Time for track
Track and field season is already under way, but Saturday marks the beginning of the busiest time of year on the area tracks.
It starts with the Alvis Johnson Heart of the Bluegrass, the longest-running local meet, which will be held Saturday in Harrodsburg. Started by Harrodsburg and now continued by Mercer County, the meet has been renamed to honor the former Harrodsburg coach who made it what it is.
Twenty teams are entered, including almost all of the local schools. The field also includes Central, Henry Clay, John Hardin, Lafayette and North Hardin, as well as regional rivals East Jessamine, Frankfort, Rockcastle County, West Jessamine and Western Hills.
There are two local meets next week, the Double-A Derby on Friday at Boyle County and the All “A” Classic on Saturday (April 26) at Danville. The first meet is open to Class AA schools and will also include Casey and Mercer counties. The second is not affiliated with the All “A” Classic organization that sponsors tournaments in basketball, baseball and the like, but it operates on the same principle, as it is open to teams in the smallest of Kentucky’s three track classifications.
The following week brings the E.G. Plummer Invitational on May 3, and right behind that comes the Boyle County Invitational on May 9.
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The latest statewide rankings from the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association show several athletes from area schools near the top of their classes. Here are some of the highest rankings (based on results submitted through Monday):
Class A
Boys: 200 — 3. Derrick Henderson, Danville; 400 — 3. Nick Winkler, Danville; 800 — 1. Ross Hempel, Danville; 400 relay — 2. Danville; 800 relay — 1. Danville; 1600 relay — 3. Danville.
Girls: 200 — 2. Andrea Payne, Danville; 1600 — 3. Kaitlin Snapp, Danville; 3200 — 2. Snapp, Danville; 400 relay — 1. Danville; 800 relay — 1. Danville; Long jump — 2. Candice Taylor, Danville; Triple jump — 2. Diamond Pace, Danville.
Class AA
Boys: Triple jump — 3. Eddie Houekpon-Chincoun, Boyle County; Pole vault — 3. Manly Bryant, Boyle County.
Girls: 400 — 1. Nicole Coffman, Casey County; 800 — 1. Jenna Lee, Casey County; 2. Emily Hall, Boyle County; 1600 relay — 2. Boyle County; 3200 relay — 1. Boyle County; Discus — 2. Loran Crowell, Mercer County; Shot put — 2. Kalee Phelps, Mercer County; Pole vault — 2. Erica Mills, Boyle County.
