The Harlan County track team had two school records fall Saturday while hosting the Coal Miners Memorial Invitational.
“I’m really proud of our teams for their performances today,” Harlan County track coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “I like to have an ‘off’ week around mid season to focus on practice and improving, and the mantra for this week was to ‘get right’. We had some tough conversations at the end of last week about different things, and I challenged the kids to come into this week focused and ready to improve. I thought they carried that into the meet today.”
Jayce Brown and Maddi Middleton set new records in pole vault and high jump, respectively, as Harlan County won both divisions.
“Jayce had a huge day today. It’s always great to break a school record, but his mark ties him for the best jump in the state up to this point this season,” Vitatoe said. “I thought he was great today.
“I thought Maddi Middleton was fantastic today, and I’m super happy that she broke the school record. I’ve watched how hard she’s been working each day in practice and she deserves this moment.”
The Bears dominated the boys division, winning with 197 points, 114 points ahead of Oneida Baptist Institute.
“The boys were fantastic today. I thought they came out on the attack from the first event and held that intensity solidly throughout the day,” Vitatoe said. “Today they got to where I expect them to be, and it spawns from the attitude they had about competition throughout the week. I’m proud of them.”
The Lady Bears won with 163 points.
“I’m super happy for these girls. I have a ton of respect for Leslie County, who is one of the premier teams in Class A,” Vitatoe said. “We’ve battled them hard the last couple of seasons and we feel fortunate to get out of here with a win today. When you look at the number of event wins we had today, it shines a light on how much of a team effort this was. Everyone did their job.”
Both Harlan’s boys and girls teams placed eighth overall with 28 points.
Luke Kelly led the Harlan County boys, winning the 100- and 200-meter dash. Elijah Moore won the 800-meter run. Brown won pole vault. Peyton Jackson won shot put.
“Peyton Jackson had a huge day in the shot,” Vitatoe said.
Kelly, Gage Bailey, Ray Splawn and Ethan Simpson won the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Kelly, Bailey, Rydge Lewis and Ethan Simpson won the 4 x 200-meter relay.
“Luke had a big day today, and I’m super excited with the sprint relays today,” Vitatoe said. Derek (Plitt) has done a great job with that crew (both teams).”
Bailey, Moore, Ethan Simpson and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 400-meter relay.
Kaden Boggs, Luther Gross, Caleb Schwenke and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 800-meter relay.
In the 100-meter dash, Splawn finished seventh. Landon Cook was 19th. Sam Carr placed 27th.
Splawn was fifth in the 200-meter dash. Rydge Lewis and Cook finished 12th and 18th, respectively.
Ethan Simpson placed second in the 400-meter dash. Jacob Schwenke finished fourth, while Bailey was sixth.
In the 800-meter run, Jacob Schwenke was second. Gross placed fifth. Trevor Farley finished eighth.
In the 1,600-meter run, Boggs finished second. He was immediately followed by Caleb Schwenke. Jonavan Rigney and Christopher Johnson placed seventh and ninth, respectively.
“I thought Kaden Boggs looked great today, and Elijah picked up a huge win in the 800,” Vitatoe said. “He and Jacob are slowly creeping toward 2:00 in the 800. I think it’s possible before the year ends. They’re hard workers and they trust the work we’re doing.”
Braxton Duncan placed second in the middle school 1,600-meter run. He was immediately followed by Ethan Lewis, Jayden Sargent, William Duncan, Karson Dunn and Roger Johnson.
Boggs was second in the 3,200-meter run. He was immediately followed by Caleb Schwenke and Rigney. Farley finished seventh.
Drew Sergent placed third in the 110-meter hurdles. Cayden Craig finished seventh.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Drew Sergent was third. Cayden Craig placed sixth. Jaxton Miller was 11th.
In long jump, Bradley Brock placed seventh. Caden Craig and Evan Simpson were eighth and ninth, respectively. Miller was 16th.
Rydge Lewis placed ninth in high jump.
In triple jump, Brock was fourth. Evan Simpson placed seventh. Caden Craig and Miller placed 10th and 13th, respectively.
“Our jumpers are steadily improving and I’m super proud of Drew and Cayden and the work they did in the hurdles,” Vitatoe said. “Baili (Bailey) has done a great job with that crew.”
Brock placed second in pole vault.
In shot put, Brayden Clay was second. Alex Greene and Aaron Johnson were 10th and 12th, respectively.
In discus, Greene placed fourth. Jackson was fifth. Clay was 13th, while Aiden Jones placed 20th.
“Brayden hit a big PR,” Vitatoe said.
Carr, Cook, Braxton Cornett and Ethan Nantz were ninth in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
In the 4 x 200-meter relay, Carr, Splawn, Cook and Braxton Duncan finished seventh.
In the 4 x 400-meter relay, Gross, Dunn, Rydge Lewis and William Duncan were seventh.
Farley, Christopher Johnson, Ethan Lewis and William Duncan placed fourth in the 4 x 800-meter relay.
To lead Harlan’s boys, Izack Saylor won high jump and placed fifth in long jump.
“Izack Saylor had a great day,” Harlan track coach Trent McKenzie said. “He tied our school record at 6’4 in high jump. I look for him to break it by the end of the year.”
