Class 3A state track: Douglass sprinter, Woodford Co. distance star stand out

Frederick Douglass junior Kaden John is among the best sprinters in Kentucky, so it’s not a surprise that he gave Lexington one of its two victories on a rainy Saturday at the Class 3A KHSAA State Track and Field State Championships.

What is surprising, though, is that John didn’t leave with two titles. He had the fastest times in both the 100 and 200 all season and won the first amid spitting rain, besting Manual rival Kaden Mack by 0.12 seconds.

Though John got the better of Mack later in the 200, running that in 21.58 seconds, about a half-second faster, he was disqualified there after a lengthy wait between the end of the race and the official award ceremony. John was ruled to have stepped into the lane of another runner during the race and kept off the podium altogether.

The event had already been unlucky for John at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Complex. He finished runner-up last season by 0.006 seconds.

“I think he knew he kind of went out of the lane, the turn got the best of him I guess,” said Douglass coach Crystal Washington. “It was raining, he could’ve been squinting, I really don’t know. I wasn’t him. It’s unfortunate.”

The result also sucked some momentum out of the Broncos, who at the time led the boys team standings and missed out on extending it by 10 points. Depending on how that addition might have affected their collective mood, they conceivably could have finished as high as runner-up, given how the remaining events played out.

Douglass still finished fourth behind Male, Trinity and Cooper, respectively, good for the final team trophy awarded and its highest finish in program history.

“We’ve gotten fifth quite a bit, so this was a step up,” John said. “It’s the first time we’ve gotten to take something home.”

The 200 may be the stronger of John’s three individual events; he also competes in the high jump, where he finished third on Saturday. In April he posted a 21.42 in the 200 at the Eastern Relays, one of Kentucky’s premier events. John also anchored the Broncos’ 4-by-200 relay team, made up entirely of underclassmen and the runner-up to Ryle.

Miami (Fla.) is among the schools recruiting John, who for a time prioritized football but thinks his college future will be on the track.

“I started placing in state championships and breaking records with it as a hobby on the side, but it’s more than football now,” John said.

Big day for Woodford County and Addison Moore

Woodford County’s girls powered through the elements to earn a runner-up team finish behind Oldham County, led by two wins for Addison Moore, the school’s most decorated distance runner.

Moore, a longtime distance star in cross country and track for the Yellow Jackets who will run for Lipscomb University in Nashville, finally broke through for a win in the 1,600-meter run after finishing second, third and second each of the last three Class 3A state meets.

While the senior qualified for the 3,200 in previous meets, she’d never run it at state before Saturday. She also won that event and helped Woodford County get points on the board early as part of its seventh-place 4-by-800 relay team, which had to run in the slower of two heats.

“I just wanted to push myself and make sure I gave it all for everybody that’s been supporting me,” Moore said. “I know the Lord’s brought me through a lot so I just try to run for Him. … It’s so rewarding. This team has worked incredibly hard this whole season.”

Moore was Woodford County’s only winner but its best-ever team finish included points from eight of the 12 running events as well as the triple jump (senior I’Yana Leath finished fourth). Yellow Jackets participated in every event except the 4-by-200 relay, 400, 800 and pole vault.

“This group of girls has been a fun group to work with for, a lot of them, seven years, since they were little sixth-graders and COVID cut their season short,” Woodford County coach Adam Swingle said. “To come and finish like this is very impressive.”

Commodore wins the shot put

Tates Creek senior Miles Hayward was the only other winner out of Lexington on Saturday. He broke through for his first shot put crown after finishing third at last year’s state meet.

“I did think it was going to happen,” said Hayward, who this year was better than last year’s champion, Deegan Croley of Marshall County, by more than 2 feet. “I was hoping to do better in disc but weather’s weather. I hope to do better at nationals.”

Hayward will continue his athletic career at Eastern Kentucky.

“With how late some of my marks started coming in, a lot of the big D-1 schools were filled up on spots, and (EKU) wanted to take me,” Hayward said.

Impressive Warhawk

When she was 4-years-old, Katie Eddington was in a riding lawn mower accident.

