Three school records fell on Saturday as Harlan County hosted the Area 9 Championship. The boys won with 226 points, a 148-point lead over Leslie County. The girls placed second with 206 points, two points behind Leslie County.
“This was a great effort today for both of our teams. I thought we brought a lot of intensity from start to finish,” Harlan County track coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “We had so many PRs today, it was ridiculous. When you have those kind of performances, you know your kids were dialed in and ready to roll.”
To lead the Bears, Luke Kelly won the 100-meter dash, breaking his school record. Drew Sergent won the open 1,600-meter run. Kaden Boggs won the 3,200-meter run. Dallas Sergent won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Brayden Howard won triple jump. Jayce Brown won pole vault, setting a new school record. Johnathan Sergent won the mixed JV shot put. Kelly, Ethan Simpson, Taelor Haywood and Dallas Sergent won the 4 x 100-meter relay. Kelly, Bryan Howard, Ethan Simpson and Dallas Sergent won the 4 x 200-meter relay. Boggs, Gage Bailey, Jacob Schwenke and Caleb Schwenke won the 4 x 800-meter relay. Jacob Shoemaker, Alex Greene, Sawyer Harris and Braxton Cornett won the 4 x 100-meter throwers relay.
“I’m really proud of these boys. This was an excellent performance, and I thought we rediscovered ourselves a bit today,” Vitatoe said. “It’s tough to single out any of these guys, because they all did so well today.
“Jayce had a great performance in the pole vault, setting a new school record. 12 feet is super impressive. Luke was great in the 100, setting a new school record. Brayden had a great day in the triple jump.”
Haywood placed fourth in the 100-meter dash. Jonah Mumford was ninth, immediately followed by Landon Cook.
In the 200-meter dash, Kelly finished second. Mumford placed sixth. Gibson Wilder and Cook were eighth and ninth, respectively.
Ethan Simpson was third in the 400-meter dash. He was immediately followed by Jacob Schwenke. Evan Simpson placed 10th, while Caden Craig was 12th.
Jacob Schwenke placed third in the 800-meter run. He was immediately followed by Gage Bailey. Jonavan Rigney was eighth. Evan Simpson finished 10th.
In the 1,600-meter run, Boggs finished second. Caleb Schwenke placed fifth. Rigney and Christopher Johnson were seventh and ninth, respectively.
In the open 1,600-meter run, Brett Albergo placed second.
Caleb Schwenke finished third in the 3,200-meter run. Christopher Johnson was sixth, immediately followed by Rigney.
Brayden Howard was third in the 110-meter hurdles and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles.
In long jump, Haywood was second. Bryan Howard placed third, while Brayden Howard was fourth. Craig placed fifth.
In high jump, Mumford and Brown tied for third.
Bradley Brock placed third in triple jump.
Landon McCreary placed second in pole vault.
In shot put, Shoemaker placed second. Bradley Henson was third. Peyton Jackson placed fifth, while Liam Garland was sixth.
In the mixed JV shot put, Brayden Clay placed second. Aaron Johnson was third. Greene and Harris placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Cornett was sixth. Johnathan Bailey placed seventh, while Cooper Blevins was eighth.
In discus, Shoemaker was second. Greene placed seventh, while Garland was eighth.
Gage Bailey, Jacob Schwenke, Ethan Simpson and Bryan Howard placed third in the 4 x 400-meter relay.
In the 4 x 100-meter throwers relay, Blevins, Clay, Johnathan Bailey and Johnathan Sergent were second.
“I thought Jacob Shoemaker had a great day in the throws. He’s been due for a breakout,” Vitatoe said. “Taelor was big in his events, and Caden Craig had a big breakout in the long jump today.”
Lauren Lewis led the Lady Bears, winning the 400-meter dash. Peyton Lunsford won the 800-meter run. Gracie Roberts won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Paige Phillips won the 100-meter hurdles, breaking her school record. Maddi Middleton won high jump. Madison Daniels won pole vault. Lewis, Lunsford, Brianna Howard and Preslee Hensley won the 4 x 400-meter relay. Lewis, Lunsford, Preslee Hensley and Gracie Roberts won the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“The girls really battled hard today against a great Leslie team,” Vitatoe said. “Despite coming up just short, I think that was our best performance of the season. Paige had a big race in the 100 hurdles, setting a new record. Maddi Middleton had a gigantic day. She’s working her way back after her knee injury and is starting to put it together.”
Ella Karst finished fifth in the 100-meter relay. She was immediately followed by Aliyah Deleon and Macy Jones. Makenna Dillman was ninth.
In the 200-meter dash, Karst placed fifth. She was immediately followed by Deleon. Jaylee Cochran was eighth, immediately followed by Jones.
Howard finished fifth in the 400-meter dash. Preslee Hensley was sixth.
