Lexington Catholic’s girls rule relays, but team track title streak ends

Lexington Catholic’s girls ruled the relays Friday afternoon in the Class 2A KHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at UK’s Outdoor Track and Field Complex.

LexCath took home wins in the girls 4-by-800, 4-by-200 and 4-by-400 meter relays and finished third in the 4-by-100, collectively earning almost half (36) of the Knights’ 81 points en route to a runner-up team showing. Eleven different girls ran for LexCath in those races; two of them, seniors Joanna Bryant and Sarah Scott, were part of two victories

Bryant, who’s signed to play soccer at Miami (Ohio), ran in the 4-by-200 and 4-by-400. Scott, bound for Eastern Kentucky University to compete in track, anchored the 4-by-800 win. She, too, was part of the 4-by-400, the final event of the day and in their decorated prep careers.

They ran it in exactly 4 minutes and 1 second, their fastest time in the Class 2A meet over the last four years (they won each time).

“That was a great race to end on,” said Bryant, who ran on the previous three 4-by-400 champs and was part of nine total outdoor relay championship units in her time at Lexington Catholic. “We’ve had some great performances today so to just go out with a win in the 4-by-4 means a lot.”

Bryant’s been at LexCath since she was a freshman and was a big part of three straight team titlists at the state outdoor meet. Scott joined the mix last season following two years at 2A rival Bourbon County.

The Knights couldn’t extend their reign as team champs to four straight but nearly piled up as many points, 81, as they did in their winning runs each of the last three state meets (83 in 2023, 93 in 2024 and 88 in 2025). That amount would’ve been enough to win any of the last three seasons.

“We all gave it our all today, that’s all we can ask for at the end of the day,” said Anna Dawahare, a junior who made the last handoff in the 4-by-800 win and challenged in the 1,600 (seventh, 5:20.41) and 3,200 runs (fourth, 11:23.68). “ … It’s weird not winning (the team title) but I think we’ll take it as motivation. It’ll be my senior year and a lot of the other girls’ on the team, so we’ll just got for that and try to win.”

Abigail Turner, a junior who ran in the final relay, was runner-up in the 800 and 1,600 runs. She lagged 1,600 winner Baili Hoten, a junior from Thomas Nelson, by less than a second.

In-between her two relays, Bryant competed in the 200-meter dash, where she finished fourth overall with a time of 26.37 seconds in heat two. Scott ran third in the 800 (2:18.94).

Wells Moore, the remaining member of the 4-by-400 relay squad, was the youngest out there as a sophomore. She also finished 11th in the 400-meter dash (1:02.52).

In addition to various relay contributions, juniors Zoe Cliburn and Savanah Kennedy earned points elsewhere for LexCath in individual events. Kennedy ran fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.56) and Cliburn earned the No. 8 and last spot on the podium with her 26.72 out of heat two in the 200.

Basketball star assists state-title team

Jaidan Koch led Calloway County to the Class 2A in-season basketball championship and a girls Sweet 16 appearance during the winter. While her future’s in college roundball — she’s signed with Southern Indiana, a Division I school — she’s a strong track athlete as well.

Koch won the 800 run, trailed only Hoten and Turner in the 1,600, and was part of the Lakers’ third-place 4-by-400 relay team. Those efforts helped Calloway County overtake Lexington Catholic in the girls team standings after it finished runner-up a year ago.

It’s the Lakers’ first team title.

“I first started track to get faster, shorter distances for the basketball court, and then I really just fell in love with all the girls and my coach,” said Koch, who started lettering in track as a freshman. She ran second that season and third last year as a junior (she didn’t compete in the event as a sophomore). “This was something that I really wanted for a long time. It’s just a dream. It’s really something to help my school make history and I’m just so excited to be a part of it.”

Layla Green, also a senior, won the high jump, took runner-up in the long jump and was part of the Lakers’ winning 4-by-100 relay team. She nearly won the 100-meter hurdles too; Franklin County’s Mariah Jackson clipped her by five one-thousandths of a second.