Doctors initially tried to nurse her right leg but ultimately amputation at the knee was determined to be the best option for her long-term health. At that time, events for non-able-bodied kids offered at the KHSAA state meets were in their infancy.

A total of fifteen non-scored events were contested during Saturday’s 3A meet. Eddington won two of her three: the Great Crossing junior took gold in the ambulatory discus throw and shot put before finishing runner-up to Eastern’s Ayla Duncan in the ambulatory 100.

She ran in the 100 despite a steady rain that poured throughout the meet and caused her to slip during the race (“I don’t have good tread on me right now.”). Eddington had competed in adapted-only events outside of school but hadn’t represented Great Crossing until this spring.

“Before today I’ve never ran in front of anybody that’s able-bodied, so it’s been a really cool experience,” Eddington said. “I’m glad that my coaches have been helpful and guided me through everything. I’ll be back here.”

Other Lexington athlete highlights

• Malcolm Crow, another junior on Douglass’ second-place 4-by-200 relay team, was runner-up in the triple jump (46-11.75) and fifth in the long jump (21-06).

• Frederick Douglass sophomore O’Naya Harris earned top-eight medal finishes in four events, placing fourth in the 100 (12.19), fifth in the 400 (58.29), sixth in the 200 (25.57) and running anchor for their eighth-place 4-by-200 relay (1:46.22).

• Lafayette distance standouts Xavier Richardson and Van Weimer also claimed medals. Richardson, a senior, scored team points in all the 800 (sixth, 1:55.38), 1,600 (fourth, 4:16.03) and 3,200 (sixth, 4:20.81). Weimer, a junior, ran sixth in the 1,600 (4:20.81) and finished just off the podium in the 800 (1:56.35).

• Heenan-Menges, a Lafayette freshman, might emerge as the favorite in next year’s 3,200 run: she ran third (11:12.02) behind two seniors.

• Senior Aleigha Sullivan and sophomore Kaliyah Broadnax both scored for Lafayette’s girls in the shot put and discus throw. Sullivan was runner-up in the discus (132-09) and fifth in shot (34-09.5). Broadnax came in fourth in discus (121-09) and eighth in shot (34-03).

• Tates Creek finished just outside the top three in the girls 4-by-100 relay. Amiya Brooks, Laura Arbones Romero, Romie Smith and Journey Jackson ran it in 50.69.

Paul Laurence Dunbar senior Ryan Barrett was runner-up in the 300 hurdles, making the podium for the first time after just missing it last season.

CLASS 3A STATE TRACK AND FIELD RESULTS

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

BOYS

Top 10 teams and central Kentucky finishes — 1. Male 57; 2. Trinity 51; 3. Cooper 45; 4. Frederick Douglass 40; t5. Fern Creek 36; t5. Manual 36; 7. St. Xavier 34; 8. Fairdale 33; t9. Madison Central 28; t9. Woodford County 28; 12. Lafayette 22; t14. Tates Creek 20; t18. Paul Laurence Dunbar 12; t23. Scott County 9; t28. West Jessamine 8; 30. East Jessamine 7; t31. Henry Clay 6; t36. George Rogers Clark 4; t39. Bryan Station 2; t43. Great Crossing 1

