke won the 800-meter run. Dallas Sergent won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Taelor Haywood won long jump. Brayden Howard won triple jump. Landon McCreary won pole vault. Kelly, Haywood, Dallas Sergent and Ethan Simpson won the 4 x 100 meter-relay. Kelly, Dallas Sergent, Bryan Howard and Ethan Simpson won the 4 x 200 meter-relay. Gage Bailey, Ethan Simpson, Bryan Howard and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 400 meter-relay. Kaden Boggs, Gage Bailey, Caleb Schwenke and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 800 meter-relay.
“I thought the boys performed beautifully. One of the things we talked about on Thursday was the fact of whether you’re competing against 33 teams or three, you should always give your best effort,” Vitatoe said. “They did that, and that bodes well for the season.
“Luke had another big night tonight. Brayden had a big night in the jumps and Dallas had a good night.“
In the 100-meter dash, Haywood finished seventh. Jonah Mumford was 12th. Landon Cook and Gibson Wilder were 18th and 22nd, respectively.
Mumford placed 10h in the 200-meter dash. Caden Craig was 18th. He was immediately followed by Wilder and Cook.
Jacob Schwenke finished fourth in the 400-meter dash. Ethan Simpson placed sixth. Gage Bailey was eighth. He was immediately followed by Evan Simpson.
In the 800-meter run, Gage Bailey was fourth. Evan Simpson finished sixth. He was immediately followed by Jonavan Rigney and Kaylob Stevens. Brett Albergo was 13th.
Boggs finished third in the 1,600-meter run. Caleb Schwenke placed fourth. Rigney, Stevens and Christopher Johnson finished seventh, eighth and tenth, respectively.
In the 3,200-meter run, Boggs was third. He was immediately followed by Caleb Schwenke. Stevens placed seventh, while Christopher Johnson was eighth.
Brayden Howard placed third in the 110-meter hurdles and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Bryan Howard was third in long jump, Brayden Howard placed fourth. Bradley Brock was fifth, while Craig was tenth.
Haywood placed fourth in high jump. Caleb Schwenke was fifth, while Mumford placed sixth.
Brock placed fourth in triple jump.
Jayce Brown was second in pole vault. Brock was third.
In shot put, Peyton Jackson placed third. Bradley Henson was fourth. Liam Garland was fifth. Jacob Shoemaker and Alex Greene were sixth and ninth, respectively. Brayden Clay placed tenth. Johnathan Sergent was 12th. Cooper Blevins was 18th, while Braxton Cornett placed 19th. Aaron Johnson, Johnathan Bailey and Aj Halcomb placed 20th, 22nd and 26th, respectively.
In discus, Shoemaker placed third. Clay was fourth, while Greene was eighth. Henson and Jackson tied for tenth. Garland and Johnathan Sergent placed 14th and 16th, respectively. Cornett was 17th. Blevins placed 19th, while Aaron Johnson was 20th. Halcomb was 21st. Johnathan Bailey placed 24th.
Stevens, Rigney, Christopher Johnson and Evan Simpson finished fourth in the 4 x 800 meter-relay.
“These boys have a lot of balance, and it’s exciting to watch them develop. I thought our throwers had a big night as well,” Vitatoe said. “We all just have to keep our focus on getting better.”
Paige Phillips led the Lady Bears, setting two new school records as she won the 100-meter hurdles and high jump. Lauren Lewis won the 800-meter run. Gracie Roberts won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Madison Daniels won pole vault. Lewis, Addi Gray, Peyton Lunsford and Preslee Hensley won the 4 x 400 meter-relay. Gray, Lewis, Lunsford and Preslee Hensley, won the 4 x 800 meter-relay.
“The girls fought hard against an excellent veteran team from Leslie County,” Vitatoe said. “I thought they did a great job of competing and they gave it their all. The ceiling is very high for this group. They had the same mentality as the boys, and it showed.
