If the best boys Class 2A track and field program in Kentucky is what you seek, Covington Catholic High School at 1600 Dixie Highway in Park Hills is the place to go.
Friday’s state meet at the University of Kentucky was the latest example. CovCath won its second straight outdoor team title over Bourbon County, 85-52.
In a word, what the Colonels have done is dominate. Since moving from Class 3A to 2A in 2023, CovCath has won the last two cross country and indoor track titles.
“Competitive drive, it’s the best sports school,” senior Will Sheets said. “It’s fun creating a team culture on track.”
Sheets has been the constant. The University of Virginia recruit won Friday’s 800-meter run and finished second to Thomas Nelson’s Riku Sugie in the 1,600 and 3,200.
Sheets was not the only state champion. Sophomore Paul Klosinski needed just four attempts to win the pole vault with a 14-6 in the final event, which was moved indoors because of early stormy weather, and Jack Fleck, Rhett Blettner, Charlie Ink and Garrett Gallagher took the 4×200.
Ink wasn’t expecting to win.
“We didn’t run our best in the region, so we felt, coming into (state), we definitely had more to prove,” Ink said. “We definitely proved ourselves.”
CovCath junior Joe Mayer placed third in the 1,600 and 3,200. He called runing with Sheets “amazing.”
“Will’s my best friend, he’s been a real role model,” Mayer said.
Sheets led Sugie for a little more than six laps of the 3,200 – until Sugie sped away in the seventh.
“Riku’s got a kick,” Sheets said. “I knew he was coming at some point.”
Lloyd Memorial senior Josiah Lockridge finished third in the 100-meter dash (11.25 seconds) and second in the 200 (22.28).
“I definitely wanted to get first in both events because I was seeded first with both,” Lockridge said. “Especially the 100.”
In the 100, Lockridge said he should’ve stayed in the drive phase, where the runner keeps the head down before rising to full height, a little bit longer.
“I should’ve went for at least 20, 30 more meters (to about 50 meters), Lockridge said.
Lockridge said the 22.28 in the 200 tied Lloyd’s school record.
“I definitely felt like I improved on the curve,” Lockridge said.
Other top-eight finishers include:
• Lloyd Memorial, fourth in 4×200 (Cameron Towbridge, Alijah Griffin, AJ Curry, Lockridge).
• Blettner, third in 400 dash.
• Curry, fourth in 400.
• CovCath, fifth in 4×800 (Joel Barczak, Jack Salyers, Jackson Germann, Jack Dwyer).
• CovCath, sixth in 4×100 (Gallagher, Luke Lampe, Jace Thornton and Jackson Schmid.
• Schmid, sixth in 400.
Lexington Catholic won the girls team title over Calloway County, 88-75. Mason County was third with 68 points, Bourbon County was fourth with 55, and Fleming County was fifth with 37.
Boyle County placed third in the boys team standings with 48.5 points, Mercer County was fourth with 48, and Paducah Tilghman was fifth with 38. Lloyd finished 12th with 24.
Mayer said there’s pressure to continue CovCath’s winning streak.
“We expect to compete, we expect to win, but you never know what next year’s going to bring,” Mayer said. “So I’m excited to see what happens.”
For complete results, visit milesplit.live (bit.ly/3ZIvHm1).