Three school track and field records fell at Harlan County’s Coal Miners Memorial Invitational on Friday. The girls dominated their division, winning with 227 points. The boys won with 156 points.
“I’m very proud of these kids for their effort tonight. These last two weeks have been filled with several meets, and we challenged them to be assertive and competitive tonight,” Harlan County track coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “They really responded well, and I’m pleased with how hard they competed.
“Both teams had big performances, and this is really a fun time to experience right now. It’s awesome watching their progress and improvement. They’re working hard and beginning to see the results.”
Paige Phillips led the Lady Bears, winning the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and high jump. Lauren Lewis won the 400-meter dash. Peyton Lunsford won the 800-meter run. Gracie Roberts won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Madison Daniels won pole vault. Allison Hensley won shot put. Daniels, Aliyah Deleon, Macy Jones and Ella Karst won the 4 x 100-meter relay. Lewis, Lunsford, Jaylee Cochran and Preslee Hensley won the 4 x 400-meter relay. Lewis, Lunsford, Gracie Roberts and Preslee Hensley won the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“The girls competed hard tonight. I’m super proud of Ali Hensley for picking up her first win in the shot,” Vitatoe said. “Coach (Josh) Sargent has been working hard with that group, and they’re starting to see the benefits.
“Lauren had a great night, as did Peyton and Gracie.”
In the 100-meter dash, Karst finished fourth. She was immediately followed by Deleon. Jones placed seventh.
In the 200-meter dash, Karst was second, immediately followed by Deleon. Jones finished ninth. Taylor Clem was 18th.
Cochran placed fifth in the 400-meter dash. She was immediately followed by Preslee Hensley.
Lewis placed second in the 800-meter run. Preslee Hensley finished third.
Kiera Roberts finished second in the 1,600-meter run. Suzy Mumford placed ninth.
“I was really proud of Suzy, she’s worked hard and had a big PR tonight,” Vitatoe said.
In the 3,200-meter run, Lunsford finished second. She was immediately followed by Kiera Roberts.
Heaven Hensley was second in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300-meter hurdles. Ashton Evans placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and eighth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Daniels placed second in long jump, setting a new school record. Heaven Hensley and Maddi Middleton were seventh and eighth, respectively.
“Madison Daniels had another strong performance tonight,” Vitatoe said. “That was a huge jump to set a new record.”
In high jump, Middleton was sixth. Heaven Hensley placed seventh.
“Heaven had a big night tonight. She’s worked hard her entire career and I’m proud of her. She had big PRs,” Vitatoe said.
In triple jump, Phillips placed third. Hailie Hensley was fourth, while Middleton placed sixth.
Clem placed third in pole vault.
In discus, Whitney Noe placed third. Lacey Robinson and Allison Hensley were sixth and eighth, respectively.
In shot put, Addyson Caldwell was third. Kaitlynn Smith placed sixth.
In the 4 x 200-meter relay, Deleon, Jones, Karst and Cochran finished second.
“I’m proud of Jaylee. She’s stepped in and done a great job as an eighth-grader. She had some big races tonight,” Vitatoe said.
In the throwers 4 x 100-meter relay, Caldwell, Noe, Robinson and Allison Hensley finished second. The B team was third.
To lead the Bears, Luke Kelly won the 100-meter dash, breaking his school record. Kelly also won the 200-meter dash. Kaden Boggs won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Dallas Sergent won the 300-meter hurdles. Brayden Howard won triple jump. Jayce Brown won pole vault. Boggs, Gage Bailey, Caleb Schwenke and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“The boys competed hard tonight. Jayce picked up a big win the pole vault,” Vitatoe said. “He’s been chasing 11-6 for a while now and I’m proud of him.
“Luke and Kaden both had big nights again tonight, and I’m really proud of the improvement with Jacob and Gage.“
In the 100-meter dash, Taelor Haywood finished fifth. Brown placed 16th.
Jonah Mumford placed 13th in the 200-meter dash. Gibson Wilder was 15th.
Ethan Simpson finished third in the 400-meter dash, setting a new school record. Jacob Schwenke and Bryan Howard placed fifth and seventh, respectively.
“Ethan was fantastic tonight as well. Setting a school record is a big deal. He’s worked hard and deserves it,” Ryan Vitatoe said.
In the 800-meter run, Jacob Schwenke placed second. He was immediately followed by Bailey. Evan Simpson finished ninth.
Caleb Schwenke finished fourth in the 1,600-meter run. He was immediately followed by Jonavan Rigney.
Caleb Schwenke was fourth in the 3,200-meter run. Kaylob Stevens placed sixth.
Sergent placed third in the 110-meter hurdles. Brayden Howard was eighth.
Brayden Howard placed ninth in the 300-meter hurdles.
In long jump, Bryan Howard placed sixth. Brayden Howard and Bradley Brock were seventh and ninth, respectively.
Brown was seventh in high jump. Mumford placed ninth.
Brock was 10th in triple jump.
Landon McCreary placed second in pole vault. Brock was sixth.
In discus, Alex Greene was fifth. Jacob Shoemaker placed sixth, while Liam Garland was ninth.
In shot put, Peyton Jackson placed fourth. Shoemaker and Bradley Henson were fifth and sixth, respectively.
In the 4 x 100-meter relay, Kelly, Haywood, Sergent and Ethan Simpson finished third.
Kelly, Sergent, Bryan Howard and Ethan Simpson placed second in the 4 x 200-meter relay.
Bailey, Ethan Simpson, Jacob Schwenke and Bryan Howard were third in the 4 x 400-meter relay.
In the throwers 4 x 100-meter relay, Greene, Shoemaker, Henson and Braxton Cornett were sixth.
“We will get back to work this week to start prepping for the final month of the season,” Vitatoe said. “I’m really proud of every single one of our kids. We have to push these last few weeks.”
Harlan also competed in the meet. The boys placed fourth overall with 64 points. The girls were seventh with 26 points.
Kyler McLendon led the Dragons, winning the 400-meter dash. McLendon also placed second in the 100- and 200-meter dash, and teamed with Tayquan Vick, Nate Montanaro and Darius Akal won the 4 x 100-meter relay.
In the 100-meter dash, Akal finished third. Vick was eighth.
Noah Sharp placed seventh in the 200-meter dash and eighth in the 400-meter dash.
Gabriel Xavier Farley finished 17th in the 800-meter run and 13th in the 1,600-meter run.
Montanaro placed sixth in the 110-meter hurdles.
Vick was sixth in the 300-meter hurdles.
Akal placed eighth in long jump. Vick was 16th.
In high jump, Montanaro placed second. Izack Saylor was third.
In discus, Trenton Childers was seventh. Hunter Clem and Jordan Rodriguez were 11th and 12th, respectively.
In shot put, Childers placed third. Rodriguez was eighth, while Clem was 10th.
In the throwers 4 x 100-meter relay, Childers, Rodriguez, Clem and Cameron Reynolds finished third.
To lead the Lady Dragons, Emma Owens placed second in triple jump. Owens also placed third in the 100-meter dash, fourth in the 200-meter dash and sixth in long jump.
Jenna Nguyen finished 18th in the 400-meter dash.
In the 800-meter run, Harper Carmical placed ninth. Gwendolyn Toll and Peyton Osborne were 14th and 18th, respectively.
Carmical was fifth in the 1,600-meter run.
Abbiegail Elliott placed seventh in discus.
In shot put, Asia Young was fourth. Elliott placed seventh.
Harlan and Harlan County will return to action Tuesday at Leslie County for an open meet.