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By Cindy Reilly
For The Jessamine Journal
The West Jessamine Middle School Girls team ruled the track and field at the Salt River Conference on May 6 in Lincoln County, defeating second place Anderson County by 59 points.
The boys gave an impressive performance, tying Anderson for first with 151 points. Thezre was a total of eight middle schools competing.
The girls relay teams all finished in the top three in their races and the boys finished in the top three in all but one. Both the girls and boys won the 4 x 200-meter relay. The girls’ team consisted of Margaret Bellew, Esther Kratzer, Aliyah Holder and Jordan McKenzie with a time of 1:57.22. The boys’ team included Will Rich, Wyatt Schlafer, Ezra Jacobson and Jay Emerson with a time of 1:54.02. The boys and girls 4 x 800-meter each took second. The boys included Cambel Brown, Carter McMillen, David Martin and Wade Edmonds with a time of 10:37.24.7. The girls’ team was made up of Kiersten Stryker, Christiana Barlow, Kennedy Bender and Layni Shouse and ran a time of 11:51.52. The 4 x 400-meter teams each nabbed third place.
The girls’ team included Abby Rexford, Christiana Barlow, Lyani Shouse and Esther Kratzer, running a time of 4:56.42. The boys’ team was run with Wyatt Schlafer, Jonathan Strange, David Martin, and Ezra Jacobson finishing with a time of 4:44.59. The girls’ team also won the 4 x 100-meter with a time of 56.01. Members include Margauret Bellew, Aliyah Holder, Nysenia Arnold and Jordan McKenzie.
Jordan Mckenzie and Margaret Bellew took second and third in the 100-meter run with times of 13.61 and 14.10, respectively. Jordan and Margaret also placed first and second in the girls 200-meter with impressive time of 28.47 and 29.00, respectively. Mathias Robertson, took second place in the boys 100-meter with a time of 12.55 and also second place in the 200 meter with a time of 26.02.
Brother and sister Joy and Nathan Livingston each won the 100-meter hurdles. Joy won with a time of 20.78 and Nathan with 15.95. They won again with the 300-meter hurdle event. Joy had a time of 56.32 and Nathan with 49.82.
Trevor Bush got second place in the boys 400-meter sprint with a time of 64.04.
Esther Kratzer won the 800-meter in 2:41.01 and Kiersten Stryker placed second with a time of 2:41.05. Stryker also placed 3rd in the girls 1600-meter run with a time of 5:56.06. Cambel Brown took second in the boys 800-meter run with a time of 2:26.22 and also nabbed a first place in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:22.21. Kennedy Bender, took third place in the 3200-meter run with a time of 14:52.64.
West also did well in the field events. Mathias Robertson won the long jump with a leap of 16-3 and grabbed second in the triple jump with 34-03. Esther Kratzer took second in the girls’ triple jump with 28-11.5. West grabbed second in both the boys’ and girls’ high jump Kiersten Stryker jumped 4-4 and Will Rich 4-10. Torria Daniels, placed third in both the shot put and javelin with a put of 27-6 and a javelin throw of 40-06.
The West vaulters took first and second in both the boys and girls pole vault. Abby Rexford was first for the girls with a height of 7 foot and Lilly Muncer placed second with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches. Carter McMillen won the boys event with a vault of 6 feet, 6 inches and Zeke Miller took second with 5 feet, 6 inches.
Fourth year head coach Davis Dickens said she has really seen the entire team develop, adding that she loves coaching Track and Field and is committed to these young athletes.
“I’m really seeing it all come together this year,” Dickens said. “We have coverage in all the events.”
Davis said she is very proud of this year’s team. It was difficult for her to say who she viewed as a team leader as they have such a great crew of middle school athletes.
“I’d have to say Abby Rexford has emerged as a leader. She has great flexibility doing long jump, high jump, pole vault and even picking up an open 400 meters when we need her. Jay Emmerson has also stepped up, helping lead the way in the sprints, always pushing through and being there.”
Both teams will be competing at the Middle School State Championship on MAy 25 at the University of Louisville