Russell boys dominant; Ashland girls runner-up

By ROCKY STANLEY -- The Independent

CANNONSBURG Sat, May 17 2008

— After graduating monster talents Scott Gill and Nathan Armstrong, Russell’s boys track team figured to lose a lot of steam.
It hasn’t happened, thanks in large part to contributions from a cast of newcomers.
Red Devil basketball players William Fullen and Jacob Ferguson, along with East Jessamine transfer Matt Collins and others, are playing key roles in Russell’s strong start this spring.
The Red Devils piled up 190 points in the rain on Saturday for a convincing victory in the 34th Boyd County Classic.
Northern Kentucky’s Dixie Heights, coached by Olive Hill native Ed Cook, scored 131 points to take first place in the girls division.
Fullen, a sophomore, won the 100 and 200-meter dashes in a big day for Russell’s boys. Ferguson continued to give the team a boost in the jumps, easing the loss of Gill — the state’s 2007 Male Track Athlete of the Year.
Collins is part of a formidable distance combination for the Red Devils. He was runner-up to teammate Tanner Alexander in the 3,200 meters and also finished second in the 1,600, one spot ahead of Alexander.
“Matt has made me push myself a whole lot harder,’’ Alexander said. “Me and him work together well, especially in the two-mile (3,200). And he’s a real good friend, too.’’
Alexander, Collins, Tyler Cooksey and Corey Smith won the 3,200 relay by a wide margin, and Cooksey was also runner-up in the 800 meters.
Fullen outdueled Lawrence County’s Rich-ard Thomas in the meet’s closest finish. They ran side by side practically the entire stretch of the 200-meter final, with Fullen making a nice lean at the finish line.
“He gave me a run for my money,’’ Fullen said. “I was full-out sprinting at the beginning to catch up with him. At one point I thought he was going to beat me. I didn’t want to have anything left and sort of dived forward at the end. I think that’s the only reason I beat him.’’
Fullen is enjoying his first season on the track.
“There’s a lot of stuff you have to learn, like proper running form, hand-offs and using the blocks,’’ Fullen said. “l like it a lot. You challenge yourself, but are competing with a team at the same time.’’
Russell coach Alice Leigh continues to be impressed by her team’s early success.
“We have depth and are not weak in anything,’’ she said. “When you think about it, we lost Scott Gill’s 40 points a meet and Nathan Armstrong’s 38. So many new athletes have stepped right in.’’
Ferguson placed in the top four in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. He also teamed with Steven Stapleton, Fullen and Collin McKenzie to take second place in the 400 relay. Stapleton and Andrew Hogg are new to the team this year and provide depth.
The Red Devils won the Boyd County Classic for the third consecutive year since Leigh began coaching both Russell teams.
Zach Virgin, one of the top returners, received a meet Outstanding Performance award for a pole vault of 12 feet, 6 inches in slick conditions. Russell also got a first place in the high jump from Max Rogers.
East Carter’s boys finished second in the 10-team field, powered by senior Tyler McClain’s sweep of the 400, 800 and 1,600 races and his strong anchor leg on the Raiders’ winning 1,600 relay team. East Carter had 110 points overall.
Lawrence County finished third with 97, followed by Boyd County’s 63.
Paintsville’s Tyler LeMaster took individual high-point honors with 38. He won both hurdle events along with the triple jump and placed second in the long jump.
In the girls’ division, Dixie Heights’ combination of standout Rachel Eyckmans and depth proved to be too much for the competition.
Eyckmans, a junior, won high-point award with 32.5 points. She sprinted to first places in the 100, 200, 400 and also led her 1,600 relay team to victory.
“Rachel is outstanding in whatever she does,’’ Cook said. “She’s an outstanding leader and an outstanding young lady. Our young ones really look up to her.’’
Cook has the program on the rise in his second year as head coach. Dixie Heights, a squad with no seniors, won the Rowan County Invitational last Saturday and came back with another title on Tuesday in the Kenton County Championships.
“It’s been several years since the team won any invitational meet, let alone three in a row,’’ said Cook, who also coaches the cross country team. “It shows the kids are buying into our philosophy of training and competing.’’
Dixie Heights competed without three regulars Saturday but still had enough firepower to end Russell’s longtime domination of the meet. Dixie Heights also entered a `B’ team and has 37 athletes overall.
Ashland scored 118.5 points to edge Russell by one point for the runner-up trophy.
“It’s pretty exciting,’’ said Ashland coach Kevin Stepp. “We’ve been through some lean years. Coach Leigh came over and gave us a congratulatory wave. When you’ve won the meet 15 years in a row, it pretty much becomes your backyard.’’
Junior distance runner Amy Adams led the way for Ashland.
“Amy was in four events today and just ran like a champion,’’ Stepp said. “She’s been running since middle school and is a leader on the track and off.’’
Adams and teammate Mariah Carley, an eighth-grader, went 1-2 in the 800. Adams also finished second in the 1,600 and helped Ashland pick up points in two relays.
Another eighth-grader, Mykal Farris, won the long jump and triple jump to boost Ashland’s cause.
“We really did well in the field events,’’ Stepp said. “This is my ninth year as coach and by far our best finish here. It sets up the rest of the season.’’
Fairview’s girls finished fourth with 115 points in a three-way battle for the runner-up spot.
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.

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