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Bourbon girls dominate relays to win program’s first region track and field title

 

IVAN K. RICE I doctorofsports@aol.com

 

PARIS, KY – The Bourbon County Lady Colonels swept three of the four relay events and received a nice boost from freshman sensation Bethany Simpson and sophomore Kylie Hernandez to capture the program’s first ever girls region track and field title, totaling 141 points as they outdistanced second place finisher Fort Thomas Highlands and their 114 points. Franklin County placed third (96 points), Lexington Catholic was fourth (75 points) and Western Hills rounded out the top five with 54 points during the region meet that took place at Bourbon’s Adena Springs Field last Wednesday evening.

“What an awesome season we have had after such a bad season a year ago,” said an incredibly happy Colonel Coach Drew Perraut. Our men and women’s team have really turned the corner. To win the regional championship after getting so close so many times is amazing.”

Freshman Bethany Simpson led the charge on the day for the Bourbon girls, which comes as no surprise because she has been leading the team all year long. Simpson totaled 30.5 points after winning the open 1600m run and the 300m hurdles, where she tied the school-record of 47.90 seconds that was previously held by Michelle Raglin back in 1984. She concluded her day on the track by running a leg on the 4×400 relay, where she teamed up with Hernandez, Katie Boshears and Tori Young to win the event in a school-record time of 4:07, eclipsing the mark they set earlier this season of 4:09.87 at the Randy Elmore PCI Track Classic at Pulaski County High School. Off the track, Simpson placed second in the high jump.

The sophomore Hernandez finished her day with 17.5 points after winning the open 800m in a nice time of 2:20.54, which was just four seconds off the school-record of 2:16.03 that’s currently held by former track star Pam Raglin, who accomplished her mark in 1983. Hernandez would go on to team up with Boshears, Makayla Felty and Jocey Young on the winning 4×800 relay team, as well as teaming up with Felty, Tori Young and Jennifer Wilson on the winning 4×200 relay team.

Other high finishers on the day saw junior Anna Hunsinger place third in the pole vault with a clearance of 9 feet. Seventh grader Sarah Scott’s leap of 14-11.50 in the long jump was also good enough for third place. Bourbon’s only relay that didn’t win on the day was the 4×100 relay that ended up placing second, while junior Tori Young placed third in the open 400 meter.

“It is bittersweet to see such an awesome conclusion to this competition. Returning to the arena after a canceled season in 2020, a pandemic, and hours of hard work and training, this team met a long deserved goal,” said Assistant Coach Mike Felty. “These athletes are well prepared for state competition and hungry to win. They made history and stand strong!”

In addition, Matt Perraut, the XC Coach at BC, was very happy to see seniors Madi Perraut and Ximena Tamariz qualify to state in an event they have been running since day one when they started with the varsity track program.

“For myself, a special moment personally was watching Madi and Ximena, who have been running the two mile race since seventh grade together, do it one more time. That race never got old and I will always cherish these special moments.” The coach went on to say that the boys and girls teams had several spectacular performances on the evening, starting with the girls 4x800m relay all the way to the boys 4x400m relay performances. “In all, we had over 15 personal best times and or performances. The girls are peaking at the right moment and the boys are more consistent and showing progress with each meet!”

For the Bourbon County boys, freshman Hunter Lunsford was the only individual winner after he beat out teammate and fellow freshman Tayvon Snowden to win the pole vault. Lunsford’s clearance was 12 feet, while Snowden bowed out at 11 feet, 6 inches.

Bourbon’s foursome of freshman Jesus Mendoza-solis, and sophomores John Perraut, Andrew Perraut and Jaden Commodore ran fast enough to place second in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays, qualifying for tomorrow’s state meet in both events.

Also placing in the top three in their respective events were senior Jack Huckabay in the high jump, where he placed second overall and junior Cade Goebel, who finished third in the shot put.

Fort Thomas Highlands ran away with the boys’ team title with 168 points, while second place finisher Western Hills scored 76 points. Lexington Catholic was third (65pts), Bourbon County fourth (62pts) and Harrison County capped off the top five with 56 points.

Our men’s team was just 14 points from a regional runner-up after being ranked eighth going into the meet,” said Drew Perraut. “I believe, with just a few added pieces, we could win regionals next year on the men’s side.”

Below are Bourbon County participants that scored at the Region 4 Meet. Only the top six finishers scored during the meet that allowed only two participants per team per event.

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–COLONELS–

4x800m relay – Jesus Mendoza-solis, John Perraut, Andrew Perraut, Jaden Commodore (2nd) 8:37.26

100m dash – Amir Roberts-Hassan (6th) 11.51

1600m run – Nate Berry (6th) 5:04.90

4x100m relay – Miles Ezell, Cam ‘Ron Goodwin, Connor McKinzie, Roberts-Hassan (6th) 47.19

300m hurdles – Jack Huckabay (4th) 45.35

800m run – Mendoza-solis (4th) 2:05.55; Commodore (6th) 2:08.42

3200m run – Berry (6th) 11:14.36

4x400m relay – Mendoza-solis, J. Perraut, Commodore, A. Perraut (2nd) 3:44.61

Shot Put – Cade Goebel (3rd) 44-00.25

Triple Jump – Huckabay (5th) 37-06

High Jump – Huckabay (2nd) 5-10; J. Perraut (5th) 5-4

Pole Vault – Hunter Lunsford (1st) 12-00; Tayvon Snowden (2nd) 11-06

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–LADY COLONELS–

4x800m relay – Katie Boshears, Makayla Felty, Jocey Young, Kylie Hernandez (1st) 9:58.46

100m hurdles – Ashleigh Gambill (4th) 18.62

4x200m relay – Felty, Tori Young, Hernandez, Jennifer Wilson (1st) 1:49.31

1600m run – Bethany Simpson (1st) 5:19.77; Ximena Tamariz (5th) 5:35.80

4x100m relay – Felty, Tori Young, Alana Puscus, Jennifer Wilson (2nd) 52.72

400m dash – T. Young (3rd) 1:01.34

300m hurdles – Simpson (1st) 47.90; Gambill (4th) 51.02

800m run – Hernandez (1st) 2:20.54; Jocey Young (3rd) 2:24.63

200m dash – Felty (6th) 27.92

3200m run – Tamariz (4th) 12:34.65; Madi Perraut (5th) 13:02.85

4x400m relay – Simpson, Hernandez, Boshears, T. Young (1st) 4:07.00

High Jump – Simpson (2nd) 5-0; Lillian Page (5th) 4-04

Pole Vault – Anna Hunsinger (2nd) 9-00; Kayla Brainard (3rd) 8-00

Triple Jump – Puscus (3rd) 29-02.50; Madi Perraut (4th) 28-02.75

Long Jump – Sarah Scott (3rd) 14-11.50; Puscus (6th) 14-04.25

Shot Put – Emma Howell (5th) 25-06

Discus Throw – Howell (6th) 69-05

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The 2021 KHSAA State Track and Field Championships (June 10-12) got underway yesterday morning with the 1A Meet at the University of Kentucky’s Outdoor Track and Field Complex. The 2A Championship will be held today, June 11, followed by the 3A Championship on Saturday, June 12, with both meets starting at 10 a.m.