By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
A victory in the final event gave the Beechwood girls track team the points it needed to finish on top in the final standings at the Class 1A state championship meet on Thursday at the University of Kentucky.
The Beechwood 4×400 relay team picked up 10 points by winning the final race and the Tigers ended up with 48 total points. Somerset placed second with 46.5 points, followed by Newport Central Catholic with 45 and St. Henry with 44.
The members of the relay team that clinched Beechwood’s first post-season state championship in a girls sport were seventh-grader Maryah Counts, juniors Madie Hazzard and Audrey Pelster and senior Caroline Schilling.
The same four runners were on the 4×200 relay team that placed third. Schilling also won the 300-meter hurdles and placed fourth in the 100 hurdles. Pelster placed second in the 400 dash and fifth in the long jump.
The other local girl who won a pair of first-place medals was Newport Central Catholic senior Maria Kinnett in the 400 dash and 4×200 relay.
Louisville Holy Cross took the Class 1A boys team title. Walton-Verona placed third, one point ahead of Brossart.
The outstanding local performer in the boys state meet was Brossart senior Jordan Moore, who won both the 110 and 300 hurdles and placed sixth in the 200 dash to account for 23 points. He was also on the Mustangs’ 4×200 relay team that placed third.
The state high school track meet continues with Class 2A on Friday and Class 3A on Saturday. Competition will begin at 10 a.m. both days.
CLASS 1A STATE TRACK MEET CHAMPIONS
GIRLS
4×800 relay — Walton-Verona (Olivia Lightner, Kalyn Hurles, Ashley Akins, Caileigh Waters) 9:57.07.
4×200 relay — Newport Central Catholic (Ellie Enslen, Jenna Riley, Maria Kinnett, Carrigan Matteoli) 1:46.59.
400 dash — Maria Kinnett (NewCath) 58.69.
300 hurdles — Caroline Schilling (Beechwood) 46.51.
4×400 relay — Beechwood (Maryah Counts, Madie Hazzard, Audrey Pelster, Caroline Schilling) 4:08.27.
BOYS
4×800 relay — Brossart (Brad Hickman, Mick Clines, Joe Curtsinger, Ryan Branch) 8:17.51.
110 hurdles — Jordan Moore (Brossart) 15.21
300 hurdles — Jordan Moore (Brossart) 40.72.
4×400 relay — St. Henry (Ethan Plapp, Michael Brockman, Josh Gray, Hayden Norris) 3:25.37.
High jump — Trey Bonne (Walton-Verona) 6-6.
Pole vault — Jake Davidson (Lloyd) 13-6.