Individuals — 4-by-800 relay: 1. Trinity (Aidan Albritton, Jake Hagan, Ayden Taylor, Sullivan Yaden) x-7:46.44; 2. Male (Henry Kiser, Nehemiah Kiser, Brady Filippazzo, Darnell Cauley) 7:59.06; 3. Manual (Ian Moore, John Willen, Brooks Crosby, Oliver Zausch) 8:02.31. 110 hurdles: 1. Kabilan Murugesu, Fairdale, 14.10; 2. Riley Burton, Fern Creek, 14.33; 3. Calvin Mitchell, PRP, 14.89. 100: 1. Kaden John, Frederick Douglass, 10.59; 2. Kaden Mack, Manual, 10.71; 3. Kyeshon Young, Fern Creek, 10.91. 4-by-200 relay: 1. Ryle (Bredyn Elder, Nathan Verax, Cruze Sauley, Parker Wilson) 1:29.72; 2. Frederick Douglass (Ziyier George, Malcolm Crow, Olisaemeka Ibekwe, Kaden John) 1:29.87; 3. Manual (Jayden Stallard, Elliot Gray, Gerian Traynor, Kaden Mack) 1:29.94. 1,600: 1. Paul Van Laningham, Cooper, 4:10.56; 2. Nick Sanders, St. Xavier, 4:14.29; 3. Ethan Mann, Conner, 4:15.21. 4-by-100 relay: 1. Fairdale (Jarel Butler, Lukas Lawless, Kabilan Murugesu, Tre Smith) 43.53; 2. Woodford Co. (Christopher Reed, Jordan Diallo, Jeremiah Clark, Elijah Ward) 43.78; 3. Manual (Gerian Traynor, Elliot Gray, Jayden Stallard, Kaden Mack) 44.09. 400: 1. Luke Roner, South Warren, 48.64; 2. Andrew Haskins, Trinity, 49.99; 3. Miach Hoke, North Bullitt, 50.18. 300 hurdles: 1. Riley Burton, Fern Creek, 38.10; 2. Ryan Barrett, Dunbar, 39.12; 3. Kabilan Murugesu, Fairdale, 39.15. 800: 1. Nehemiah Kiser, Male, 1:51.72; 2. Paul Van Laninham, Cooper, 1:51.90; 3. Nicholas Kopp, Dixie Heights, 1:53.72. 200: 1. Kaden Mack, Manual, 22.17; 2. Mac Frank, West Jessamine, 22.19; 3. Manny Burrus, Madisonville, y-22.22. 3,200: 1. Kobey Yates, Marshall Co., 9:07.25; 2. Paul Van Laningham, Cooper, 9:09.75; 3. Ayden Taylor, Trinity, 9:13.07. 4-by-400 relay: 1. Male (Malcolm Ponder, Henry Kiser, Evan Grane, Nehemiah Kiser) 3:20.94; 2. Dixie Heights (Drew Carskadon, Thompson Hall, Brennan Simpson, Nicholas Kopp) 3:21.17; 3. Trinity (Chris Fryrear, Jake Hagan, Sullivan Yaden, Andrew Haskins) 3:22.29. Shot put: 1. Miles Hayward, Tates Creek, 57-10; 2. Deegan Croley, Marshall Co., 55-09.75; 3. Lathan Koher, Madison Central, 54-01. Discus throw: 1. Lathan Koher, Madison Central, 158-11; 2. Miles Hayward, Tates Creek, 152-10; 3. Greyson Billingsley, Barren Co., 152-04. Long jump: 1. Sean Anderson, Male, 23-01.25; 2. Timothy Vessels, Meade Co., 23-00; 3. Jibril Miller, Eastern, 22-10.5. Triple jump: 1. Ibrahim Soumare, Fern Creek, 47-02; 2. Malcolm Crow, Douglass, 46-11.75; 3. Jeremiah Byishimo, Moore, 45-03.5 High jump: 1. Aaron Ramey, Male, 6-08; 2. Mitchell Staples, Meade Co., 6-06; 3. Kaden John, Douglass, 6-04. Pole vault: 1. Corey Freihofer, Cooper, 14-06; 2. Dawson Hayden, McCracken Co., y-14-00; 3. Logan Sams, Madison Central, 14-00

GIRLS

Top 10 teams and central Kentucky finishes — 1. Oldham County 59; Woodford County 55; t3. Assumption 53; t3. North Oldham 53; 5. Male 51; 6. Manual 43; 7. Bullitt East 30; 8. Lafayette 29; 9. Frederick Douglass 26; 10. George Rogers Clark 24; 14. Madison Central 17; t27. Bryan Station 6; t27. Henry Clay 6; t27. Scott County; t33. Tates Creek 5; t36. Great Crossing 3; t39. Paul Laurence Dunbar 2.

