Future in mind after Pioneers claim track title

INDEPENDENCE – While Brent Russell was enjoying the present, he also had the past and future in mind.

The Simon Kenton High School senior was rejoicing in the team's Class 3A, Region 5 boys team championship May 10 at Dixie Heights. Head coach Jesse Herbst believes it is the first regional championship in program history.

"It's awesome," Russell said. "Ever since I was a sophomore, coach said our senior year would be the year you'll win the region. Ever since then, I've been pushing my hardest to get there. We need it for track, because track is looked down on at SK, so winning the region will help bring the track spirit up and maybe more people will join next year."

SK had 120.5 points to 104.5 for second-place Dixie Heights. The Pioneers scored 67.5 points in the field events.

"It's a long time coming," Herbst said. "I've been here 10 years trying for a regional championship. Three years ago, we said this would be the team to win the region. They pulled it out today. Our field's always been our strong point and today they stepped up. Our 4x1 and 4x2 relays were sitting third coming in and we came out winning them, so those were two big swings."

SK won six events and was second in four others to gain automatic berths to the state. In addition to the top two finishers in each event, the next best 10 performances statewide gain a berth to state.

Logan Winkler was the brightest standout with three championships and a runner-up finish. He won the triple jump and was second in the long jump, shattering personal bests in both events, and also won the high jump by tying his personal best of 6-foot-2. Winkler also anchored the 4x100 titlists with Ben Mulberry, Dillon Powell and Dylan Hampton.

Russell, Powell and Mulberry had a pair of titles, as they teamed with Chase Wilson in the 4x200. Russell dominated the 300 hurdles in 40.23 to win that title, and was second in the 110 hurdles.

"I'm ready for state. I think we'll do great there," Russell said.

Tucker Mueller won the discus. Cameron Hansel took second in the shot put, and Isaiah Evans took second to Winkler in the triple jump. Evans was third in the long jump and scored 14 of the 67.5 field points. Grant Vercheck was third in discus. Connor Edwards tied for fifth in pole vault.

"I'm very proud of our team, especially our field events that really came in clutch today," said Hansel, a senior. "Putting up 68 points before our runners even had to touch the track is a really big deal."

The SK girls team finished third with 84.5 points. The 4x200 won with Amarah Nicholson, Christina Cook, Abby Owings and Mackenzie Hester. The same foursome was second in the 4x100. Nicholson (200) and Cook (400) won individual titles as Cook continued her individual dominance in that event.

Nicholson, a move-in from Washington State, was a big key this year.

"She's amazing, she was the X factor for us," Herbst said. "The sprint girls were amazing. (Cook) is unbelievable. If I had one more Cookie, I'd be the happiest guy alive. She was phenomenal."

Seventh-grader Sophia Delisio took second in the 3,200 to gain a berth at state, and combined to finish second in the 4x800 with Hester, Meredith Hiles and Mckenzie Lachmann.

The state meet is May 24 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Follow James on Twitter, @RecorderWeber