By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Covington Catholic scored points in 14 of 18 events and left the rain-soaked Class 2A boys track and field state meet with the championship trophy for the third straight year on Saturday at the University of Kentucky.
CovCath finished with 105.5 total points to more than double the 51 scored by second-place Lexington Catholic. The Colonels won six events to account for 60 points, including junior Braden Franxman’s record-setting victory in the 3200-meter run.
Franxman had the third-fastest qualifying time, but he crossed the finish line in 9:17.61 to set a new Class 2A state record. His senior teammate, Joe Mayer, came in second to give the Colonels 18 points in that event.
The team’s other unexpected winner was senior Jacob Keller. He was seeded seventh in 110 high hurdles and won the race with the top three seeds coming in behind him.
CovCath was the top qualifier in the 4×800 and 4×400 relays and won both of those ahead of Lexington Catholic. The Colonels also placed second in the 4×200 and third in the 4×100 to net 34 points in the four relays.
The winning foursome in the 4×800 was Jackson Germann, Jack Salyers, Luke O’Hara and Mayer. In the 4×400, Rhett Blettner, Sam Stout, Germann and Jack Fender took the gold medals.
Blettner also won the 400-meter dash and CovCath teammate Paul Klosinski placed first in the pole vault event for the second consecutive year.
Calloway County won the Class 2A girls state meet by a 108-81 margin over Lexington Catholic.
The best finish for a Northern Kentucky state qualifier in the girls meet was sixth place by Holmes freshman Ken’yanna Johnson in the 100 hurdles.
Complete results for the Class 2A track and field state meet are posted on the khsaa.org website.
Class 2A track and field state champions
BOYS EVENTS
110 hurdles — Jacob Keller (CovCath) 15.29
400 dash — Rhett Blettner (CovCath) 48.89
3200 run — Braden Franxman (CovCath) 9:17.61 (Class 2A state record)
Pole vault — Paul Klosinski (CovCath) 14-6
4×800 relay — Covington Catholic (Jackson Germann, Jack Salyers, Luke O’Hara, Joe Mayer) 8:01.17
4×400 relay — Covington Catholic (Rhett Blettner, Sam Stout, Jackson Germann, Jack Fender) 3:27.91