Taylor Ewert once again played the "dual threat" role competing in the 2mile and 4x400 relay
Lexington, KY-
It was stated earlier that the hype matched the outcome for this edition of the Kentucky HS Invitational. Virtually every event girls and boys stood out and that's the spirit of track and field.
There was a nice buffer between the field events and the start of the track action. Of the first events on the docket was the girls long jump. Two of the nation's top four were initially on the heat sheet as Bullis teammates US#2 Aniella Delafosse and #4 Lauryn Harris respectively. Harris scratched from the competition to focus on the hurdles and Delafosse was a non-factor third placer. So unexpectedly the duel would be between Midwesterners Kennedy Jackson of Walled Lake Western, MI and Ameia Wilson of Danville, IL. Jackson took the lead early and remained clean throughout all four of her attempts including a series-best 18-5.25. As was the case with Wilson who is a tremendous all-around athlete and speedster, she often is hit or miss in the pit. Wilson fouled on her first two attempts and finally nailed a game tieing 18-5.25. She darted out of the sand with a big smile knowing that it was her best effort. Jackson would get the win because of her second effort was superior.
The state of Indiana had a strong presence in the horizontal jumps. The first one was high jumper Shelby Tyler of Noblesville. The University of Georgia bound star is the nation's top athlete in this event. This is a fact despite the US #2 tag. Tyler had already cleared 6-feet coming in and with the field so light, the only incentive other than getting a workout in the books was going after the fieldhouse record of 5-11. Tyler won the competition on her first attempt 5-6.50 and went over 5-8 with ease in one try. The next flight 5-10 was not as easy and on the final attempt, it was a narrow miss... it was a competitive three vaulter affair between senior Kennedy Drish of Hamilton Southeastern IN, junior Riley Hunt of Greenville OH, and junior Eileen Yang of Beavercreek, OH. Hunt came as the favorite with the sixth-best vault in the country of 13-2. All three cleared 12-5.50 and then Yang was the first to wave the white flag. She appeared tired and struggled on her three attempts at 12-11.50. Drish and Hunt had three good attempts and Hunt almost made her last try but the bar fell as she laid on the mat. Drish stayed undefeated on the season with the victory coming via fewer misses.
A good hurdles and sprints field was on full display. The battle for the 60HH title was set up by prelim wins by favorites juniors Jasmine Jones of Georgia (ATL Zoom TC) and Aasia Laurencin of Oak Park, MI. Jones placed third here last year before going on to take the Bronze medal at NBIN. Laurencin, on the other hand, was an emerging force according to her coach Brandon Jiles. She had won her AAU Nationals age group final of the 100HH last summer. Jones' 8.33 was a strong statement and it took over the national lead. In the final, it would be all Jones who lowered time once again to 8.32 and held off Laurencin who topped a fine 8.37. The pair will more than likely rematch in a few weeks in New York at NBNI. Expect previous national leaders from Virginians Shadajah Ballard and Kori Carter to be in attendance.
Everyone's favorite Semira Killebrew was ready to continue her undercover dominance as she set the tempo with a prelim leading 7.48 in heat one. After that, it was about matching up the field to oppose her. The Indy Brebeuf took no prisoners- dashing far wide of runner up Kaylyn Heath of Lakota East, OH 7.36-7.51. Jones' hurdles celebration was short lived as she took third in 7.53.
A big question mark loomed bright as the 400m approached. 'Who would be the champion?' There had never been a three-time champion in the history of the event. Senior Dajour Miles of West Aurora had talked of the three-peat but after scratching the 60m final, there were some whispers that she may not run it. But low and behold she appeared and took it out on the field. Cinnamon as she is often called held a narrow lead entering the home straight. It appeared as though she might be caught by Jaydan Wood of Pickerington, OH, it was not to be. Miles held on 55.09-55.18. It was a great mob scene that thrilled the crowd and her future Wildcat teammates... it was a surprise but for the second time in as many years, an Ohio girl won the 200. The little known Serena Clark of Lakota East stunned Bullis star, Leah Phillips and Killebrew. Her time of 24.09 was a personal best indoor and it is now US #9.
The distance events had some strong suits as well. The mile was an exciting tilt as five runners broke the 5:00 barrier. One of the favorites coming in was Madison Trippett who traveled a considerable distance from West Virginia. Trippett, who is from Parkersburg, represented the WV All-Stars tried to win the whole thing from start to finish. On the bell lap, Brynne Sumner of Woodstock, Georgia took over the lead and dashed hard over the final 150m to win in 4:52.08- just off of her season best. Sumner summed up her win as something that she expected to win. "I wanted to wait until the final lap to make my move," she said in dispatching Trippett who ran 4:55.76.
Trippett's club mate Victoria Starcher of Ripley, WV is also an accomplished miler in her own respect holding down the US #3 spot at 4:45.14 and just last weekend placed second at the Millrose Games. But for this time, it was an opportunity to drop down and compete in the 800m. Starcher had the lead within the first 30 seconds and opened up the gap on the field, hitting the first 400 in 63.4. It was all over and a race against the clock to get the meet record and field house record. Starcher crossed the finish line in a personal indoor best 2:08.32- good for US#5. Emoni Coleman of Georgia slid into the runner up spot at 2:12.77. Marne Sullivan of New Trier IL closed well to place third for a state-best 2:13.33
The final stanza was the two-mile. Although the field was not stellar and missing two-time champion Katelynne Hart of Glenbard West. But it did have the "dual threat" Taylor Ewert of Beavercreek, OH. Ewert is a coach's dream because will do anything asked of her. In this instance, Ewert took out an honest early pace with Emma Bucher of Centerville, OH. After two laps, it was all Ewert who later hit the first mile in 5:08.8. She was well ahead of her all-time best which is 10:35 outdoors. Ewert's father and coaches barked orders each circuit and she checked her watch as insurance. At last, Ewert stormed home in a US #2 10:28.35. The emerging Bucher earned a personal best US #15 10:53.52- all good for second place. But for Ewert, she changed singlets and competed on her team's 4x400 relay. She split 61.2 with about 15 minutes rest.