Here is a brief overview from the Enquirer of the regional track meets scheduled for this weekend in N. Ky.:

 

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130509/SPT0302/305090216/

 

Who do you think are the teams and athletes to watch in this weekend's regionals?

Can anyone challenge the traditional NKY powers?

Can anyone challenge the traditional NKY powers?

 

Wonder if Coach McCoy at Cov Cath is questioning his decision regarding spring break? To win region every year from 94-2011, change the rules, finsh third in 12, and are not even ranked in the top 5 this year??? Is the talent down that much, or are that many boys not running due to his rule change? To me it looks like the number of seniors is down. Really a shame IMO.

Wonder if Coach McCoy at Cov Cath is questioning his decision regarding spring break? To win region every year from 94-2011, change the rules, finsh third in 12, and are not even ranked in the top 5 this year??? Is the talent down that much, or are that many boys not running due to his rule change? To me it looks like the number of seniors is down. Really a shame IMO.

 

What is the rule change you are referring to?

Curious to see how Highlands does in both the boys and girls meets. The girls are not quite as strong as they have been in years past and the boys are a little better than they have been the last few seasons. Heard that the boys had a kid run in the "Magnificent Mile" last weekend in Louisville which is for the top 20 milers in the state. If I am not mistaken, he was the first Northern Kentuckian to ever compete in this event.

^ Jack ... names would be good. It would be nice to list some top performers to watch. I remember seeing a thread on here earlier this year about a Highlands Shot Put guy who set the school record. I can't remember his name though.

 

Here are male athletes who set meet records (unofficial) at the Area 5 Elite Classic last weekend at Dixie:

 

100 Meter Dash - Nick Kennedy, Ryle, 11.28

400 Meter Dash - Grant Mahoney, Campbell Co., 50.45

1,600 Meter Run - Eric Baugh, Villa Madonna, 4:25.14

Long Jump - Nick Kennedy, Ryle, 21' 4.5"

Discus - Jake Groeschen, Scott, 146' 2"

Shot Put - Chad Evans, Beechwood, 46' 8"

Here are girls who set meet records (unofficial) at the Area 5 Elite Classic meet last weekend at Dixie:

 

200 Meter Dash - Katherine Koplay, Notre Dame, 26.51

400 Meter Dash - Nicole Goderweis, Brossart, 58.60

1,600 Meter Run - Jenna Flairty, Campbell Co., 5:27.33

300 Meter Hurdles - Rebecca Cline, Campbell Co., 46.93

Triple Jump - Jessica Jones, Boone Co., 35' 1.5"

4x400 Relay - Brossart, 4:10.36

Here are N. Ky. athletes who are currently ranked number one in the state in the listed events:

 

BOYS

 

1,500 AND 3,00 Meter Run - Eric Baugh, Villa Madonna

4 x 1,600 Meter Relay - St. Henry

4 x 400 Relay - Cooper

 

GIRLS

1,500 Meter Run - Jenna Flairty, Campbell Co.

4 x 1,600 Meter Relay - Notre Dame

4 x 400 Relay - Ryle

Curious to see how Highlands does in both the boys and girls meets. The girls are not quite as strong as they have been in years past and the boys are a little better than they have been the last few seasons. Heard that the boys had a kid run in the "Magnificent Mile" last weekend in Louisville which is for the top 20 milers in the state. If I am not mistaken, he was the first Northern Kentuckian to ever compete in this event.

 

John Michael Griffith is the Highlands runner.

 

Amy Hansen of Notre Dame ran in the KY Dream Mile and finished 7th.

^ Jack ... names would be good. It would be nice to list some top performers to watch. I remember seeing a thread on here earlier this year about a Highlands Shot Put guy who set the school record. I can't remember his name though.

