byMarc Hardin
Hot on the heels of the first-ever KHSAA-sanctioned indoor track and field championships, the outdoor season is underway for Northern Kentucky high schools. Here is a look at some of the area’s top meet results so far, plus a look at local state leaders.
MUSTANGS DOUBLE UP AT CAMPBELL ALL-COMERS
The Bishop Brossart track and field teams doubled their pleasure at the April 6 Campbell All-Comers Meet at Campbell County High School. The boys edged runner-up Simon Kenton in the points race, 173-148. The girls outpointed Campbell County, 232-204.
Highlighting Bishop Brossart boys winners is Nathan Ruth, a winner in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters. Kaitlyn Kramer won the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles for the Bishop Brossart girls. Teammate Kate Neltner won the long jump and triple jump.
Two athletes put together nationally rated performances. Campbell County’s Olivia Holbrook won the girls 1,600 meters with a time of 5 minutes, 11.87 seconds. St. Henry’s Keanu Ziolkowski won the boys discus with a throw of 155 feet, 1 inch. Both results are considered elite performances, meeting the MileSplit U.S. silver standard.
RYLE TOPS EARLY BOYS STATE RANKINGS
The Ryle boys track and field team is ranked No. 1 in the most recent Kentucky MileSplit all-class rankings with 176 points, just ahead of No. 2 McCracken County (169). Covington Catholic is No. 8 with 82 points.
Ryle is No. 4 in the updated girls rankings with 128 points. Campbell County (100.5) is No. 6 in the girls rankings. Oldham County (192) is No. 1.
AREA’S BEST AMONG INDIVIDUAL STATE LEADERS
MileSplit updates Kentucky high school state leaders in all track and field events. Several area standouts are among individual leaders. In boys events, Covington Catholic’s Ethan Long leads in the 100 meters (10.83). Teammate Joe Mayer leads in the 1,500 meters (4:09.05). Bishop Brossart’s Nathan Ruth leads in the 2K steeplechase (6:19.82).
In girls events, Conner’s Isabella Vonlehman leads in the 400 meters (57.86). Beechwood’s Lily Parke is the leader in the 3,200 meters (11:13.99). Dixie Heights’ Emily Bruns leads in the 300-meter hurdles (47.89). St. Henry’s Anna Guard is tops in discus (124-11). Scott’s Maddie Strong paces all runners in the mile race (5:11.29). Ludlow’s Brooklynn Huff is the leader in the javelin (90-6). Bishop Brossart’s Zoey Woosley leads in the turbo javelin (95-10).
RAIDERS SWEEP STAN STEIDEL INVITATIONAL
Ryle finished first in the boys and girls team standings and Conner placed second at the Stan Steidel Invitational at Holmes. The Ryle boys accrued 143 points to far outdistance runner-up Conner (49). The Raiders’ girls totaled 110 points, well ahead of the Cougars (53).
Evan Smith won the triple jump and the 800-meter race for the Ryle boys. Smith won the triple jump with a leap of 42 feet, 8.5 inches. He captured the 800-meter race by more than eight seconds with a finishing time of 1 minute, 59.12 seconds.
Viktoriya Emelianova and Tianna Carr won multiple events for Ryle’s girls. Carr and teammate Addison McMillen placed 1-2 in the 400 meters. Carr also won the long jump. Emelianova won the shot put and discus. The Raiders’ Jaz Bartlett won the 1,500 meters and Allison Kopser won the 800 meters.
Two Conner athletes put together notable finishes. Isabel Vonlehman won the girls 100 meters in 12.22 seconds. Joey Carroll won the boys 3,200 meters in 9:23.02. Both results are considered elite performances, meeting the MileSplit U.S. silver standard.
COVCATH, BROSSART WIN DIOCESE OF COVINGON TITLES
Covington Catholic and the Bishop Brossart girls emerged victorious at the Diocese of Covington Meet hosted by Notre Dame Academy. Both winning teams posted matching point totals of 200.5. Bishop Brossart’s boys finished second with 191.5 points. Notre Dame finished girls runner-up with 195.5.
CovCath’s Ethan Long dominated the meet by taking first in four events: the 100, 200 and 400 meters plus the long jump. The Colonels’ Will Sheets won the 3,200 meters and Oliver Link won the high jump.
Bishop Brossart girls first-place finishers include double winner Zoey Woosley in the 200 meters and long jump, Kaitlyn Kramer in the 300-meter hurdles, Lexi Braun in the 400 meters and Ava Walters in the shot put.
The event produced one elite performance. St. Henry’s Anna Guard finished first in the discus with a school-record heave of 123 feet, 11 inches, meeting the MileSplit U.S. silver standard.
