By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Two seconds. That’s how close Highlands came to winning a state championship trophy in the Class 2A boys’ state track meet on Friday at the University of Kentucky.
In all came down to the 4×400 relay, the final race on the 18-event state meet schedule. Paducah Tilghman received 10 points for winning the relay in 3:25.91. Highlands was awarded eight points for placing second in 3:27.93.
When the final team scores were posted, Tilghman had finished on top with a net total of 81 points, followed by Highlands with 80 points.
Field events also played a key role in the outcome of the state meet. Highlands did not score in any of the six field events while Tilghman picked up 16 points by placing in four of them.
Highlands, last year’s state champion, opened Friday’s meet with a victory in the 4×800 relay. One of the runners on that relay team was junior Ethan Shuley, who also won the 1600 and 3200-meter runs. The Bluebirds’ other outstanding performer was senior speedster Alex Veneman. He won the 400 dash, placed third in the 200 dash and placed fifth in the 100 dash to account for 20 points.
Covington Catholic placed fifth in the Class 2A boys’ team standings with 56 total points. The Colonels’ leading scorer was senior Jake Erpenbeck, who was a member of the winning 4×100 relay team and placed second in both the 100 and 200 dashes. CovCath senior Luke Foertsch also won a gold medal in the discus event.
The only local winner in the Class 2A girls’ state meet was Highlands senior Romanie Long in the triple jump. The Bluebirds tied for fifth place in the girls’ team standings.
The state track and field championships continue Saturday with the Class A events starting at 9 a.m. and the Class 3A competition set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Results will be posted on the http://khsaa.org website during both meets.
LOCAL WINNERS IN CLASS 2A STATE TRACK & FIELD MEET
BOYS EVENTS
4×800 relay — Highlands (Devin Dupont, Matthew Gray, Will Backscheider, Ethan Shuley) 8:07.08
1600 run — Ethan Shuley (Highlands) 4:18.81
4×100 relay — CovCath (Logan McDowell, Jake Erpenbeck, Henry Toebbe, Lee McClure) 43.33
400 dash — Alex Veneman (Highlands) 49.38
3200 run — Ethan Shuley (Highlands) 9:29.28
Discus — Luke Foertsch (CovCath) 152-02.
GIRLS EVENT
Triple Jump — Rosmanie Long (Highlands) 36-0.25 .