Calloway County’s time of 49.36 in the 4-by-100 was a school record.

“This has been our team all year,” Green said of the foursome comprised of her and three underclassmen. “We’ve been working together almost every other practice, working on our handoffs. We’ve worked hard this year.”

Green trailed only Mason County’s Lexi Young in the long jump. Young, also a senior, cleared 5-8 to win the high jump last season and likely would have been the champion this year, but she immediately suffered a back injury while attempting a jump, finishing among four jumpers who cleared at least five feet. Young briefly walked without assistance after her injury but eventually left the meet on a stretcher. “Lexi’s become one of my best friends, we’ve been high-jumping together for two years now, me and her go to indoor (training) together,” said Green, the only jumper who hit 5-2. “Seeing her get hurt … I was jumping for Lexi today, for sure. That was rough to see and be there with her through it. She’s really tough, she’ll get through it, but that’s my best friend. It sucks.”

Altitude adjustment

Asher Feddock helped Lexington Catholic win a boys 4-by-800 relay title last season but an individual championship had eluded him until Friday. The senior left with two golds, in the 800 and 1,600, in addition to helping the Knights take runner-up to Covington Catholic in the 4-by-800 and 4-by-400 relays.

He did it all in the rain, too. A steady drizzle blanketed the entire meet but it intermittently intensified, including for parts of his 1,600 trot.

“Obviously with not ideal conditions, it’s pretty cool to still know that I’m the most fit here in both events,” Feddock said.

Extraordinary conditioning will be an even bigger point of pride for him going forward. Feddock soon will enroll at the Colorado School of Mines, which boasts a strong Division II track program and ranks among the best engineering schools in the country. Golden, Colo., where the college is located, sits nearly 5,700 feet above sea level; Lexington is just shy of 1,000 feet.

“I’m excited to see what shape I’m in after I get acclimated to it,” Feddock said with a grin. “The first two months is gonna be terrible but I’m ready for it.”

Covington Catholic won its third straight boys team title, more than doubling up runners-up Lexington Catholic and Mercer County. Four different Colonels picked up individual wins in addition to the school’s two relay victories.

CovCath junior Braden Franxman and senior Joe Mayer went 1-2 in the 3,200 while LexCath’s Mark Reinhart ran third (the Knights also got points there from Reeves McCullough, a senior who finished eighth). Franxman’s time, 9:17.61, broke the 2A meet record set just two years ago by Thomas Nelson’s Riku Sugie. “We knew that meet record was 9:18 and that just making the race honest (competitive) was gonna be the way to get that,” Mayer said. “One of us gonna have a gear with 400 to go and Braden absolutely had it. I could see it coming from a mile away.”

Frequent-flying Cardinal

Taylor County earned a fourth-place team finish on the boys side and got a win in the 4-by-100 relay. It was a victory four years in the making and that, for one of its participants, featured stops at three different high schools.

Cross Watson began his high school career at Taylor County. He and Cardinals teammate Dalyn Williams, who also ran in Friday’s 4-by-100 win, were freshmen on a 4-by-200 relay team that made the podium at the 2023 state meet. The pair led the Cardinals to runner-up finishes in both of those events in the 2024 edition.

Watson, also a football standout, ahead of his junior season transferred to Campbellsville Independent, located in the same county. He was a 1,000-yard rusher and scored 20 touchdowns for the Eagles, who bowed out to eventual Class A champion Sayre in the 2024 state semifinals. He ran in three relays for Campbellsville at the 2025 Class A state meet.

Then, ahead of this last school year, Watson — who had already been traveling to Louisville to train at Aspirations Fitness — enrolled at Trinity High School in Louisville as part of a college scholarship pursuit. It worked out two-fold: Watson was the leading receiver (779 yards, 13 TDs) for a Shamrocks squad that won the Class 6A title and Morehead State offered him. But there was unfinished business in south-central Kentucky.

