An eighth grader and a freshman led the Highlands girls and boys cross country teams Saturday at the Class 2A state cross country meet at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Their performances helped put the Bluebirds on the podium and themselves on the statewide map.
For the girls, eighth grader Morgan Ripley finished fifth after making an astronomical leap, cutting more than 45 seconds off her time with a personal record of 18:20.92. Freshman Eva Lang placed 15th in 19:18.52, with both earning spots on the podium.
Ripley hadn’t competed in varsity meets often this season, instead helping out her middle school team as an eighth grader. Since making the jump to varsity, she’s enjoyed nothing but eye-opening success.
“I went out faster than I usually do today, so I think it worked well,” Ripley said. “I was hoping for under 19, and that was a lot bigger drop than I was hoping. So I’m really grateful.”
Ripley finished third at the Class 2A, Region 4 meet last week in Burlington with a time of 19:06.
“It’s hard to plan for an eighth grader running 18:20. It’s hard to plan for that. I give them almost no instruction,” Bluebirds coach Jonathan McKenzie said. “Because they’re going to feel it out, and they’re so good at racing.”
Rounding out the Highlands girls’ team scoring were Isla Meyn in 18th (19:30.30), Sophie Taylor in 25th (19:54.85) and Ella Taylor in 38th (20:24.81).
“Sophie’s been at this race five times and for her to break 20 in her final race, that may be my favorite part of the day,” McKenzie said.
Lexington Catholic won the team title with 75 points, followed by Highlands with 98.
Sophie and Ella Taylor are seniors, but five of the Bluebirds’ top seven runners from Saturday will return next season.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Bluebirds boys take third
The Highlands boys also reached the podium, finishing third as a team.
Eighth grader John Gesenheus placed 11th in 16:27.58, while freshman Charlie Schmidt finished 15th in 16:37.76. Highlands tallied 151 points. Lexington Catholic won the team title with 53 points, followed by North Oldham with 115.
“Johnny, you know, he’s just a marvel. He’s so small, but his engine is so big, and and he’s just such he’s such an intuitive racer,” McKenzie said. “I mean, I feel the same way with Morgan. With Charlie, we knew it was there because he’d been running into low to mid 17s. We knew it was there if he just took a risk, and he really took a risk in that second mile, and it paid off big time.”
Rounding out the Highlands boys’ top five were Dylan Fortner in 31st (17:09.79), Ethan Daly in 51st (17:33.62) and Gavin Smith in 53rd (17:37.47).
The Bluebirds were led by three freshmen, a junior and an eighth grader, highlighting the program’s promising future.
“You mostly want kids who love to run, right? Because it’s so much easier to train kids who love to run. And for us, honestly, the big thing is Jen, our middle school coach, is she’s really smart, knows how to train, but she also knows how to make them love it,” McKenzie said. “Our turnover from middle school to high school is almost 100% of those kids keep running now. That’s the biggest thing. If we can do that, I think then we’re going to be really good for a long time. Kids come in as freshmen, ready to run and loving the sport already.”
Vaniglia runner-up in boys race
Maybe it was the hair?
St. Henry’s Logan Vaniglia calls it tradition: half his head shaved, with the other half parted in the middle and some bleach. It certainly wasn’t aerodynamics, but Vaniglia finished second in the boys Class 2A race.
He crossed the finish line in 15:47.48, less than two seconds behind Union County’s Thomas Davis, who won in 15:45.78.
“I do it because I’ve always heard it’s tradition, and I like to stand out,” Vaniglia said of his hair. “Really thought I could win that. I went in with a winner’s mindset. Really wanted to win that, but I’m not gonna complain with second. I was seeded fourth. Had an amazing time.”
The time was a personal record for Vaniglia, a junior who enjoyed a standout season for the Crusaders.
“Definitely a breakout year for me,” Vaniglia said. “I really left it on a high note out there.”
