Flairty, Clines lead way for Camels

ALEXANDRIA – While Jennah Flairty has become used to winning on both the track and the cross country course, she doesn’t take it for granted.

The Campbell County High School junior enjoyed a double-win May 10 during the Class 3A, Region 5 championships at Dixie Heights. The distance runner won both the 1,600 meters and the 3,200.

“It’s awesome. I wasn’t expecting that because I was ranked second in the two-mile (3,200),” she said.

Flairty won automatic berths to the state meet May 24 at the University of Lexington. She also finished third in the 800 and has a good chance to run that at state. The top two finishers in each regional event gain state berths plus the next 10 best performances statewide.

Shortly after the 3,200, Flairty ran a leg of the 4x400 relay and helped the Camels finish sixth.

“It’s not tough because I know I can handle it.” Flairty said. During the regional, all runners got a break with a 90-minute rain delay. “I felt really good. It was really tough, but the weather turned good after we got done with the rain delay.”

The 3,200 was a highlight as Flairty ran a personal best 12 minutes, 0.71 seconds. She was stride to stride with Simon Kenton seventh-grader Sophia Delisio for most of the race before pulling ahead on the final lap. Flairty had raced Delisio for the first time a week prior, losing to her by two seconds.

“My goal was to stay with her the whole time and stay on her shoulder because I knew I could run with her, and then try to get a PR,” Flairty said. “I stayed with her.”

Running is all about milestones for the junior, who has been at it since sixth grade.

“I get to meet my goals and beat people,” she said. “I like meeting goals, setting them and being able to get them.”

Flairty’s efforts were matched, and then some, by freshman teammate Rebecca Cline. She set meet records in both hurdle events, winning the 100 hurdles in 15.85 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 46.24.

In the boys meet, senior Benjamin See was an automatic qualifier to state, finishing second in the pole vault at 11-feet. To lead contenders for at-large state berths, senior Devon Strange was fourth in the 100 and the 400 and junior Mark Chaplin fourth in the 3,200. Andrew Hyden was fourth in triple jump and John Leopold fourth in pole vault. Doug Carson was third in shot put and Kaylee Johnson was fourth in girls shot put.

Follow James on Twitter, @RecorderWeber