Eight records fall at Clark Country track and field championships

“It wasn’t really on my mind but I wanted to do the best I can,” said Scott, who broke records in the 100-meter dash, 200, 400 relay and long jump. “Fortunately my best is breaking four county records.”

Scott won the 100 in 10.94 seconds, the 200 in 22.22 and teamed with Mike Brown, Jacob Yost and Austin Tyree to win the 400 relay in 43.63. It was the long jump record he wanted most, but Scott considered not jumping on Tuesday because of the weather.

He went 21-6 on his first jump, good enough to win the county title but short of the meet-record 21-10.5 set by Cal Phillips of Kenton Ridge in 2016. Scott’s next two jump came up shorter than his first. Then on his final attempt – and using a little more of that sprinter’s speed on the runway – Scott unleashed a 22-0.5 for the new record.

“The long jump, my mind was set on that,” Scott said. “I’m hoping they stand for a long time. But I’m sure someone will come up working harder than me. As long as we keep it in the (Springfield High School) circle.”

Mix in Tyree’s sweep of the 110 and 300 hurdles and the Wildcats won six of the 17 events. But with depth, especially in the distance events, and some help Shawnee’s boys edged Springfield 139 to 136.5 to repeat as county champions. Shawnee’s girls completed the Braves’ sweep with 131.5 points to knock off defending champ Tecumseh (126 points).

“As coach (Mike Garberich) said it was truly a team victory,” Shawnee assistant coach Joe Vanuch said. “The county track meet is always the highlight of the year for all the schools so to get that was fun.”

Springfield led Shawnee entering the final event. But the Wildcats were disqualified from the 1,600 relay on a lane violation. Shawnee’s Dylan Holland, Jaren Weller, Balin McGhee and Robie Glass won the event in a meet record 3:28.31 for the final margin.

Shawnee was disqualified in the 800 relay for a passing lane violation and also failed to score in the high jump when Glass, the Division II defending state champion, failed to clear the bar on any of his attempts.

“It’s a crazy thing,” Vanuch said. “The greatest thing about track is you come to compete and some days are great days and some are not great days. But you go out and enjoy the competition. … They’re individual events but you make a team. That’s the fun part.”

Among other highlights from the meet held at Springfield High School:

•Greenon sophomore Delaney Benedict ran a leg on the winning 1,600 relay team (4:19.39) and won the 200 (26.11) and 400 (57.85) dashes, establishing a new record in the latter. She dueled friend and fellow sophomore Jaci Rife of Tecumseh in both events. Rife finished second each time.

“It feels good. I feels painful but good,” Benedict said of her 400 run. “I was worried because it’s cold out and it’s drizzling. I wasn’t expecting anything special. … I was hoping for a solid 58. But 57 is even better so I’ll take it.”

Rife, in addition to those runner-up finishes, won the long jump (15-07) and the 100 dash (12.94).

“I love running with her,” Benedict said. “ I was nervous because she’s a sub-minute. I knew she was the one I had to watch out for.”

•Northwestern sophomore Adam Riedinger swept the shot (57-02) and discus (158-07). The effort in the shot was a meet record and he came up two inches shy of tying the mark in the discus. Sophomore teammate Korbin Spencer finished second in both events.

•Catholic Central sophomore Addie Engel set a record in the 3,200 run in 11:22.38. Shawnee sophomore Olivia Warax also came in under the record in 11:22.98 for second.

•Tecumseh junior Garrett Gemmaka won the 800 (2:01.99) and the 1,600 (4:33.33). He also ran a leg on the winning 3,200 relay team.

•Shawnee’s McGhee won the 400 (52.19) to help the Braves in their title chase. For the girls, junior Hannah Schartz won the high jump (4-09), sophomore Jace Mitchem won the pole vault (9-0) and Grace Holmes won the 1,600 (5:18:09).