Individuals — 4-by-800 relay: 1. Assumption (Caitlin Perkins, Maura Ferguson, Mabel George, Kinsley Yaden) 9:25.55; 2. Bullitt East (Caroline Mooney, Alex Egan, Haley Recktenwald, Savannah Mooney) 9:34.22; 3. North Oldham (Mille Huang, Audrey Perkins, Caroline Stickle, Elle Cargould) 9:41.47. 100 hurdles: 1. Hannah Sutherland, Bullitt East, 14.83; 2. Sophia Shenk, North Oldham, 15.15; 3. Charla Gormley, Woodford Co., 15.32. 100: 1. Grace Bethel, Male, 11.77; 2. Clara Warrick, Oldham Co., 11.87; 3. Hannah McColl, Woodford Co. 4-by-200 relay: 1. Oldham County (Kaley Yamnitz, Juliann Foushee, Olivia Jasper, Clara Warrick) 1:40.60; 2. Male (Payton Jennings, RaKhyla Clayton, Asia Preston Logan, Jiyanna Taylor) 1:43.47; 3. Bowling Green (Faith Evans, Keilynn Wardlow, Nahla Kaufkins, Mia Greenwell) 1:43.47. 1,600: 1. Addison Moore, Woodford Co., 4:59.76; 2. Lucy Gaunt, Sacred Heart, 5:05.81; 3. Celia Maudlin, Manual, 5:08.58. 4-by-100 relay: 1. Assumption (Ava Moore, Eulalia Powell, Sam Lindle, Se’Rae Bundrent-Palmer) 48.95; 2. Owensboro (Kimora Duncan, Nakiyah Voyles, Zah’Niyah Board, Jazlyn Douglas) 50.12; 3. Male (Payton Jennings, Jaliyah Taylor, Jiyanna Taylor, RaKhyla Clayton) 50.67. 400: 1. Clara Warrick, Oldham Co., 55.11; 2. Soren Wilson, Sacred Heart, 56.77; 3. Gracie Hoskins, South Laurel, 57.15. 300 hurdles: 1. Sophia Shenk, North Oldham, 45.06; 2. Charla Gormley, Woodford Co., 45.68; 3. Aubrelle Neal, Oldham Co., 46.53. 800: 1. Mabel George, Assumption, 2:09.63; 2. Diana Nava, Oldham Co., 2:17.65; 3. Avery Vanlandingham, Conner, 2:18.62. 200: 1. Grace Bethel, Male, 24.39; 2. Hannah McColl, Woodford co., 24.77; 3. Noelle Allen, North Hardin, 25.23. 3,200: 1. Addison Moore, Woodford Co., 10:46.90; 2. Elle Cargould, North Oldham, 10:56.44; 3. Macyn Heenan-Menges, Lafayette, 11:12.02. 4-by-400 relay: 1. Assumption (Se’Rae Bundrent Palmer, Kylie Moore, Mabel George, Kinsley Yaden) 3:59.84; 2. Oldham Co. (Juliann Foushee, Diana Nava, Aubrelle Neal, Olivia Jasper) 4:00.37; 3. Sacred Heart (Angelique Redd, Lucy Gaunt, Caroline Cundiff, Soren Wilson) 4:00.51. Shot put: 1. Tamari Oliver, Central, 42-09.75; 2. Ava Dunn, Cooper, 40-10; 3. Da Lani Brown, Male, 36-07.5 Discus throw: 1. Ari Carter, Dixie Heights, 133-05; 2. Aleigha Sullivan, Lafayette, 132-09; 3. Mya Williams, Frederick Douglass, 126-10. Long jump: 1. Alexis Howard, Simon Kentoin, 19-01.25; 2. Sophia Shenk, North Oldham, 18-08.75; 3. Teigh Yeast, GRC, 18-00.5 Triple jump: 1. Alexis Howard, Simon Kenton, 39-00; 2. Teigh Yeast, GRC, 38-01.5; 3. Favor Odebowale, Manual, 36-03. High jump: 1. Chloe Quinn, South Oldham, y-5-02; 2.Kylie Moore, Assumption, y-5-02; t3. Spencer Gray, Eastern, 5-02; t3. Ellie Girten, Daviess Co., 5-02. Pole vault: 1. Bailey Howard, GRC, 11-06; 2. MaryLou Ogbe, Manual, y-11-00; 3. Antigone Utz, Madison Central, 11-0.