Cooper’s track and field team tent stood about 30 yards away from all the others.
By the end of Tuesday’s boys Class 3A, Region 5 meet at Scott, the Jaguars equally distanced themselves from the field. Cooper rolled past Ryle, 147-94.5.
“As seniors, we only have a couple more meets left,” sprinter Isaiah Yancy said. “We definitely want to make our mark in NKY – show them that Cooper is really that school, that we’re going to keep improving each year.”
You could summarize Cooper’s first team title since 2015 in a single word – speedily – and not just because the Jaguars won the 4×100-, 4×200-, 4×400- and 4×800-meter relays. Cole Henry won the 100 (11.08 seconds), Elijah Harrison and Landon LaCroix went 1-2 in the 400 (50.10 and 50.68 respectively), and Harrison and Yancy did the same in the 200 (22.36 and 22.68).
“I’d never won it as a head coach,” Cooper coach Eric VanLaningham said.
Ryle, meanwhile, dominated the longer races. Evan A. Smith won the 800 in 1 minute, 56.73 seconds, Tiger Bartlett took the 1,600 in 4:19.07 and 3,200 in 9:21.12.
Cooper’s commencement is June 1 – the same day as the state meet at the University of Kentucky. VanLaningham said that has “tortured” the eight seniors, but at least one – Harrison – plans to be in Lexington.
“I’m going to state,” Harrison said.
Dixie Heights finished third with 64 points. Campbell County was fourth with 61, and Simon Kenton took fifth with 52.
Notre Dame wins second straight girls championship
The Pandas had a slightly tougher time than Cooper – a 115-101 win over Dixie Heights.
Notre Dame coach Matt Hollenkamp didn’t know the last time Notre Dame went back-to-back.
“I know it’s our 15th regional championship all-time,” Hollenkamp said. “ … (Tuesday) was a total team effort and one I will always remember, honestly.”
Sophomore Kate Blettner won the 400 in 58.70 and joined Ella Long, Norah Barker and Cameron Kirtley to win the 4×400. The Pandas also placed second in the 4×200 and 4×100 relays, Kate Resing was second in the long jump and 100 hurdles, and Julia Meyers finished second in the discus.
In her penultimate high school meet, Conner senior Bella VonLehman turned in two wins – the 100 (11.91) and the 200 (25.12). It wasn’t a perfect evening – she false-started in the 400.
Simon Kenton sophomore Alexis Howard was a double-winner. She won the long jump in 17-feet, 1.75 inches and the triple jump in 36-feet, one inch.
Campbell County junior Olivia Holbrook had a good night, too. It started when she joined Allison McKee, Aidan Christopher and Lila Dunlevy to win the 4×800 relay and continued with victories in the 800 (2:16.54) and 1,600 (5:14.35) and third place in the 4×400.
Holbrook said the 800 is her favorite event.
“It’s the perfect distance,” she said. “It’s not too long, and it’s not a full-out sprint. I feel like it’s what I’m the best at.”
Campbell County placed third with 86.5 points. Ryle was fourth with 55.5, and Scott placed fifth with 54.
Emelianova returns after breaking her foot
For nearly a month, Ryle senior Viktoriya Emelianova’s high school career was over. The defending state 3A champion shot putter had broken her right foot practicing at a middle school meet.
Yet there she was Tuesday. When not wearing a gray plastic boot, she won the shot put with a distance of 37-feet, 10.5 inches and placed sixth in the discus at 94-feet, four inches.
“Actually, I’m not in pain at all,” Emelianova said. “… I mainly throw with my upper body in shot, which is not allowing me to (throw) to my full potential. It’s just something to work on.”
Southerland vaults to state-best
The meet didn’t end until around 10 p.m., Tuesday because Ryle senior pole vaulter Ethan Southerland turned in a 15-foot, seven inch height – an inch higher than his 15-foot, six inch height on May 7 at the Dixie Heights Invitational.
“I did clear 16 in practice,” Southerland said. “It was a good day. Pole vaulting is fun for me; I’ve been climbing around on stuff since I was, like, 3 years old.”
Ryle’s Vincent Gallucci and Logan Verax dominated the Unified events.
Gallucci and Verax won the mixed long jump (22-5), 2×50 relay (14.81) and 2×200 unified relay (59.07). Gallucci, Verax, William Lindeman and Keegan Knecht won the 4×100 shuttle hurdle relay (1:07.60).
Boone County’s James Huff and Jamar Hocker won the mixed shot put with a combined 52-10.
For complete results, ky.milesplit.com (bit.ly/3yw7B3r).