“Paige had another huge night tonight. I can’t say enough about Maddi Daniels and the night she had as well. There’s not a single girl here who didn’t compete hard. We have a lot of really young kids who are learning and improving each meet.”
In the 100-meter dash, Aliyah Deleon placed fifth. She was immediately followed by Ella Karst, Macy Jones, Jaylee Cochran and Makenna Dillman.
In the 200-meter dash, Deleon finished fifth. Karst finished sixth. Macy Jones and Cochran were seventh and eighth, respectively. Dillman finished 12th, while Hailie Hensley was 15th. Taylor Clem placed 16th. She was immediately followed by Ryleigh Lawson. Bailee Jones was 19th. Trinity Jones placed 21st.
Lewis finished second in the 400-meter dash. Gray was sixth. Preslee Hensley placed seventh, while Bailee Jones was eighth.
Lunsford placed second in the 800-meter run. She was immediately followed by Gracie Roberts, Kiera Roberts and Preslee Hensley. Suzy Mumford finished 13th.
Kiera Roberts was second in the 1,600-meter run. Mumford placed 10th.
Lunsford finished second in the 3,200-meter run. Kiera Roberts was third.
Heaven Hensley was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles. Ashton Evans placed sixth.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Phillips finished fourth. Heaven Hensley placed fifth, while Evans was sixth.
In long jump, Heaven Hensley was second. Daniels placed fifth. Hailie Hensley was eighth, while Maddi Middleton was ninth. Clem placed 13th.
Heaven Hensley placed third in high jump. Middleton was fourth. Hailie Hensley and Trinity Jones placed fifth and seventh, respectively.
In the triple jump, Phillips was third. Hailie Hensley finished fifth. Middleton was sixth.
Clem placed fourth in pole vault.
In the shot put, Allison Hensley placed sixth. Addyson Caldwell was seventh, while Kaitlynn Smith was eighth. Addison Day was 13th. Mallory Long and Lacey Robinson were 14th and 15th, respectively. Daelyn Garland was 18th, while Samantha Henson placed 19th.
In discus, Whitney Noe placed fourth. Allison Hensley was fifth. Robinson and Day were eighth and tenth, respectively. Caldwell was 11th. Smith placed 14th. Garland was 19th, while Long placed 20th. Henson was 22nd.
Deleon, Daniels, Cochran and Gray finished second in the 4 x 200 meter-relay.
Deleon, Dillman, Cochran and Daniels finished third in the 4 x 100 meter-relay.
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The Harlan track team also competed in the meet. The boys tied with Clay County for second place with 87 points. The girls placed fourth with 30 points.
To lead the Dragons, Tanner Daniels won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Izack Saylor won high jump.
Kyler McLendon placed fourth in the 100-meter dash. Tayquan Vick finished sixth. Brayden Doan was 13th.
McLendon was third in the 200-meter dash. Noah Sharp finished fifth. Doan and Saylor were 17th and 21st, respectively.
Sharp placed second in the 400-meter dash.
Gabriel Xavier Farley was 10th in the 800-meter run and 12th in the 1,600-meter run.
Nate Montanaro placed second in the 110-meter hurdles and high jump.
Vick was second in the 300-meter hurdles.
Doan was eighth in long jump.
In shot put, Trenton Childers was second. Hunter Clem placed eighth. Jordan Rodriguez was 15th. Dayjuan Forrester and Michael Lindsey were 21st and 25th, respectively.
In discus, Childers was fifth. Rodriguez placed seventh. Lindsey was 25th.
To lead the Lady Dragons, Asia Young placed second in shot put.
Emma Owens finished third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter dash, long jump and triple jump.
Gwendolyn Toll placed 10th in the 800-meter run.
Harper Carmical finished fourth in the 1,600-meter run.
In the shot put, Tess Bryson was 11th. Abbiegail Elliot placed 16th.
In discus, Elliott placed 13th. Bryson was 15th, while Anna Lawson placed 17th.
Harlan County and Harlan will return to action Tuesday at Leslie County for an all-comers meet.