The Harlan County Black Bears and Harlan Green Dragons competed in the SEKC Championships at Williamsburg on Tuesday.
Harlan County’s girls and boys finished second overall with 164.5 and 138 points, respectively.
“I’m proud of our kids this evening, and I have to commend their effort,” Harlan County track coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “We are as banged up as any group I’ve ever coached, and we had so many kids step into events they’ve never done to help their team. It says a whole lot about the kind of character we have in this group. I told them after, I’m never frustrated with a loss if we compete hard, and I know these kids gave all they had tonight.”
“The girls had their best performance of the season, I thought,” Vitatoe said. “We showed definitive gains against some great teams, and I’m really proud of their effort. Again, we’re so banged up and I thought we had a ton of girls step up.
“The boys had a great evening and battled until the very last event. We had several key guys out, but I thought everyone stepped up.”
Harlan’s girls finished sixth, while the boys finished seventh.
“Last night we showed the most growth we have seen all year,” Harlan track coach Trent McKenzie said.
Williamsburg won the boys division with 154 points. Leslie County won the girls division with 178.5 points.
Lauren Lewis led the Lady Bears, winning the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run. Gracie Roberts won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run. Lewis, Preslee Hensley, Gracie Roberts and Kiera Roberts won the 4 x 800-meter relay.
“I thought this was Gracie’s best night of the season,” Vitatoe said. “You can see she’s beginning to bounce back from her injury.
“Lauren also looked really strong in the 400 and 800. She’s getting back to where she expects to be.”
Macy Jones placed eighth in the 100-meter dash. Makenna Dillman finished 10th. Hailey Perkins was 17th.
Jaycee Simpson finished sixth in the 200-meter dash. She was immediately followed by Dillman. Perkins was 16th.
In the 400-meter dash, Simpson placed third. Rileigh Duff finished fifth. Autumn Farley placed 11th.
Priscilla Stewart was sixth in the 800-meter run. Farley finished 16th.
In the 1,600-meter run, Kiera Roberts placed fourth. Layken Saylor and Bella Leath were 11th and 13th, respectively.
Kiera Roberts finished third in the 3,200-meter run. Saylor was eighth.
Dillman, Jones, Addi Gray and Maliyah Washington were third in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Dillman, Simpson, Gray and Washington finished third in the 4 x 200-meter relay.
“The sprint relays were fantastic tonight. That’s the best time of the season in the 4×100. They just keep getting stronger each meet,” Vitatoe said. “I appreciated Maliyah jumping in both of these relays, and I thought she, Addi, Makenna, Macy and Jaycee were lights out tonight in the two relays.”
In the 4 x 400-meter relay, Lewis, Simpson, Duff and Preslee Hensley placed third.
Paisli Boggs finished third in the 100-meter hurdles. Preslee Hensley placed sixth in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
“Preslee had a big night in the hurdles. I thought she had her best meet of the season overall tonight,” Vitatoe said.
In long jump, Duff placed second. Washington and Madi Nolan were fifth and seventh, respectively. Aiselyn Sexton was 13th.
Vanessa Griffith was seventh in high jump. Jovi Tye placed eighth, while Nolan was 10th.
“Vanessa and Madi Nolan had big nights in the high jump. They’ve been working hard, and you can see their confidence growing. It’s fun to watch,” Vitatoe said.
In triple jump, Washington placed third. Tye and Duff placed seventh and ninth, respectively. Sexton was 11th.
Madilynn Lemar and Suzy Mumford placed third in pole vault.
“I am proud of Suzy and Madi for their work in the pole vault,” Vitatoe said. “Neither of these girls have ever vaulted before this year, and they are creeping up near the top of the regional rankings.”
Ali Hensley was second in shot put. Addyson Caldwell and Savanna Madden placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Aubrey Madden was sixth.
In discus, Addison Day placed third. Ali Hensley was fifth. RJ Clem and Caldwell were seventh and eighth, respectively.
“I can’t say enough about our girls throwers. Ali had a big night again tonight. She’s been very dialed in and focused the last few weeks,” Vitatoe said. “The girls throwers continue to excel each week, and I’m proud of them.”
William Duncan, Braxton Hubbard, Ethan Lewis and Jacob Schwenke won the 4 x 800-meter relay to lead the boys. Hunter Hughes won unified shot put.
In the 100-meter dash, Jonah Sharp placed second. Jerome Monroe was sixth. Landon Cook finished eighth, while Ryan Day was 10th.
Sharp finished fourth in the 200-meter dash. Monroe placed ninth, immediately followed by Ben Cochran.
Schwenke finished fourth in the 400-meter dash. Cochran was sixth. Connor Wilkinson placed ninth.
“The sprinters were solid tonight. Jonah had a big night with two PRs,” Vitatoe said. “I thought Jerome had a big night. He keeps getting better every meet. The same should be said for Ben Cochran. I thought they were great tonight.”
