Northern Kentucky’s Class A runners, hurdlers and throwers have historically been among the Commonwealth’s most decorated.
The Class 2A and 3A schools are catching up.
Yes, Beechwood’s girls and Walton-Verona’s boys will defend their Class A team titles. But a look at the latest ky.milesplit.com leaders list shows Classes 2A and 3A well-represented.
“Competition that we have locally can prepare us for when we go to the state meet,” Conner coach Darrell Schnieders said. “When I think about the boys distance, especially in this area, we’ve got a lot of the top distance athletes in the state. When you get down to Louisville and Lexington, those are always the schools that are on top. We’re holding our own in NKY. Cooper’s really good, Dixie’s got a good boys team, too.”
Notre Dame coach Matt Hollenkamp said everything starts with the middle school programs.
“The last couple years, we’ve had 50, 60 girls in our middle school program,” Hollenkamp said. “That’s incredible.”
Class 3A
Any list of best athletes in Kentucky should start with Conner senior Bella Vonlehman and Ryle senior Viktoriya Emelianova. Vonlehman is ranked first in the state 400-meter dash (57.86 seconds) and second in the 100 (12.53); Emelianova is second in the shot put with a 39-foot, 7-inch toss.
Vonlehman said the 400 is her favorite event – but it wasn’t always.
“Freshman year, I ran it one time, and I was, like, ‘I’m never going to run this again’,” Vonlehman, who’s headed for the U.S. Naval Academy, said. “But I was consistently on the 4×400, and I just really learned to love it. I think it feels most like a race.”
The Dixie Heights girls finished first in the 4×100 relay at the Princeton Spurlock Track and Field Classic (51.92), and Campbell County has the fastest 4×800 clocking (a 10:07.75 at the Campbell County All-Comers 2).
Dixie Heights senior Ben Mwamba is top-ranked in the state long jump thanks to a 22 feet, 2 inch leap at the Stan Steidel Invitational March 30 at Holmes.
In the boys relays, Ryle is first in the 4×400 (3:26.75), and Conner is tops in the 4×800 (8:13.94). Cooper, Dixie Heights and Simon Kenton finished first, third and fourth in the 4×100 at last weekend’s Tyson and Trinity Gay meet in Lexington. Dixie Heights won the 4×200 (1:35.00) and placed second in the 4×400 April 4 at the New Richmond Relays, and Campbell County is second in the 4×800.
In the sprints, Ryle sophomore Dylan Lee’s 22.94 in the 200 is the second-fastest, and Cooper senior Elijah Harrison’s 51.54 in the 400 was also second.
If you look at the 800 times, you’ll find Cooper senior Preston Winiger (2:00.32) and Campbell County freshman Grant Holbrook (2:01.95) ranked second, third and fourth, respectively.
In boys field events, Ryle senior Ethan Southerland’s 14-0 is the best so far. Campbell County senior Hunter Wiseman is tied for second in the shot put (47 feet, 7 inches) and third in discus (143-10).
Ryle senior Tiger Bartlett is fourth overall in the 800 with a 1:58.41 and Conner is best in the 4×800 with an 8:13.94.
“I definitely believe we will have a 4×400 that can win state,” Ryle boys coach Adam Smith said. “I believe Tiger’s going to make a run in the mile and two mile. Evan Smith is going to make a run for the 800 for state this year.”
In girls Class 3A, Region 5, Notre Dame freshman Addison Frondorf’s 12.22 in the 100 is second, Julia Grace’s 13.10 is sixth, Ella Long’s 13.20 is seventh, and Hannah Holocher is eighth with a 13.30. The Pandas also have the region’s fastest 4×100 relay at 51.49.
Dixie Heights’ London Williams is tied with Frondorf for second in the regional girls 100 dash, and teammate Alayna Hocker is fourth with a 12.85.
Scott’s Lacey Klare has the top time in the regional 100 hurdles with a 15.93.
Class 2A
Moving from Class 3A to 2A has been a good move for Covington Catholic.
The Colonels won the state 2A cross country title last year and the 2A indoor title last month, and a look at the rankings might make you think a Region 5 outdoor track championship could happen.
Senior Ethan Long has three regional No. 1 times – a 10.83 in the 100, a 22.28 in the 200 and a 52.15 in the 400. Sophomore Joe Mayer has two — a 2:00.41 in the 400 and a 4:30.00 in the 1,600, and Will Sheets is second statewide in the boys 3,200 with an 8:57.45.
“Ethan is a really great story,” CovCath coach Jeremy Mosher said. “He started track as a sophomore. He comes from a very athletic family. We weren’t entirely sure what we had in him. Last year he was our top sprinter.”
The Colonels are also first in the 4×800 relay with an 8:34.50.
Holmes’ relay teams look strong. The Bulldogs are first in the region in the 4×100 (44.74) and 4×200 (1:34.74).
Class A
Walton-Verona coach Phil Amstutz still savors last year’s boys title – it was the Bearcats’ first in school history in any sport.
“Three of the kids that were on it last year were graduated,” Amstutz said. “We savored it as long as we could after we won it.”
Walton-Verona freshman Wyatt Shearer has run in just two meets, but his 2:02.09 is fifth in the 800.
Perhaps Walton-Verona’s biggest challenge will be replacing sprinter Jackson Smith. He won the 100 and 200 dashes last year, but he’s out with a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament.
Bishop Brossart is ranked first in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays, and Mustang senior Nate Ruth is tops among small-school runners in the 800 (1:58.92), and teammate Ryan Clines is second. St. Henry senior Josh Brockman’s 12-0 pole vault leads the field.
Brossart also has the top times in the 4×400 (3:31.84) and 4×800 (8:43.34) relays.
Beechwood’s Lily Parke has the overall top time (11:13.99) in the girls 3,200 and the best in Class A in the 1,600 (5:14.66). Tiger teammate Maryah Counts is best in the 400 (1:00.60).
St. Henry senior Anna Guard’s 124-11 is best in the discus, and Brossart sophomore Ava Walters is first in shot put (33-2).