“It paid off but after football season ended I came back here because I wanted to finish it out with my guys,” Watson said. “I knew we had a squad in track and our coach is great, he dropped my PR so much. Last year I was running 11.6, 11.8, and that’s what I started off at this year. I got all the way down to about a 10.9.”

Watson said he loved Trinity but yearned to graduate with the guys he’d known his whole life. So a former Cardinal regrew his wings and flew home, and on Friday accomplished what may be a first by any Kentucky athlete: state titles at two different high schools within the same school year.

“This means so much to us,” Watson said. “ … Thank God.”

Other highlights

• McCreary Central senior Jolana Schenkel defended her titles in both the 100 and 200. The only athlete to ever win a track title for the Raiders is set to continue her career at East Tennessee State. During the meet she received a $500 scholarship from MileSplit. Schenkel said she was incredibly sore on Friday but not because of training or meet intensity. A thrillseeker, she had not yet recovered from having too much fun on rollercoasters during end-of-school trips Monday and Wednesday to King’s Island and Dollywood, respectively. “My shoulder is killing me, I regret those two amusement parks back-to-back,” Schenkel said. “I will not do that again, not recommended in the slightest.”

• Lincoln County senior Germani Crosby won the girls shot put for a fifth straight year and also took the discus throw, her second win in that event. She’s headed to Centre College, which has an accomplished Division III program, and intends to train with an Olympics future in mind. “I’m very proud of my growth from where I was to where I am now,” Crosby said.

• Marleigh Estes, a Bourbon County senior, defended her title in the 300 hurdles. She’s undecided on whether she’ll try to compete as a walk-on at Morehead State, where she’ll attend on a cheerleading scholarship. (She ran Friday with heavy bandaging around her right ankle, which she injured while tumbling a few weeks ago.) Estes said her mom, Leigh-Clay Estes, was part of the Eagles’ first UCA College Nationals championship squad and her grandpa, Butch Richardson, was the first male cheerleader in the school’s history. “Cheer is a big commitment there,” Estes said. “They’re the winningest cheer program in the country, so it’s great.”

• Valley High School’s boys 4-by-200 relay team won, giving that school its first track-and-field championship since 1995. The team is coached by Jerry Williams, a former track and football standout at Henry Clay who helped the Blue Devils’ 4-by-200 relay team set an overall state-record time, 1:25.78, that still stood as of Friday. “The long nights, the early morning, the miles, the consistent running, the puking, they just bought in,” Williams told the Courier Journal. “To get that hardware and stand on the podium at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”

CLASS 2A STATE TRACK AND FIELD RESULTS

Top 10 teams and top three individual finishes in each event. Complete results available via the KHSAA. x-meet record; y-placement based on tiebreaker

BOYS

Top 10 teams and central Kentucky finishes—1. Covington Catholic 105.5; 2. Lexington Catholic 51; 3. Mercer County 50; 4. Taylor County 48; 5. Russell 47; 6. LaRue County 41; 7. Bourbon County 38; 8. Spencer County 27; 9. Valley 22; 10. Franklin County 21; 29. Boyle County 5

