Bishop Brossart’s boys track-and-field team saw Walton-Verona do a victory lap on their track last season.
They wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.
The Mustangs dominated the Class 1A, Region 4 meet at the Mustang Athletic Complex on Wednesday, scoring 157 points and defeating runner-up Beechwood by 65 points.
“A lot of these guys were on the team and we remembered that the whole year. That drove us this year. It was kind of a bulletin board thing to get a victory on our track,” Mustangs coach Chris Davis said.
The girls team overcame some adversity with injuries throughout the season, but still reigned supreme in the region by scoring 174.5 points, topping runner-up Beechwood by 43 points.
“Every year there’s different challenges and different things we have to deal with. Two of my top runners could hardly run anything today,” Mustangs girls coach Dave Schuh said. “It takes a little edge off when they can’t do what they’re capable of, but as a team we had some really nice performances and really put it together.”
Nathan Ruth was the top point scorer for the Mustangs, scoring 28 points individually and was a part of the region champion 4×800 relay team. The distance runner won the 1,600 meters (4:26.96) and the 800 (2:01.23) and finished second in the 3,200 (10:17.68).
His biggest challenge came in the 800 when he edged out teammate Ryan Clines by .16 hundredths of a second.
“I got quick enough speed I feel I can pretty much get anybody,” Ruth said.
The 3,200 was his final event of the day, using every ounce of energy to break from a pack and sprint past Beechwood’s Samson Weldemichael in the final 10 meters.
“I was dead there,” Ruth said.
Brossart’s boys relay teams were strong, winning three out of four relay events. Newport Central Catholic claimed the last relay of the day in the 4×400.
“Relays were huge. Our depth really showed there,” Davis said. “Our relays are going to need to carry us next week at state.”
Chloe Hein led the way on the girls team, also scoring 28 points individually, placing first in the 200 (25.96) and long jump (16-11) and second in the 100-meter dash (12.86). Hein also helped the 4×100 relay team claim a region title.
The 25.96 in the 200 was a personal record for her.
“I wasn’t expecting to get a PR tonight so that was really nice. I got a 26-flat at my last meet and broke it tonight. Just tried harder, not going to lie, sometimes I conserve my start and had the mindset tonight that I really wanted this,” Hein said. “I’m pushing myself to my very limits and we have a lot of great performers on this team and it’s really fun to watch.”
Other multiple first place finishers were Beechwood’s Luke Erdman, finishing first in the 100 meters (11.22) and the long jump (20-10.5). Erdman’s teammate on the girls side Lily Parke also claimed first in two events, the 800 (2:23.84) and the 1,600 (5:18.88).
Walton-Verona’s Grady Shay won both hurdle events, the 110-meter hurdles (15.03) and 300-meter hurdles (40.71).
Beechwood’s girls had strong relay performances, finishing first in three of the four relay events in the 4×800, 4×200 and 4×400. Brossart claimed the other relay in the 4×100.
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the Class A state meet at the University of Kentucky on June 1. Outside of the top two, some will earn an at-large bid if they are in the next 10 best times, distances or height outside of the top 14 from the seven regions in each class.
Other Boys Region champions:
- 400 meters: Riley Morris, Williamstown (51.84)
- 200 meters: Jackson Smith, Walton-Verona (22.56)
- 3,200 meters: Dixon Ryan, St. Henry (10:04.37)
- Shot put: Xavier Campbell, Beechwood (43-10)
- Discus: Austin Schadler, Bishop Brossart (121-09)
- Triple jump: James Cusick, Beechwood (42-2.25)
- High jump: Al Bessler, St. Henry (6-04)
- Pole Vault: Noah Everett, Bishop Brossart (11-06)
- 4×800 relay: Bishop Brossart (8:21.91)
- 4×200 relay: Bishop Brossart (1:31.61)
- 4×100 relay: Bishop Brossart (44.35)
- 4×400 relay: Newport Central Catholic (3:33.01)
Other Girls Region champions:
- 100-meter hurdles: Kaelyn King, St. Henry (15.99)
- 400 meters: Maddy Brauch, Beechwood (1:00.62)
- 3,200 meters: Amy Klocke, Bishop Brossart (11:53.27)
- Shot put: Andora Riley, Newport (34-06)
- Discus: Anna Guard, St. Henry (126-06)
- Triple jump: Lizzie Casey, St. Henry (33-5.75)
- High jump: Nacell Anderson, Newport (5-0)
- Pole vault: Anna Curtsinger, Bishop Brossart (7-06)
- 300-meter hurdles: Kaitlyn Kramer, Bishop Brossart (48.52)
- 100-meter dash: Katie Kocan, Beechwood (12.73)
- 4×800 relay: Beechwood (10:02.78)
- 4×200 relay: Beechwood (1:46.79)
- 4×100 relay: Bishop Brossart (51.32)
- 4×400 relay: Beechwood (4:13.99)