Published: November 14, 2009 11:46 pm      

Tomcats put on big finish

LEXINGTON — Phillip Caudill spread the five fingers of his right hand and smiled.

Ashland’s boys cross country coach had reason to be overjoyed. The Tomcats’ fifth-place finish (172 points) at Saturday’s Class 2A state meet at the Kentucky Horse Park was the best in school history, and it ended a season that included its first regional title last week.

Once Caudill started talking about it, it was difficult stopping him.

“I have no seniors in my top six,” Caudill said. “I have two boys in the top 15, my No. 3 guy was 21st. We’ll have three all-state selections.”

Caudill was talking about junior Jon Renneker, who finished in 16 minutes, 58.02 seconds and took third behind Robert Sandlin of Franklin County and Ryan Thurman of Calloway County, and sophomore Brennan Kizziar was 15th in 17:35.

“I was pre-ranked fourth; I thought I could maybe do 4th at best,” Rennaker said. “To run next to the entire race next to second place, I couldn’t explain how I felt.”

Rounding out Ashland’s first five were sophomore Timmy Callahan in 21st place (17:47.22), freshman Taylor Bradley (18:42.40) in 67th and junior Rakesh Iyer in 108th (19:16.81).

“Honestly, I just ran hard as I could,” Callahan said. “I dreamed of this since I started my season.”

South Oldham edged Covington Catholic, 81-90, for the 2A team title. North Oldham was third with 95 points and Pendleton County was fourth with 121.

Ashland won the regional meet last week. Caudill is confident about coming back next year – and finishing higher.

“The teams that beat us are senior-dominated,” Caudill said. “I’d say (we’ll finish) top three team-wise.”

Renneker and Russell senior Tanner Alexander renewed their rivalry. Alexander finished ninth in 17:13.59 – not bad for someone who simultaneously battled mononucleosis and Swine Flu all season.

Alexander isn’t sure when he contracted either illnes, though he thinks the mono might have been after competing in the Prefontaine Classic this summer in Eugene, Ore. Predictably, Alexander’s training predictably suffered.

“I felt like someone was dragging me by the back,” Alexander said. “Praise God for getting me back to this spot; I’ve been praying on this for about two months now.”

Renneker-Alexander has been a friendly rivalry for at least two years. Same thing Saturday — as soon as Alexander finished, he saw Renneker, hollered for joy and exchanged high-10 greetings.

Renneker says Alexander pushes him to run faster, while Alexander thinks Renneker’s finishing kick is better.

While Alexander was content to stay in the middle of the pack for the first half of Saturday’s race and picking off others as they tired, Renneker ran second most of the time until Thurman passed him in the final half-mile.

“I think I was a little over-excited, and the other guy (Thurman) I think knew a little more about the course and how to strategize it.”

Alexander became the fifth Russell runner to finish in the top 10. He joins former state champion Doug Fultz, Ted Topanek, Anthony Thompson and Tate Dillow.

Russell finished 21st in Class 2A, but coach Gary Salyer was nevertheless pleased.

“I’m extremely pleased with the team,” Salyer said. “After the seniors (Alexander and Carter Couchot), we had a sophomore and a freshman and an eighth-grader and three seventh-graders.”

Elliott County finished 14th in Class A. Juniors Daniel Fraley and Cody Nickell finished 32nd and 34th, respectively.

“I came back from a broken ankle,” Nickell said. I was hoping to get under 18 (he finished in 17:50.77).

Fraley finished in 17:48.46.

St. Henry won the team title over Owensboro Catholic., 97-111. Walton-Verona’s Trevin Petersen beat Adam Kahleifeh of Bardstown by just over 12 seconds.