 

Here are male athletes who set meet records (unofficial) at the Area 5 Elite Classic last weekend at Dixie:

 

100 Meter Dash - Nick Kennedy, Ryle, 11.28

400 Meter Dash - Grant Mahoney, Campbell Co., 50.45

1,600 Meter Run - Eric Baugh, Villa Madonna, 4:25.14

Long Jump - Nick Kennedy, Ryle, 21' 4.5"

Discus - Jake Groeschen, Scott, 146' 2"

Shot Put - Chad Evans, Beechwood, 46' 8"

 

I have to leave the naming of kids to others more familiar than I am for fear of leaving someone out.

Here is a link to a great website if you are looking for info on track:

 

Kentucky High School Track & Field and Cross Country coverage, results, rankings, articles, forum, news, college signings - KYTrackXC.com

 

That is the site where I am pulling the info in the above posts. N. Ky. is Region 4 for 1A. I assume that would be the same region number for 2A and 3A?

I can give my own preview and give some credit to some of the better distance and middle distance runners in NKY (on the boys side) and how they stand state wide.

In Class A:

 

Eric Baugh (Villa), Michael Caldwell (Brossart) and Grant Brindelli all have had great seasons running the 800, 1,600, and 3,200. Not sure what they are running tomorrow. Also Sam Barth (NCC) has done very well in the 800. The bad news for these kids is that Jacob Thompson (Louisville Holy Cross), one of the best if not the best runners the state has had will win the 1,600 and 3,200. The good news is that Thompson didn’t run the 800 at regionals, so this gives all 4 of the NKY kids a chance to win the state in the 800. Grant is a 9th grade, Eric is a 10th grader, Michael is an 11th grader and Sam is a senior. I don’t know Grant, but I think the other 3 are all quality young men. I haven’t followed Daniel Wolfer (St. Henry) as closely, but he could be in the mix in the 1,600 and 3,200 as well. These are the top NKY boys. I know that NCC has done well at the 400 – I think it is Graham Heil, but I might be wrong. Sam is very good at the 400 as well, but given their placement in the meet that 400/800 combo is tough to pull off and I doubt he will try it.

 

In Class AA:

 

Nicholas Luareano of Lexington Catholic (Lex Cath is in the NKY region) is an excellent runner and kid. He is going to triple at both regional and state, he could very well be a regional/state champ in all 3. The best NKY AA distance kids are Cov. Cath’s Brian Menke, and Highland’s John Michael Griffith and Ethan Shuley. Brian’s better event is probably the 3,200, but will also do well in the 1,600. John Michael has had a good season and Ethan is going to be really special in the years to come (he is already very good). These are probably the only three (3) that have a chance to score at state (certainly could be wrong). Ryan Greene (Highlands) has had an outstanding season in the 400. Anything less than a regional championship would be a shock; however, at state he has to face a beast in Central’s Jazz Hayes. The good news for Ryan is that Jazz is a senior and he is a junior.

 

In Class AAA:

 

The competition is so strong in AAA from St. X and the other large Louisville schools that it makes it really tough. I honestly don’t know how the NKY kids rank compared to the top large school competitors in the state, but I will say that both Mitchell Greenhagh (I am sure I butchered the spelling) and Zac Stewart from Cooper have both had good seasons in the absence of their teammate Brady Baker, who is one of the top runners in NKY and has missed the entire season. Max McGehee (Dixie) would be another top big school kids. I am sure there are others, but these were the ones who came to mind. I can’t remember his name at the moment, but Campbell County has a kid who is also very good in the 400 – he battled Ryan Greene in dual meets all season. Based upon his battles with Ryan I would guess he is right at a 50 flat. Not sure how that would rank in the 3A.

 

I am sure I have forgotten some NKY kids, but these are the ones who came to mind.

What is the rule change you are referring to?

 

Coach began not allowing kids to go away on spring break, and run track. I think reflects in the numbers being down, esp the seniors.

 

Personally I do not agree with this, and would simply not schedule any meets during spring break. He made the decision to go the other way, and I think that has come back to bite him whether he admits it or not. I can not believe after that many years of winning region, that the talent has left the building.

I can give my own preview and give some credit to some of the better distance and middle distance runners in NKY (on the boys side) and how they stand state wide.

