2003 Regional Championship

Paper: Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY)

Title: CLASS AAA, REGION 3; Assumption topples Ballard

Date: May 23, 2003

Rockets roll in relays Petty sparks J'town's boys to narrow victory

JOSH COOK

jcook@courier-journal.com

The Courier-Journal

NEW CASTLE, Ky.

Assumption knocked off three-time defending state champion Ballard, while the Jeffersontown boys knocked down the door at yesterday's Class AAA, Region 3 high school track and field meet at Henry County.

The Rockets, relying on a couple of standouts and their depth, outpointed the Lady Bruins 131-105Í.

``It's neat because it's a bunch of them that have been running for a long time,'' Assumption coach Barry Kornstein said. ``And eventually they get to see that hard works pays off.''

Assumption won only four events - the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays and senior Angel Jennings in the 300 hurdles.

``Most meets like this you have to have a couple key girls and good depth, and we did,'' Kornstein said. ``Ballard, it was tougher for them here because they don't have all the events covered.''

But the Lady Bruins still likely will be a title contender in next weekend's State Meet at the University of Kentucky thanks to DeNasha Mondy. Yesterday the senior won the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump, the same four events in which she won state titles last year.

``I knew we had a chance, but we won the track meet, and I'm really proud of all the team,'' Jennings said. ``Now I'm ready to go to the State and see what we can do, because we can win State.''

Sacred Heart junior Maddie Schueler, the reigning AAA cross country champion, won the 1,600 and 3,200. In the 1,600 she outdueled freshman teammate Leah Ryan to win in 5:05.1.

``I was pretty happy because that was my best time by a second,'' Schueler said. ``And Leah Ryan getting second, that was really exciting.''

The Valkyries and South Oldham tied for third with 96 points. The Lady Dragons were led by Deborah Stoner, who won the discus (95 feet, 2 inches), shot put (32-5) and the high jump (5-2).

On the boys' side, J'town, which has been an also-ran in recent years, won seven events on its way to 95 points, five more than Ballard and seven ahead of Trinity.

The Chargers were led by junior Joe Petty, who captured the 100 (11.14), 200 (22.84) and 400 (50.47) and ran on the Chargers' victorious 400 relay team (44.45).

In the 400 he edged Eastern's Carl Heinke, who finished in 50.96 after stealing Heinke's style of wearing high, white socks.

``Sometimes he runs fast, so I said, `Maybe I could do that,' '' Petty said. ``I took his style and beat him with it.''

Then in the 200, running with two blisters on his right foot after the 400, he went from third to first in the final 100 to beat TaShawn McBroom of Trinity and Fern Creek's Jesse Hicks.

``My friend Anthony (Randle) was like, `Put it on the line,' and that's what I did,'' Petty said. ``I had no choice.''

He plans to bring back the high socks at next week's State Meet.

``It might bring me good luck,'' he said.

J'town's Evan Calvin won the high jump (6-0) and triple jump (45-2Í) and also was on the winning 400 relay team. The Chargers' other victory was in the 800 relay.

NOTE: INFORMATIONAL GRAPHIC SCORES (PLEASE SEE LIBRARY MICROFILM OR LIBRARY PDF PAGES ON KIOSK)

Author: COOK JOSH

Section: SPORTS

Page: 02A