“Brianna had a big day today. Getting her back is a big lift for us,” Vitatoe said.
Lewis finished second in the 800-meter run. Preslee Hensley placed third. Suzy Mumford was 16th.
Kiera Roberts placed second in the 1,600-meter run. Mumford finished seventh.
Lunsford was second in the 3,200-meter run. She was immediately followed by Kiera Roberts.
Heaven Hensley placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles and fifth in the 300-meter hurdles. Ashton Evans was ninth in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
In long jump, Daniels placed third. Middleton was fourth. Hailie Hensley and Heaven Hensley were eighth and 11th, respectively.
Phillips placed second in high jump. Heaven Hensley was fourth.
Middleton was fourth in triple jump. Hailie Hensley placed sixth.
Taylor Clem placed fourth in pole vault.
In shot put, Addison Day placed third. Addyson Caldwell was fourth. Ali Hensley and Kaitlynn Smith placed ninth and 11th, respectively.
In the mixed JV shot put, Mallory Long placed ninth. Kailey Shepherd and Daelyn Garland were 10th and 11th, respectively. Samantha Henson was 12th.
In discus, Day was third. Whitney Noe placed fifth. Ali Hensley was ninth, while Lacey Robinson was 14th.
Deleon, Daniels, Phillips and Karst finished second in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
In the 4 x 200-meter relay, Deleon, Jones, Cochran and Karst placed third.
Long, Day, Noe and Robinson were third in the 4 x 100-meter throwers relay.
“All of our relays were strong today. I thought Peyton had some solid performances, and our throwers just keep improving,” Vitatoe said. “Like the boys, there are so many great performances that it’s hard to single kids out. I know this loss stings, but we are in a great spot and we will learn from it.
“I can’t say enough about both of these teams. We have so many who sacrifice what their preference may be for the good of the team. These kids are special. They’re mature and have the ability to see the big picture for us, and they buy into it. That’s why they’re so much fun to coach. We have a few weeks to go and we need to keep it up.”
Harlan placed fourth overall in the boys division. The girls placed sixth.
Nate Montanaro won high jump to lead the Dragons. He also placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles.
In the 100-meter dash, Darius Akal finished second, immediately followed by Kyler McLendon. Tayquan Vick placed fifth.
“Darius, Kyler and Tayquan have been very consistent but we are going to have to drill acceleration to help get to their top speed faster in the short sprints,” Harlan track coach Owens said.
Izack Saylor was 10th in the 200-meter dash.
Vick finished fifth in the 400-meter dash.
Noah Sharp placed fifth in the 800-meter run. Gabriel Xavier Farley was 11th.
“Noah had a decent run for his first 800m of the season,” Owens said.
Farley finished 10th in the 1,600-meter run.
Saylor placed sixth in 300-meter hurdles and second in high jump.
“Izack had a great run of 52 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles. It was his first time doing hurdles ever,” Owens said. “We still have to work on his hurdle form, but he did very well. He is a talented eighth grader.”
In shot put, Trenton Childers placed fourth. Hunter Clem and Jordan Rodriguez were eighth and ninth, respectively. Malachi Rodriguez was 12th.
Childers was fourth in discus. Jordan Rodriguez placed ninth.
In the 4 x 100-meter relay, Vick, Akal, Montanaro and McLendon finished second.
Emma Owens led the Lady Dragons, placing second in triple jump. Owens was also fourth in the 100- and 200-meter dash.
“Emma Owens had a great meet with a PR in the 200m and season PR in the 100m,” Owens said.
Jenna Nguyen placed 17th in the 200-meter dash and 12th in the 400-meter dash.
“Jenna ran a two-second PR in the 400m and also PRd in her 200m. This is a great confidence booster for her,” Owens said.
Harper Carmical finished sixth in the 800-meter run. Gwendolyn Toll was 12th.
Carmical finished third in the 1,600-meter run.
“In the mid-distance races we looked very strong today,” Owens said “Harper had a 18-second PR in her mile and PRd in the 800m as well.”
In shot put, Asia Young placed sixth. Abbiegail Elliott was 14th, while Tess Bryson was 15th.
Bryson placed 12th in discus. Elliott was 13th.
“Throwers didn’t hit the marks they were wanting but they have been very consistent all season and we just need to work on getting more momentum in their spins,” Owens said. “The throwers relay has been a great motivation to push them during their short sprints.”
Harlan County will compete again on Friday at Williamsburg for an all comers meet. Harlan will return to action May 14th for the SEKC at Leslie County.

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Harlan County middle-schoolers competed at South Laurel on Monday for an all comers meet.
Lauren Lewis won the 400-meter dash and the 800-meter run.
Brett Albergo finished 15th in the 800-meter run and 14th in the 1,600-meter run.