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HIGH SCHOOL-KENTUCKY

State title long time coming for Bearcats

James Weber
jweber@communitypress.com
  • Walton-Verona wins state title in 4x400 relay

LEXINGTON – There are storybook endings to a career, but Jon Jones ordered a Hollywood script with twists and turns for his final race in a Walton-Verona High School uniform.

In the last event of the Class 1A state championship meet, Jones came from behind to lead the Bearcats to the state title in the 4x400-meter relay May 24 at the University of Kentucky. Jones teamed with junior Corbin Flege, junior Nicolas Johnston and sophomore Noah Richardson for the first state title for any of them.

“It feels amazing, especially being my senior year,” Jones said. “My last race of track ever, I get to share with these guys. I thank our coaches and everyone that was there with us. They’re amazing.”

Jones took the baton in second place and gradually caught up to his Louisville Collegiate counterpart. After he passed his opponent in the final 200 meters, Jones had to hold him off in the final stretch.

“I got the baton and I was thinking I just got to catch him, do it for my team,” Jones said. “At the 200 mark, I was thinking he’s mine, I’m going to get him. In the last 100, I was thinking you can’t pass me - I’ve worked too hard for this to let my teammates down. I’ve worked six years trying to get this.”

Jones’ efforts were not lost on his younger Bearcat teammates.

“Six years. He’s been doing this for so long,” Flege said. “He deserves something like this. He had a rough start to the day and we did this for him. Every bit of it, every step I took, was for JJ.”

Jones had not medaled in his two solo events, including a disqualification for a lane violation in the 400, but bounced back in the end.

“I’m glad I could lead everyone in the right direction,” Jones said. “It feels amazing. I thank Coach A (head coach Phil Amstutz) for giving me the chance to lead this team.”

Said Richardson: “It’s amazing, breaking the school record. We came in with a 3:33 and came out with a 3:28. That feels really good.”

The Bearcats won seven medals overall in the boys meet, and the last one was the sweetest.

“It’s definitely worth the pain,” Flege said. “The pain only lasts a couple of seconds, this will last forever.”

Jones, Richardson, Scott Smith and Colin Crook were second in the 4x200. Smith won the maximum four medals for the Bearcats, three solo.

The girls team won four medals, three in relays, including second place in the 4x400 to end the meet.

In 3A, the Boone County school district racked up a total of 12 state medals.

Boone County had three, including two runner-up finishes by Jena Doellman in girls triple jump and high jump.

Conner’s Olivia Panella was third in girls long jump. Cooper had four medals, led by Julia Henderson’s third-place finish in the girls 400.

Ryle had four medals, one in a boys relay and three solo finishes by the girls team. Alexandra Patterson (800) and Casey Springer (pole vault) each had fifth-place medals.

Follow James Weber on Twitter, @RecorderWeber

State Track medalists

Walton-Verona boys

4x200: 2nd (1:31.66) – Jon Jones, Colin Crook, Noah Richardson, Scott Smith.

4x400: State champion (3:28.51) – Jon Jones, Corbin Flege, Noah Richardson, Nicolas Johnston.

4x800: 3rd (8:27.76) – Nathan Akins, Caleb Flege, Dustin Hutchinson, Matthew Harper.

Clark Crook: 6th in long jump (19-9.25).

Scott Smith: 8th in 400 (53.40), 7th in long jump (19-9), 8th in triple jump (39-8.5).

Walton-Verona girls

4x100: 4th (52.16) – Lauren Mulcahy, Jordan Derenthal, Sarah Johnston, Brandey Webster.

4x400: 2nd (4:16.45) – Danielle Dixon, Sarah Johnston, Emily Wells, Shelby Mullikin.

Boone County boys

Barry Ordu: 7th in 400 (50.86).

Boone County girls

Jena Doellman: 2nd in triple jump (35-1.5), 2nd in high jump (5-2).

Conner girls

Olivia Panella: 3rd in long jump (17-1).

Cooper boys

4x800: 5th (8:05.96) – Zachary Stewart, Jake Vandermosten, Mitchell Greenhalgh, Aaron Kelter.

Zachary Stewart: 4th in 3,200 (9:29.90).

Cooper girls

Hannah Held: 6th in high jump (5-0).

Julia Henderson: 3rd in 400 (55.82).

Ryle boys

4x200: 8th (1:32.14) - Ryan Hill, Mitchel Bateman, Grant Smith, Nathan Winegardner.

Ryle girls

Alexandra Patterson: 5th in 800 (2:19.95).

Casey Springer: 5th in pole vault (9-6).

Alexis Stockton: 7th in discus (98-9).