You don’t have to look far to find local runners atop the Class A state rankings.
“We don’t have to travel, and every week is basically the best competition we’re going to see all year,” Brossart boys coach Chris Davis said. “When we get to state, we’re running against Walton (Verona) and St. Henry and Beechwood almost week in and week out. It’s such a benefit to be up here and around these other great schools. I think it brings out the best in all the great programs.”
Start with Walton-Verona senior Grady Shea. He’s the defending 110 hurdles state champion, and his 15.34 is the best this season.
Continue with Walton-Verona junior Jackson Smith in the sprints. His 11.22 in the 100 and 23.01 are tops.
“He’s flying right now down that track,” Walton-Verona coach Phil Amstutz said of Smith.
St. Henry senior Dixon Ryan has the fastest 1,600-meter time so far. He turned in a 4:33.39 at the Stan Steidel Invitational April 1 in Covington.
Beechwood freshman Lily Parke is ranked first in the girls 1,600 (5:09.37) and 3,200 (11:28.34).
Ryle boys third overall
Shawn Proffitt wanted to change Ryle’s direction. His solution: change the organizational flow chart.
Proffitt’s strategy is paying off so far. The Raider boys are ranked third in the ky.milesplit.com rankings behind Male and St. Xavier, and the girls are 23rd.
“I don’t know the last time (the boys) were ranked this high in the season,” said Proffitt, who directs the high school and middle school programs. We did a total revamping of the structure (so) kids could get more individual instruction.
“You could look at it more like a football program.”
While many high school track teams have two or at most three assistants, Ryle has five, who work with both boys and girls: Proffitt (jumps and hurdles), head coach Adam Smith (sprints), Rodney Rutledge (400 and 800 meters), Joe Zeinner (distance), and Ryan Ware (throws).
Ryle’s mid-season results appear promising. Juniors Tiger Bartlett and Evan Smith have the fastest times in the ky.milesplit.com rankings in their events.
In winning the 3,200 meter run April 8 at the Princeton Spurlock Track and Field Classic, Bartlett set a personal record 9 minutes, 13.54 seconds, which is the fastest in the state. He also has PRs in the 800 (2:00.83, March 25, LaSalle Legends Track & Field Classic), 1,600 (4:20.93, April 14, Bearcat Clash at Walton-Verona) and the mile (4:22.16 at the Eastern Relays this weekend in Louisville).
Smith’s 1:55.93 in the 800 meters at last week’s Anderson Invitational was good for third place. He also has PRs in the 200 (a wind-aided 23.71 Princeton), 400 (50.52 at Anderson), 1,600 (4:26.03, Bearcat Clash) and discus (79 feet, 4 inches at Anderson).
Ryle sophomore Allie Kopser has won three races so far – the 800 at LaSalle (2:25.49) and the 1,600 at the Bearcat Clash (5:12.25) and Turpin Varsity Invitational (5:16.76). Junior Viktoria Emilianova finished fourth in the discus at Princeton with a PR 111-6 and fourth in shot put at the Eastern Relays with a PR 38-8 ½.
DuPont Manual leads the girls team rankings. Bishop Brossart is 17th, and Conner is 21st.
Scott junior Maddie Strong has the fastest Class 2A girls 5K time, an 18:19.04 March 25 at the KytrackXC Showdown in Bardstown, and Conner junior Isabella VonLehman’s 12.17 in the 3A 100 is fastest.
Conner junior Joey Carroll’s 15:12.56 in at the Showdown is the fastest 5K in Class 3A.
In winning the 3,200-meter run April 8 at the Princeton Spurlock Track and Field Classic, Bartlett set a personal record of 9:13.54. He also has PRs in the 800 (2:00.83, March 25, LaSalle Legends Track & Field Classic), 1,600 (4:20.93, April 14, Bearcat Clash at Walton-Verona) and the mile (4:22.16 at the Eastern Relays in Louisville).
Smith’s 1:55.93 in the 800 meters at last week’s Anderson Invitational was good for third place. He also has PRs in the 200 (a wind-aided 23.71 Princeton), 400 (50.52 at Anderson), 1,600 (4:26.03, Bearcat Clash) and discus (79 feet, 4 inches at Anderson).
Ryle sophomore Allie Kopser has won three races so far – the 800 at LaSalle (2:25.49) and the 1,600 at the Bearcat Clash (5:12.25) and Turpin Varsity Invitational (5:16.76). Junior Viktoria Emilianova finished fourth in the discus at Princeton with a PR 111-6 and fourth in shot put at the Eastern Relays with a PR 38-8 ½.
DuPont Manual leads the girls team rankings. Bishop Brossart is 17th, and Conner is 21st.
Hill-acious
Holmes senior sprinter Curtez Hill is having a solid senior season.
Hill has won five of six races in the 100 this season, including Saturday’s Campbell County Carnes Classic (11.02) and his PR 10.96 March 17 at the Rivertown Season Kickoff. He’s also 3-1 in the 200 with Thursday’s PR 22.31 at the South Dearborn Invitational in Aurora, Indiana.
Campbell County swept the Carnes team titles. The Camel boys edged Bishop Brossart, 170.5-161.5, while the girls beat Brossart, 161-135.5.
Bishop Brossart senior Chloe Hein won the 200 in 27.49 and the long jump (15-5 ½). Campbell County sophomore Olivia Holbrook won twice, too – the 800 in 2:26.95 and the 1,600 in 5:10.78.
Beechwood’s boys finished third with 108 points. Simon Kenton was fourth with 79, and Holmes was fifth with 67.
Notre Dame’s girls finished third with 111 points. Beechwood was fourth with 106, and Simon Kenton was fifth with 68.