Hornets compete at regional track meet; Ralph takes 2nd in 400

By Steve Wimmer

The HCHS track & field teams competed in the Region 2, Class A meet held at Apollo High School in Owensboro Tuesday. The top two in each event automatically qualify for state, while the next 10 best times across the state receive at large bids.

“I am very proud of the team. We are young, with only three seniors,” HCHS coach Chris Hawkins said. “We are going to miss Aly (Voyles), Lauren (Proctor) and Nolan’s (DeJarnette) leadership. I am excited for the future as we had several freshmen, sophomores and middle school runners in this meet. I want to thank my assistant coaches for a great season.”

Lexus Ralph placed second in the girls 400 meter dash with a time of 1:04.23, and Sydney Weatherholt was 15th in 1:13. Tessa Miles of Bethlehem won in 1:02.92.

“Lexus ran a good race. She works to improve every day,” the coach said.

Aly Voyles placed third in the girls 1600 meter run in 6:03, and Juliana Nevitt was 11th in 7:12. Anna Grace Blythe of Metcalfe County won in 5:45.

“Aly and Nolan both ran their PR’s in the 1600,” Hawkins said.

The girls 4×800 meter relay team placed third in 11:06. Ralph, Voyles, Weatherholt and Izzy Ross ran for HCHS. Coach Hawkins said this group will likely receive an at large bid for state.

The same girls placed fourth in the 4×400 relay. Their time was 4:45.

Cooper Jones placed fourth in the 400 meter dash with a time of 54.32 seconds. Malik Blunt of Fort Knox won in 50.05.

Ben Baker was fourth in the high jump with a height of 5 feet, four inches. Landon Franich of Edmonson County won at 5–10.

Nolan DeJarnette placed seventh in the boys 1600 meter run with a time of 5:06, and Hunter Stephens was 12th in 5:21. Jayden Marr of Green County won in 4:39.

Story Conway finished seventh in the girls discus with a throw of 77–09 feet, and Brianna Mooneyham was 18th at 55–06. Karrington Peger of Edmonson County won at 98–02.

Alex Basham was seventh in the boys triple jump with a distance of 34–10.75, and Braydon Wathen was 14th at 29–10.75. Allston Leggette of Fort Knox won at 40–02.

Basham was eight in the long jump with a leap of 17–11.50, and Wathen was 17th at 15–03. Lionel Taylor of Fort Knox won at 20–02.25.

Baker placed eighth in the 100 meter dash in 11.85 seconds, and Wathen was 17th in 12.69. Blunt won in 10.85.

Noah Henson was eighth in the boys 800 meters in 2:20.21, and DeJarnette was ninth in 2:20.28. Garrett Scott of Cumberland County won in 2:08.

Ross was eighth in the girls high jump with a height of 4–02. Autumn Spillman of Metcalfe County won at 4–06.

Tessa Walls was 10th in the girls 100 meters with a time of 14.02 seconds, and Hannah Jackson was 23rd in 15.35. Jermani Morris of Russellville won in 13.14.

Damion Basham was 10th in the boys 3200 meters in 12:53. Isaac Riggs of Bethlehem won in 10:38.

Eli Embry was 10th in the 110 hurdles in 22.64 seconds. Jake Bishop of Green County won in 16.86.

Alex Basham was 11th in the boys shot put with a throw of 36–10. Kelson McKinney of Green County won at 46 feet.

Conway was 11th in the girls shot put with a toss of 21–04, and Mooneyham was 12th at 20 feet. Peger won at 31–02.5.

James Singleton was 15th in the boys discus with a throw of 98–02, and Aiden Embry was 18th at 87–08. Luke Popovich of Bethlehem won at 133–04.

Jones was 15th in the boys 200 meter dash in 26.49, and Baker was 16th in 26.72. Blunt won in 22.39.

Walls was 15th in the girls 200 dash in 31.10, and Jackson was 22nd in 33.32. Morris won in 27.89.

Embry placed 12th in the 300 meter hurdles in 56.80. Kadyn McElnain of McLean County won in 41.44.

Nevitt was 14th in the girls long jump with a leap of 10–10.75. Kashlynn Rice of McLean County won at 15–03.75.

The boys 4×100 meter relay team was sixth in 49.18 seconds. Runners were Hayden Shearn,  Wathen, Alex Basham and Baker.

The boys 4×800 relay team was sixth in 9:35. Runners were DeJarnette, Stephens, Henson and Damion Basham.

The boys 4×400 relay team was ninth in 4:07. Runners were DeJarnette, Stephens, Henson and Jones.

Bethlehem won the girls overall title with 102 points. Hancock County was eighth with 24 points.

Green County won the boys title with 138 points. Hancock County was 11th with 10 points.