The Harlan County track team competed in Leslie County’s open meet on Tuesday. The boys continued their early-season dominance, winning their division with 207 points. The girls placed second with 193.50 points. Leslie County won the girls division.
“I’m proud of both of these teams tonight. I thought we were dialed in and focused on improving,” Harlan County track coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “Our discussion since the season began was striving to see evidence of individual growth from meet to meet, and these groups are working hard for that. It was a good night of competition.”
Harlan also competed at the Leslie County meet. The boys placed fourth overall with 79 points, while the girls were sixth with 30 points.
“I am proud of my team. We have been going over a lot more technical stuff this week for the sprinters and it showed in their performances. They pushed themselves hard and finished strong,” Harlan track coach Dakota Owens said.
To lead the Bears, Luke Kelly won the 100- and 200-meter dash. Kaden Boggs won the 3,200-meter run. Dallas Sergent won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Brayden Howard won triple jump. Landon McCreary won pole vault. Kelly, Sergent, Ethan Simpson and Bryan Howard won the 4 x 200 meter-relay. Jacob Schwenke, Gage Bailey, Bryan Howard and Ethan Simpson won the 4 x 400 meter-relay. Boggs, Bailey, Caleb Schwenke and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 800 meter-relay.
Taelor Haywood finished fourth in the 100-meter dash.
McCreary placed ninth in the 200-meter dash.
In the 400-meter dash, Ethan Simpson finished second. He was immediately followed by Jacob Schwenke. Bailey placed seventh. Evan Simpson was ninth.
In the 800-meter run, Jacob Schwenke was third. Bailey and Jonavan Rigney were sixth and ninth, respectively. Evan Simpson placed 10th.
Boggs placed second in the 1,600-meter run. Caleb Schwenke was sixth. Rigney was eighth. He was immediately followed by Kaylob Stevens.
Caleb Schwenke finished fifth in the 3,200-meter run. Stevens was eighth. He was immediately followed by Christopher Johnson.
Brayden Howard placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.
In long jump, Bryan Howard was fourth. Bradley Brock and Brayden Howard were seventh and eighth, respectively.
Haywood placed fifth in high jump.
Brock was third in triple jump.
In pole vault, Brown placed second, while Brock was third.
In shot put, Peyton Jackson placed second. Bradley Henson was third. Liam Garland was fourth, while Jacob Shoemaker placed fifth. Brayden Clay and Alex Greene were sixth and ninth, respectively.
Greene placed fourth in discus. Clay was eighth.
Kelly, Sergent, Ethan Simpson and Jayce Brown placed second in the 4 x 100 meter-relay.
Johnson, Rigney, Stevens and Evan Simpson finished third in the 4 x 800 meter-relay.
“The boys had a strong performance again tonight and it was a total team effort, which is something we emphasize here. We had kids step in and run different relays because folks were banged up and that’s what we needed. I love that type of attitude and commitment to our teammates,” Vitatoe said. “Kaden Boggs had a big night for us. He’s finding his way and is steadily improving each meet. Landon McCreary had a great night in the pole vault and is close to a huge breakout. All of our relays were all solid. There’s a lot of growth across the board.”
To lead the Lady Bears, Gracie Roberts won the 1,600-meter run. She also won the 3,200-meter run, setting a new school record. Madison Daniels won pole vault. Peyton Lunsford, Lauren Lewis, Gracie Roberts and Preslee Hensley won the 4 x 800 meter-relay, setting a new school record.
In the 100-meter dash, Aliyah Deleon placed fourth. She was immediately followed by Ella Karst and Macy Jones.
Karst was third in the 200-meter dash. Deleon finished fifth. She was immediately followed by Addi Gray. Jaylee Cochran placed eighth. Macy Jones was tenth.
Lewis finished third in the 400-meter dash. Addi Gray was ninth, while Preslee Hensley placed 10th.
In the 800-meter run, Lewis placed third. Lunsford was fourth. Preslee Hensley finished seventh.
Kiera Roberts finished second in the 1,600-meter run and third in the 3,200-meter run.
In the 100-meter hurdles, Paige Phillips placed second. Heaven Hensley and Ashton Evans were fifth and ninth, respectively.
Phillips was second in the 300-meter hurdles. She was immediately followed by Heaven Hensley and Evans.
Daniels placed third in long jump. Heaven Hensley was fifth, while Hailie Hensley was seventh.
In high jump, Phillips placed second. Heaven Hensley was fourth. Trinity Jones was sixth. Hailie Hensley and Maddi Middleton were seventh and eighth, respectively.
Phillips was fourth in triple jump. Middleton was sixth. Hailie Hensley was eighth.
Taylor Clem was fourth in pole vault.
Allison Hensley was sixth in shot put. Addyson Caldwell was seventh.
In discus, Allison Hensley placed fourth. Lacey Robinson was fifth, while Addison Day was seventh. Whitney Noe placed ninth.
Daniels, Deleon, Macy Jones and Makenna Dillman finished second in the 4 x 100 meter-relay.
Cochran, Deleon, Gray and Macy Jones placed second in the 4 x 200 meter-relay.
Gray, Lunsford, Lewis and Preslee Hensley were second in the 4 x 400 meter-relay.
“Our girls had a fantastic performance and are continuing to grow as a team. The 4 x 800 meter-relay girls broke the school record and turned in one of the fastest times in AA state (so far) and they are going to continue to improve,” Vitatoe said. “Gracie had a huge night breaking a school record in the 3,200-meter run. I’m also really excited to see the growth in our throwers and jumpers. Lots of those kids are either brand new or new to their event and they keep getting better. The sprint group is also super young, and they keep improving every meet. I’m really proud of where we are currently, and I am excited to see our growth.
“Both teams really have to dial in from this point as we are heading into a challenging stretch of the season. As long as we’re dialed in and ready to compete, we’re going to continue to see growth.”
To lead the Dragons, Izack Saylor won high jump. Trenton Childers won shot put. Darius Akal, Kyler McLendon, Nate Montanaro and Tayquan Vick won the 4 x 100 meter-relay.
In the 100-meter dash, Akal finished second. He was immediately followed by McLendon. Vick placed sixth. Jonah Sharp was ninth.
McLendon finished third in the 200-meter dash. Noah Sharp placed seventh. He was immediately followed by Jonah Sharp.
Noah Sharp was fifth in the 400-meter dash.
Vick placed second in the 300-meter hurdles. Brayden Doan was 10th in long jump.
Montanaro was second in high jump. McLendon placed fourth.
Childers placed fifth in discus. Hunter Clem was sixth.
To lead the Lady Dragons, Emma Owens finished third in the 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter dash. She also placed tenth in long jump and fifth in triple jump.
Harper Carmical placed fifth in the 1,600-meter run.
Tess Bryson placed fifth in shot put and sixth in discus.
“Tara Bryson has been working with my throwers and we have had multiple PRs the past couple meets. I’m excited to see how well they do by the end of the season,” Owens said. “My distance kids work so hard and are constantly pushing themselves to be better and they have improved each meet.
“As a team we just need to keep focusing on the small things to get better and continue to improve in each aspect.”
Both teams will return to action on Saturday at Bristol, Tenn., for the Frank Carver Invitational.