Kennedy won the long jump with ease Friday on the final day of regional competition at the Welcome Stadium, then also qualified for state along with the Indians’ third-place 400-meter relay team.
After fouling her first long jump attempt in prelims, Kennedy busted out a jump of 18 feet, 7 inches on her second try and didn’t even need to jump in the finals as no one else came close to her mark. She would have placed second with her third try in prelims, an 18-3.5, as Withrow senior Doneasha Brewer was the runner-up at 18-3.75, which came on her final attempt in the finals.
“I’m not sure what the difference is this year — I guess just a lot of practice,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been jumping so far this year, and just last year I wasn’t jumping far at all. I only competed in high jump at regionals last year. It’s pretty exciting.”
After seeing her prelim mark continue to hold throughout the competition, Kennedy decided to pass on her three attempts in finals at the advice of her coach in order to save energy for the 100 hurdles. The hurdles were the first running event to take place, about a half hour after the long jump wrapped up. Weather complications Wednesday pushed back all running prelims to timed finals Friday.
Kennedy ended up finishing one spot out of qualifying for state in the hurdles, placing fifth with a time of 15.09 seconds.
“I thought I could make it, so it was a little disappointing, but I think I did pretty good overall,” she said. “I’m proud of myself. It’s my first time going to state, so I’m excited to go in two events.”
Fairfield’s 400 relay team of Kennedy, Kyla Ellery, Monica Johnson and Nina Ward ran a season-best time of 48.08 seconds to take third, but it was Lakota East’s squad of Serena Clark, Jasmine Floyd, Dani Stoughton and Malory Hook that stole the show.
The Thunderhawks entered as the third seed and stunned favorite Withrow to take first place in 47.46 seconds. Clark, a freshman, led off that team to add to her collection of runner-up finishes in the 100 (12.19) and 200 (24.81) as she placed behind Withrow’s Brewer in both.
East sophomore Kaylyn Heath joins Clark at state in the 100 after taking fourth in 12.53 seconds.
“The most exciting was the four-by-one,” Clark said. “It was a big deal to beat Withrow because I came into this school with Withrow beating everyone’s four-by-one (teams). They were the top team coming out of the gate, and we had to prove ourselves. Everyone did their part and it was awesome to win.”
Withrow won the overall girls team title, while East finished fifth. Mason claimed the boys’ title.
Hawks standout distance runner Dustin Horter led the area boys with a pair of first-place finishes in the 1,600 and 3,200 to qualify for state in both events for the first time. He won the 1,600 in 4:09.72, just 0.05 seconds off the regional record, and repeated as regional champ in the 3,200 with a time of 9.19.62, beating Middletown’s Conant Smith by almost eight seconds.
Lebanon’s Jackson Siddall also made it to state in the 1600 with a fourth-place finish.
Fairfield senior Joe Hayes qualified for state in the most events out of the local boys, taking second in the 100 (11.08) and fourth in the 200 (22.35) and helping the 400-meter relay team to a fourth-place finish. Lebanon’s Jordan Campbell joins Hayes in the 100 at state after a close finish for fourth in 11.132 seconds.
Lakota West senior Andrew Whitaker was the only other area athlete to win an event Friday, taking first in the 300 hurdles with a personal-best time of 38.69 seconds. He also earned the final qualifying spot for state in the 110-meter hurdles, placing fourth in 14.93 seconds. Last year, he was 14th in the 110 hurdles last year and didn’t even make it out of districts in the 300 hurdles.
“I didn’t think I was going to qualify for the 110s, but I feel really good, especially after finishing first here (in the 300 hurdles) and maybe having a chance to win state,” Whitaker said.
The state meet will be held Friday and Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
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