Individuals—4-by-800 relay: 1. CovCath (Jackson Germann, Jack Salyers, Luke O’Hara, Joe Mayer) 8:01.17; 2. LexCath (Asher Feddock, Liam Havens, Mark Reinhart, Reeves McCullough) 8:10.70; 3. Bourbon Co. (Stephen Bryce Perraut, Kenneth Salas, Christopher Wells, Grant Perraut) 8:20.34. 110 hurdles: 1. Jacob Keller, CovCath, 15.29; 2. Ian Alcorn, Mercer Co., 15.35; 3. Keyshun Teal, Hopkinsville, 15.49. 100: 1. Brock Shelton, LaRue Co., 11.00; 2. Dalyn Williams, Taylor Co., 11.03; 3. Robert Oates, Valley, 11.11. 4-by-200 relay: 1. Valley (Jamie Jones, Lonzell Parks, Gerkari Timothy, Robert Oates) 1:29.05; 2. CovCath (Rhett Blettner, Charlie Ink, Jack Fender, Garrett Gallagher) 1:29.55; 3. Taylor Co. (Cross Watson, Jaelyn Anderson, John Gholston, Dalyn Williams) 1:29.63. 1,600: 1. Asher Feddock, LexCath, 4:20.85; 2. Lennon Smith, Powell Co., 4:22.33; 3. Christopher Wells, Bourbon Co., 4:24.94. 4-by-100 relay: 1. Taylor Co. (Cross Watson, Owen Skaggs, Jaelyn Anderson, Dalyn Williams) 42.60; 2. LaRue Co. (Oliver Kudrna, Les Colvin, Lee Colvin, Brock Shelton) 42.82; 3. CovCath (Will Danneman, Jack Fender, Garrett Gallagher, Ryan Tenhundfeld) 43.44. 400: 1. Rhett Blettner, CovCath, 48.89; 2. Cayden Pennington, Russell, 49.48; 3. Liam Havens, LexCath, 50.31. 300 hurdles: 1. Carter Lawrence, John Hardin, 39.55; 2. Keyshun Teal, Hopkinsville, 40.67; 3. Ian Alcorn, Mercer Co., 40.86. 800: 1. Asher Feddock, LexCath, 1:55.98; 2. Lennon Smith, Powell Co., 1:57.15; 3. Ethan Cox, Elizabethtown, 1:59.87. 200: 1. Brock Shelton, LaRue Co., 22.12; 2. Dalyn Williams, Taylor Co., 22.37; 3. Lonzell Parks, Valley, 22.67. 3,200: 1. Braden Franxman, CovCath, x-9:17.61; 2. Joe Maer, CovCath, 9:22.92; 3. Mark Reinhart, LexCath, 9:34.51. 4-by-400 relay: 1. CovCath (Rhett Blettner, Sam Stout, Jackson Germann, Jack Fender) 3:27.91; 2. LexCah (Silas Cairns, Liam Havens, Asher Feddock, Eric Smith) 3:29.06; 3. Bourbon Co. (Kenneth Salas, Mark Perraut, Grant Perraut, Jacob Ezell) 3:29.97. Shot put: 1. Reagan Banks, Russell, 52-08.25; 2. Isaac Adkins, Johnson Central, 52-07.25; 3. Shamari Aitkens, Franklin Co., 50-07.5. Discus throw: 1. Noah Nichols, Mercer Co., 169-09; 2. Wyatt Hudson, Russell, 161-07; 3. Ijah Ferguson, Johnson Central, 150-05. Long jump: 1. Armen Smalley, Spencer Co., 21-11.75; 2. Brayden Lightfoot, Warren East, y-21-06; 3. Jonah Gibson, Bath Co., 21-06. Triple jump: 1. Armen Smalley, Spencer Co., 45-08.25; 2. Jaron Johnson, Taylor Co., 44-08; 3. Jayden Sailor, Mercer Co., 44-05.25. High jump: 1. Cameron Cross, Rowan Co., y-6-02; 2. Trazon Lang, Mason Co., 6-02; 3. Tayden Raker, LaRue Co., 6-00. Pole vault: 1. Paul Klosinski, CovCath, y-14-06; 2. Mark Perraut, Bourbon Co., 14-06; 3. Wesley Hurt, Shelby Co., 14-00.

GIRLS

Top 10 teams and central Kentucky scorers—1. Calloway County 108; 2. Lexington Catholic 81; 3. Bourbon County 57; 4. Elizabethtown 34; 5. Boyle County 33.5; t6. Mercer County 33; t6. LaRue County 33; 8. John Hardin 32; 9. Franklin County 26; 10. Mason County 25.5; 12. Lincoln County 22; 15. Western Hills 19.

