When it comes to Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division III track and field, things just don’t change.
Tuesday’s meet at Ludlow Stadium was the latest example. For the ninth straight time, the Villa Madonna girls won the team title over Williamstown, 157-91, while the Viking boys had a tougher time winning their eighth straight, 129-107 over Bellevue.
“They have been doing really well, very consistently, for a long time,” Villa Madonna coach Joe Cordonnier said. “And meets like this require the kids to go out of their comfort zone some and run some events they don’t always run.
“We’re one of the smallest schools in the state that tries to compete as a team.”
Bellevue coach Lavar Herron said the Tiger boys were “very close, very close.”
“We gave up too many points at the beginning of the meet,” Herron said. “We just couldn’t recover. It’s gonna take a little bit of time, but I think we’re ready for region for sure.”
Villa Madonna senior Mark Antrobus, Bellevue senior Marcelo Herald and Villa Madonna eighth-grader Ryan Bennett had good nights.
Antrobus won at 800 meters (2:08.02) and set personal records in the 1,600 (4:30.38) and 3,200 (10:22.38). No wonder he collapsed into a supine sans-snow angel pose after the 3,200.
Antrobus’ favorite event? The 1,600.
“That eight laps (in the 3,200) takes it out of me,” Antrobus said. “It feels great even when you’re that physically exhausted, to get a PR, it feels great.”
Antrobus said the term “runner’s high” is not a cliche’.
“A runner’s high is just the accomplishment of being so self-disciplined to to something hard and challenging your body and getting through it and seeing desired results,” Antrobus said.
Herald didn’t need as much time or distance as Antrobus to rack up wins in the 100 hurdles (15.74), 300 hurdles (44.16) and long jump (19-04.375). He also finished second in the 200-meter dash.
Herald, who’s narrowed his college choices to Morehead State and Bellarmine, said he was a “short, stubby kid” at Grandview Elementary School. He said winning standing broad jump moved him toward jumping; he said long jump is his favorite event.
“That’s what really got me started,” Herald said. “That’s where I fell in love with the long jump.”
Here’s what Bennett did: she won the girls 1,600 (5:49.47) and 3,200 (12:32.94).
“My favorite is probably the 3,200,” Bennett said. “I really like it because it helps me know what I can actually do. And when it gets harder, I like to push myself.”
For Bennett, track and cross country (she finished ninth last fall and helped the Vikings to a fourth-place finish at the state Class A meet) are a logical progression from 5K road races – she’s covered that distance in 20:19.
Tuesday’s 1,600 win was the toughest – Bennett was in third place after one lap. Didn’t matter – she took the lead for good some 200 meters later.
“I just don’t think I go out fast enough,” Bennett said. “So I had a lot of ground to make up.”
Villa Madonna’s girls were hardly challenged – they led Bellevue, 74-30, after eight events. A slightly different story for the Viking boys – they led Bellevue by just 46-31 through seven events.
Bellevue’s Austin Brocket Wesley won the high jump (5-8) and triple jump (36-6), and fellow Tigers Jamaurion Lowe, Alex Goodwin, Braylee Frederick and Payton kern won the 4×200 (1:48.60).
Ludlow was strong in sprints. Especially James Archer and Nicholi Abbott – they finished 1-2 in the 100, Archer took the 200, and Austin Ashcraft, Archer, Breydn Smiley and Abbott won the 4×100.
For complete results, visit ky.milesplit.com. (bit.ly/4iTVhvc)
PHOTOS: NKAC Division III track and field meet (provided by Charles Bolton)