Gibson Wilder finished 18th in the 100-meter dash. Murtaza Hussain was 30th.
Garrett Wilder placed 17th in the 200-meter dash.
Garrett Wilder was 12th in the 400-meter dash. Cruz Galloway finished 18th.
In the 800-meter run, Xavier Farley placed 18th. Galloway was 20th.
Farley finished 18th in the 1,600-meter run.
Gibson Wilder placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Hussain finished 12th.
In shot put, Jordan Rodriguez was sixth. Harlan Marietta placed 20th.
In discus, Rodriguez placed third. Marietta was 19th.
“I look to see Jordan throwing in the 40s and 120s by the end of the season,” McKenzie said. “He is a hard worker and is dedicated to this sport.”
Gracie Roberts led the Harlan County girls, winning the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries on the distance squad and I was glad to get our full crew back out today,” Vitatoe said. “I thought Gracie had a big day and she’s going to only get faster as she gets her legs back under her.”
In the 100-meter dash, Jaylee Cochran finished seventh. She was immediately followed by Aliyah Deleon. Makenna Dillman and Khloe Carr placed 14th and 20th, respectively.
In the 200-meter dash, Cochran was seventh. She was immediately followed by Deleon. Jaycee Simpson finished 12th. Dillman was 24th.
Peyton Lunsford finished third in the 400-meter dash. Lauren Lewis and Simpson were fifth and seventh, respectively.
Lunsford placed second in the 800-meter run. Preslee Hensley was fourth.
Kiera Roberts finished third in the 1,600-meter run. Suzy Mumford was eighth.
Kiera Roberts was second in the 3,200-meter run. Mumford placed fifth.
Ashton Evans finished third in the 100-meter hurdles. Trinity Jones was sixth.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Preslee Hensley placed fourth. She was immediately followed by Evans. Jones finished seventh.
“When you see a kid like Ashton work hard all week to master her hurdle strategy and then nail it at the competition – there’s nothing better as a coach,” Vitatoe said.
In long jump, Madison Daniels placed second. Middleton was ninth. Aliya Burkhart and Maddi Gray were 18th and 20th, respectively.
Middleton placed second in high jump. Jones was 10th.
Middleton was fourth in triple jump. Aiselyn Sexton placed sixth, while Jovi Tye was eighth.
Daniels placed second in pole vault. Jones and Evans were fourth and fifth, respectively.
In shot put, Addyson Caldwell was third. Ali Hensley placed fifth. Addison Day and Aubrey Madden were 10th and 12th, respectively.
Ali Hensley was ninth in discus. Caldwell placed 12th. Day was 15th. Savanna Madden placed 31st.
“I’m really proud of our throwers and their improvement this season has been fantastic. Addy finds herself in rare company breaking 30 feet and Ali and Addi are trending upward each meet,” Vitatoe said. “I think Jacob (Carroll) has done a great job with that group so far this season.”
Cochran, Dillman, Daniels and Deleon placed third in the 4 x 100-meter relay. Carr, Emily Ositis, Macie Bennett and Addi Gray were eighth.
In the 4 x 200-meter relay, Cochran, Simpson, Deleon and Addi Gray were third. Carr, Dillman, Ositis and Bennett placed seventh.
“Both of our girls’ sprint relays had big gains in their times today,” Vitatoe said. “They’ve been working hard and are starting to see the results happen.”
In the 4 x 400-meter relay, Lewis, Lunsford, Simpson and Preslee Hensley finished second.
Lunsford, Lewis, Preslee Hensley and Kiera Roberts were second in the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“I think today was a great day, and it’s hard to give credit to all the kids who deserve it,” Vitatoe said. “There were so many PRs and great moments today and that’s what makes coaching so great.“
Harper Carmical led Harlan’s girls, finishing second in the 1,600-meter run and third in the 3,200-meter run.
“Harper Carmical is a tough runner,” McKenzie said. “She goes out each meet and competes.”
Amy Roman placed 23rd in the 100-meter dash.
Roman was 11th in the 400-meter dash. Natalee Taylor finished 24th.
Gwendolyn Toll placed eighth in the 800-meter run.
In the 3,200-meter run, Zoe Lawson finished sixth.
Lawson was 13th in the 300-meter hurdles.
In high jump, Toll was 10th. Lawson placed 12th.
In shot put, Asia Young placed sixth. Abbiegail Elliott and Kamryn Blanton were 17th and 20th, respectively.
Elliott was 19th in discus. Blanton placed 21st.
Lawson, Toll, Carmical and Priscilla Stewart finished third in the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“Our girls 4 x 800 team is going to be special,” McKenzie said. “They are young and have shown tremendous potential and fight.”
“Now we have to get focused on the next week,” Vitatoe said. “We’ll run a scaled back group on Tuesday and get ready for a huge meet in Somerset on Saturday. We have to keep our intensity as we head into the championship part of the season.”
Harlan County’s next meet will be Tuesday at North Laurel for an all-comers meet.
“Our kids did great in a meet that was very competitive,” McKenzie said. “They are at a great spot to hit their goals come region time.”
Harlan will return to action Saturday at home for the E.R. “Doc” Gray Invitational.