Individuals—4-by-800 relay: 1. LexCath (Abby Etherington, Ainsley Adair, Sarah Scott, Anna Dawahare) 9:45.35; 2. Corbin (Hadley Elmore, Jaycee Frye, Hartlee Viars, Emma Massengill) 9:56.66; 3. Bourbon Co. (Meadows Hardwick, Ruby DeAtley, Macey McKinzie, Keira Lumley) 9:59.00. 100 hurdles: 1. Mariah Jackson, Franklin Co., y-15.24 (15.234); 2. Layla Green, Calloway Co., 15.24 (15.239); 3. Marleigh Estes, Bourbon Co., 16.49. 100: 1. Jolana Schenkel, McCreary Central, 12.23; 2. Hayden Loveless, Calloway Co., 12.41; 3. Alya Lawrence, John Hardin, 12.74. 4-by-200 relay: 1. LexCath (Zoe Cliburn, Emme Peterson, Lily Knopp, Joanna Bryant) 1:44.71; 2. Calloway Co. (Raylee McClure, Marciyah Mays, Ann Marie Arnett, Hayden Loveless) 1:46.55; 3. Bourbon Co. (Keira Lumley, Makenna Hunter, Paisley Hutchison, Paisley Littrell) 1:47.34. 1,600: 1. Baili Hoten, Thomas Nelson, 5:04.14; 2. Abigail Turner, LexCath, 5:05.12; 3. Jaidan Koch, Calloway Co., 5:06.57. 4-by-100 relay: 1. Calloway Co. (Layla Green, Marciyah Mays, Ann Marie Arnett, Hayden Loveless) 49.36; 2. Franklin Co. (Adaya Clayton, Calah Jones, London White, Mariah Jackson) 50.33; 3. LexCath (Zoe Cliburn, Lily Knopp, Emme Peterson, Savanah Kennedy) 51.09. 400: 1. Addison Felty, Bourbon Co., 58.01; 2. Laila Jackson, Western Hills, 59.11; 3. Aniyah West, John Hardin, 59.17. 300 hurdles: 1. Marleigh Estes, Bourbon Co., 44.94; 2. London White, Franklin Co., 47.29; 3. Hailyn Hughes, Paducah Tilghman, 47.83. 800: 1. Jaidan Koch, Calloway Co., 2:16.24; 2. Abigail Turner, LexCath, 2:18.54; 3. Sarah Scott, LexCath, 2:18.94. 200: 1. Jolana Schenkel, McCreary Central, 25.05; 2. Kendria Wickers, Western Hills, 25.95; 3. Ayla Lawrence, John Hardin, 26.30. 3,200: 1. Baili Hoten, Thomas Nelson, 10:41.33; 2. Isabella Day, LaRue Co., 10:46.95; 3. Mayci Moore, Webster Co., 10:58.79. 4-by-400 relay: 1. LexCath (Joanna Bryant, Wells Moore, Sarah Scott, Abigail Turner) 4:01.00; 2. Bourbon Co. (Keira Lumley, Makenna Hunter, Marleigh Estes, Addison Felty) 4:01.99; 3. Calloway Co. (Emma Lanier, Mariah Cunningham, Vayla Carlise, Jaidan Koch) 4:15.95. Shot put: 1. Germani Crosby, Lincoln Co., 37-10; 2. Keatyn Tynes, Calloway Co., 36-05; 3. Maddi Baker, Mercer Co., 34-06.25. Discus throw: 1. Germani Crosby, Lincoln Co., 136-00; 2. Maddi Baker, Mercer Co., 127-02; 3. Jaycee Hall, Russell, 126-04. Long jump: 1. Lexi Young, Mason Co., 18-10.75; 2. Layla Green, Calloway Co., 17-00; 3. Stella Thompson, Boyle Co., 16-09.5. Triple jump: 1. Ann Marie Arnett, Calloway Co., 37-02; 2. Ralasia Piazza, Mercer Co., 36-02.75; 3. Stella Thompson, Boyle Co., 34-10.75. High jump: 1. Layla Green, Calloway Co., 5-02; t2. Laken Blanford, 5-0; t2. Ralasia Piazza, 5-0. Pole vault: 1. Mikayla Basey, Elizabethtown, 9-00; 2. Lily Gay, Elizabethtown, y-9-00; 3. Reece Klosterman, Boyle Co., 9-00.