Ashland, Rowan capture thrillers

By ROCKY STANLEY -- The Independent

ASHLAND Sat, May 17 2008

— Down-to-the-wire team races had coaches and athletes listening anxiously for final results at the fifth annual Ernie Chattin Memorial track and field meet.
Ashland’s girls and Rowan County’s boys emerged with championships Saturday at the Ashland Athletic Complex.
Ashland overcame a rash of injuries to edge Mason County 132-131 in a three-way battle for the top spot in the girls division. Russell finished with 127 points.
Rowan County’s boys won with 154.5, edging Russell by 3.5 points in the 14-team event.
Kevin Stepp, coach of Ashland’s girls, held his breath while the scores were announced.
“It’s extremely satisfying,’’ Stepp said. “We knew it was going to come down to the last event.’’
Eighth-grader Mariah Carley, running the anchor leg of Ashland’s injury-depleted 1,600 relay for the first time, saved the day for her team. Carley turned on the speed, overtaking a River View runner in the final strides for fourth place and lifting Ashland into first place in the team standings.
“Carley made up about 65 meters and caught the girl right before the wire,’’ Stepp said. “Because of injuries, we had to juggle everybody around and ended up moving Mariah to anchor. There’s nothing like a good finish to make you look smart.’’
Afterwards, Carley held Ashland’s championship trophy tightly. She said she didn’t have the close team race on her mind as she circled the track.
“Actually, I just ran and didn’t think at all,’’ Carley said. “(Assistant) coach (Jason) Klosterman was on the backstretch rooting me on. I just sprinted with everything I had.’’
Carley also finished second in the 800 meters and helped Ashland take third in the 3,200 relay.
Ashland, enjoying its best season in Stepp’s nine years as coach, got an inspired performance from senior Deanna Nall in the pole vault.
Nall sprained a calf muscle Tuesday night during the Russell Relays and was questionable for Saturday’s meet. But she came through with a personal best by clearing 8 feet to take first place.
“I didn’t think I would even place high enough to help the team,’’ Nall said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to walk, or limp, away with first place.’’
Teammate Ali Merritt placed third in the pole vault, giving Ashland a total of 16 points in the event.
Mykal Ferris and Merritt finished one-two in triple jump and Merritt also took third in the long jump. A back injury limited Ferris’ contribution to one event, but teammate Nikisha Farrow provided depth in the long jump with a fourth place.
“Nikisha came out of nowhere with a personal best (13 feet, 9 inches),’’ Stepp said. “That was huge.’’
Ashland received winning performances from Amy Adams in the 3,200 meters (13:23.23) and Linda Pemberton in the 100 hurdles (18.04). Adams was runner-up in the 1,600, while Sierra Crum finished second in the discus. Emily Mayo and Pemberton went three-four in the high jump.
Team runner-up Mason County won four events and Russell got a first place from Maddie Roark in the 300 hurdles.
Rowan County’s boys also used a big finish in the 1,600 relay to wrap up first place. The Vikings outfinished Russell by 56-hundredths of a second in the final event.
Earlier this season, Rowan County lost a tight meet to Russell due to a relay disqualification.
“It feels awesome to come out on top,’’ said Jon Sargent, one of the catalysts for the Vikings on Saturday. “We were highly motivated. Last time, we got DQ’ed for a bracelet in the 4 by 100. We fixed that problem.’’
Sargent, Eddie Young and Darrell Cross paved the way for Rowan County. Sargent sailed a personal-best 20 feet, 10 inches to win the long jump and Young was next at 19-9.
Sargent also won the 400 (53.97) and took third places in the 200 and triple jump.
Rowan County coach Roy Wright talked to Young about coming out for track this season and the senior is making a huge impact.
Young suffered his first loss in the 110 hurdles Saturday — finishing second to Paintsville’s Tyler LeMaster — but won the 300 hurdles with Cross taking second. Young and River Valley’s Kody Johnson were about even before Johnson tumbled over the last hurdle.
“It was a good race,’’ Young said. “I was a tad bit ahead of him and heard a boom. When I looked back, he was just laying there.’’
Young has surprised himself by his first-year success.
“It’s been really good, he said. “I thought I would be horrible in the hurdles. The first couple of races I won, my mechanics weren’t very good and I relied on speed. It’s getting better.’’
Cross, a freshman, finished second in the 200 and Rowan County was runner-up to Lawrence County in the 400 relay.
The Vikings also got a boost from Ryan Colvin, who won the high jump at 5 feet, 10 inches.
Russell’s Zach Virgin and Matt Collins each won two individual events.
Virgin, a senior, picked up a meet performance award by going over the bar at 13 feet in the pole vault for his season best.
“I’m using a new pole and trying to break it in a little bit,’’ he said.
Virgin’s performance in the 800 was no less impressive. He ran the event for the first time competitively on Thursday at Greenup County and came back with a winning time of 2:14.63 against tough competition. Fleming County’s Nathan Landreth was second.
“I could hear the Rowan County guys (Brandon Ward and Lowell Neeper) coming up there,’’ Virgin said. “They typically have a good kick. The 800 is a tough one. I think it’s tougher than the 400. You have to strategize and learn when to make your moves and open it up.’’
Collins and Tanner Alexander finished one-two in the 1,600 and 3,200 races. Russell also took the 3,200 relay and got a win from Jonathan Cornwell in the shot put (44-01).
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.

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