In the 800-meter run, Schwenke placed second. Hubbard and Karson Dunn finished fourth and eighth, respectively.
“I thought Braxton Hubbard did a fantastic job in both of his events to give us a lift. He stepped in and delivered for us,” Vitatoe said. “All those guys have been super consistent, and I keep telling them that the breakout is coming.”
In the 1,600-meter run, Christopher Johnson finished third. He was immediately followed by Lewis, Dunn and Jayden Sargent.
Braxton Duncan placed third in the 3,200-meter run. He was immediately followed by Lewis, Johnson and Jayden Sargent.
“The distance guys ran well tonight,” Vitatoe said.
Cook, Monroe, Day and Sharp placed third in the 4 x 100- and 4 x 200-meter relays.
“Both of the sprint relay teams had great times,” Vitatoe said. “They are coming on at the right time and I’m really proud of them.”
Cochran, Cook, Schwenke and Landyn Noe were second in the 4 x 400-meter relay.
Drew Sergent finished fourth in the 110-meter hurdles. Noe and Jaxton Miller were fifth and seventh, respectively.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Drew Sergent was fifth. Noe finished seventh, while Miller placed ninth.
“Landyn and Drew were great in the hurdles, and they keep getting better every single race. I’m really proud of them,” Vitatoe said.
In long jump, Ashton Anderson placed fourth. Bryson Bryant and Jayce Brown were eighth and ninth, respectively. Caden Craig was 10th.
Bryant placed second in high jump.
Jacob Brock was eighth in triple jump.
Anderson placed sixth in pole vault. Brock was seventh.
In shot put, Hunter Napier placed third. Brayden Clay and Hunter Stevens were fourth and fifth, respectively. Braxton Cornett was 11th.
In discus, Clay was eighth. Napier placed 11th, while Aiden Jones was 12th. Jordison Jackson placed 14th.
“I thought our throwers were great again tonight. Hunter Napier is coming on strong as the season draws down,” Vitatoe said. “I just thought all those guys did great tonight. Clay had his best performance in the discus this year, and Hunter Stevens also had a good night for us. That group has kept improving all season long.
“I feel like we’re rounding into shape on the boys side. We entered this season with six guys who competed varsity last year, and this group has done an excellent job of developing throughout the year. I’m excited to see how the last few weeks close out.”
“Overall, I’m pleased with where we are. We have to keep focused and chasing better performances,” Vitatoe said. “These next two weeks are big for us, but I like where we are.”
To pace Harlan’s girls, Harper Carmical finished third in the 800-meter run. Carmical also placed fourth in the 3,200-meter run.
In the 200-meter dash, Talae Manning placed 13th.
Gwendolyn Toll was 13th in the 800-meter run.
Cora Jones finished seventh in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter run.
In high jump, Toll placed fourth.
Amelia Bryant was 16th in shot put and discus.
Gibson Wilder paced Harlan’s boys, finishing fourth in the 300-meter hurdles. Jordan Rodriguez placed fourth in discus.
In the 100-meter dash, Hunter Brock finished ninth. Braxton Rowe was 13th. Joe Reynolds placed 16th, immediately followed by Payton Glenn.
Brock placed eighth in the 200-meter dash. Rowe and Reynolds were 11th and 13th, respectively.
Cruz Galloway finished 10th in the 800-meter run. Mason Raleigh was 14th, immediately followed by Brayden York.
In the 1,600-meter run, Galloway placed seventh. Carter White and Raleigh finished 11th and 14th, respectively. York was 15th.
Wilder, Brock, Reynolds and Rowe placed fifth in the 4 x 100-meter relay.
Murtaza Hussain was eighth in the 300-meter hurdles.
In shot put, Jordan Rodriguez placed 10th. Logan Thompson was 12th. Rylan Rodriguez placed 19th, while Michael Lindsey was 20th.
In discus, Lindsey placed 15th. Thompson and Rylan Rodriguez were 16th and 17th, respectively.
“We had multiple PRs and had people finish in good spots, especially with the talent at the meet,” McKenzie said. “Our kids are getting to know their events and how to prepare for them.
“The coaching staff is working on getting them at their peak for the regional meet on the 14th of May. We have two more meets before this and we are hoping to continue growing and improving each meet.”
Harlan will compete again Wednesday at Jonesville, Va. in an all-comers meet.
Harlan County’s next meet will be Friday at home in the Area 9 Championship.
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Harlan County’s Zoe Lawson and Harlan’s JaLynn Pennington competed at North Laurel on Monday in a middle-school all-comers meet.
Lawson won the 1,600-meter run and placed second in high jump.
Pennington finished 14th in the 100-meter dash and 23rd in the 200-meter dash.