In Class A:

 

Eric Baugh (Villa), Michael Caldwell (Brossart) and Grant Brindelli all have had great seasons running the 800, 1,600, and 3,200. Not sure what they are running tomorrow. Also Sam Barth (NCC) has done very well in the 800. The bad news for these kids is that Jacob Thompson (Louisville Holy Cross), one of the best if not the best runners the state has had will win the 1,600 and 3,200. The good news is that Thompson didn’t run the 800 at regionals, so this gives all 4 of the NKY kids a chance to win the state in the 800. Grant is a 9th grade, Eric is a 10th grader, Michael is an 11th grader and Sam is a senior. I don’t know Grant, but I think the other 3 are all quality young men. I haven’t followed Daniel Wolfer (St. Henry) as closely, but he could be in the mix in the 1,600 and 3,200 as well. These are the top NKY boys. I know that NCC has done well at the 400 – I think it is Graham Heil, but I might be wrong. Sam is very good at the 400 as well, but given their placement in the meet that 400/800 combo is tough to pull off and I doubt he will try it.

 

In Class AA:

 

Nicholas Luareano of Lexington Catholic (Lex Cath is in the NKY region) is an excellent runner and kid. He is going to triple at both regional and state, he could very well be a regional/state champ in all 3. The best NKY AA distance kids are Cov. Cath’s Brian Menke, and Highland’s John Michael Griffith and Ethan Shuley. Brian’s better event is probably the 3,200, but will also do well in the 1,600. John Michael has had a good season and Ethan is going to be really special in the years to come (he is already very good). These are probably the only three (3) that have a chance to score at state (certainly could be wrong). Ryan Greene (Highlands) has had an outstanding season in the 400. Anything less than a regional championship would be a shock; however, at state he has to face a beast in Central’s Jazz Hayes. The good news for Ryan is that Jazz is a senior and he is a junior.

 

In Class AAA:

 

The competition is so strong in AAA from St. X and the other large Louisville schools that it makes it really tough. I honestly don’t know how the NKY kids rank compared to the top large school competitors in the state, but I will say that both Mitchell Greenhagh (I am sure I butchered the spelling) and Zac Stewart from Cooper have both had good seasons in the absence of their teammate Brady Baker, who is one of the top runners in NKY and has missed the entire season. Max McGehee (Dixie) would be another top big school kids. I am sure there are others, but these were the ones who came to mind. I can’t remember his name at the moment, but Campbell County has a kid who is also very good in the 400 – he battled Ryan Greene in dual meets all season. Based upon his battles with Ryan I would guess he is right at a 50 flat. Not sure how that would rank in the 3A.

 

I am sure I have forgotten some NKY kids, but these are the ones who came to mind.

 

Baugh won the 1600, Caldwell the 800 and Wolfer the 3200. Baugh was 427 and change, Caldwell went 159 and Wolfer went about 955 in 3200. Rained most of evening and track was slick, but temps were perfect. This is by far the most competitive region in state for distance/mid distance and is loaded with talent that will be returning next year and following years. Other than Highlands kid they are all the top of the talent pool in the NKY area. Barth closed very strong in 800 and finished second. The Beechwood freshman, Birindelli ran 202 and 437 (not his best). Someone told me that he plays offensive guard for Beechwood freshman football team this year?? He also had on a basketball warm up when he has not racing? He and Baugh will be a very tough combo for years to come in NKY and state. They all seem like very high quality young men. St. Henry's Brockman was also in the mix- he is only a sophmore. Baugh has emerged as probably the best of this group this year from the meets I've seen.

 

Thomson of Louisville Holy Cross will win the state 1600 and 3200...he could probably run backwards and still win- I saw that he ran 408 a couple of weeks ago. But the 800 is WIDE open for any of the NKY guys to win...from what I see they all take turns beating each other. Birindelli had top time in state going in to regionals- looks like Caldwell now owns that mark (pending what other regions do this weekend). Should make for one of the most exciting races at the A boys state next weekend.

Here are the complete results from Region 4 1A last night:

 

Region 4 A- Complete Results - KYTrackXC.com