Track: Gover’s four wins pace Northmont to title

At the start of his first event Saturday, the 100-meter dash, Northmont High School senior Kameron Gover stumbled coming out of the blocks.

It was his only misstep at the Jack Lintz Invitational hosted by Northmont. Gover won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and ran legs on the winning 400 and 800 relay teams to help the Thunderbolts outdistance the 18-team field. Northmont won the invitational with 105.5 points to top runner-up Lebanon’s 70.5

Northmont’s girls, highlighted by Melissa Barrett’s win in the 800, completed the sweep by edging Lakota West 66.5 to 65.

“I felt pretty confident,” Gover said. “But I don’t underestimate anyone in track.”

The field certainly knew not to overlook him. Gover’s starting blocks slid to start the 100, slowing him just enough to keep him from posting a sub-11-second finish. He still finished in 11.15 seconds to edge Springfield’s Quincy Scott (11.38).

Gover won the 200 in 22.65 to edge Scott again (22.80). Gover, running the second leg, teamed with Ervin Besingi, Donavin Wallace and Christian Cvetnic to win the 400 relay in 44.15. Anthony Trammel, Gover, Xavier Marable and Amari Spears won the 800 relay in 1:32.65.

Gover, a state qualifier in the 100 last season, considers the 200 his best event.

“I can switch to a different gear coming off the curve,” he said.

He needed that burst to hold off a hard-charging Scott and Princeton’s Anthony Rodgers.

“I felt Quincy and another dude on my back. I just had to go, had to run,” Gover said as the four medals around his neck jingled. “I just started picking up my knees and driving harder.”

Picking out his favorite wins of the day proved the easiest effort — the relays, especially the 400.

“Running the relays with my team. I like the team effort that we had,” he said.

“When you have a leader like Kam, who does such a good job of being a teammate, that’s a credit to him and his folks. They raised him right,” Northmont coach Tony Broering said. “That helps team spirit for sure.”

Northmont also picked up wins from Marable in the 400 dash (51.44) and Christian Wilson in the high jump (6-0). Points from, among others, Wallace in the long jump, Danny Lewis in the pole vault, Quelin Holt in the discus and Ifeani Nwanoro in the shot bolstered the Thunderbolts’ score.

“I was very proud of all the boys. We’re scoring everywhere. It’s always nice to win for Jack,” Broering said, referring to Lintz, the former Northmont head coach and current assistant for whom the meet is named. “I’m really lucky to have the guys I have on my staff. I’ve got a really good group of coaches that make it fun for me.”

Among other invitational winners:

Trotwood’s Joshua Byars-Mason swept both the 110 (14.92) and 300 hurdles (40.08).

Carroll’s David Saurine captured the discus title with a throw of 130 feet, 2 inches and the shot in 43-10.5.

Springboro’s Malcolm Melvin won the pole vault in 14-0.

On the girls side:

Northmont’s victory was aided by relay victories in the 800 (Ashley Hoke, Mattea Parker, Lauren Daniel and Jayla Tarver; 1:51.51) and the 1,600 (Parker, Hoke, Madison Blessing and Barrett; 4:15.22).

Greenville excelled in the field events with Meg Rehmert (11-7) winning the pole vault and Sierra Cress sweeping the discus (100-7) and shot (34-3).

Fairmont’s Kassandra Strahler won the long jump (15-2.5).

Lebanon’s Jessie Hartman won the 1,600 run (5:30.56).

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