Courier-Journal.com
Ballard's
Bowen captures 3 titles
Assumption wins 5th
straight crown
By Jason Frakes
Her knees scraped and pride hurt after a disappointing fifth-place finish in
the 100-meter hurdles, Ballard High School junior Lutisha Bowen had to take a
moment to gather herself during yesterday's Class AAA, Region Three track and
field meet.
"I was really heartbroken after the 100 hurdles," said Bowen, who
was seeded No. 1 in the final but clipped a hurdle and fell near the finish
line. "I went in the back and cried because I felt like I had let my team
down. …
"But everybody told me I had to get it together."
Bowen did so in fine fashion, rebounding to capture titles in the triple jump,
200 dash and 300 hurdles and becoming the only regional competitor – boy or
girl – to capture three individual crowns in the meet held at the University of
Louisville.
Bowen helped the Lady Bruins finish third in the team standings with 77
points, behind Assumption (143) and defending state champion Eastern (79). It
was the fifth consecutive regional crown for the Rockets, who won three field
events and two relays.
Trinity captured its third straight regional title with 111 points, beating
out Oldham County (76) and Eastern (70). The Shamrocks will shoot for their
third consecutive championship at the state meet set for next Friday and
Saturday at Lexington's Paul Dunbar High.
The top two finishers in each regional event automatically qualified for the
state meet. Some competitors also may qualify based on time standards and
at-large bids.
Girls
Bowen finished second in the 200 and triple jump and third in the 100 at
State last year and made the move to hurdles this season.
Ballard coach Don Goodwin said that inexperience may have caught up with
Bowen in yesterday's 100 hurdles.
"I think she made the mistake of trying to coast through it,"
Goodwin said. "You can't really coast through hurdles. You have to run
them hard, or you end up too far away from them and start hitting them.
"But you live and you learn, and that's probably something she'll never
do again."
Bowen said she has a chance to win the triple jump, 200 and 300 hurdles at
the state meet.
"I believe so," she said. "I'm going to work hard this week,
harder than I ever have, to get to another level."
Assumption senior Jordan Danridge won her fourth straight regional title in
the shot put and third consecutive in the discus.
Other winners for Assumption were the 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams, sophomore
Alanna Baugher in the pole vault and freshman Allison Riedling in the 1,600.
Boys
Senior Agyei Williams, the defending state champion in the 110 and 300
hurdles, led Trinity's charge by winning both events yesterday.
Senior Alex App was the other winner for the Shamrocks, capturing the
discus.
Oldham County had a big day with winners in the 100, 200, 800, 1,600 and
3,200. Junior Jaque Vinson overcame a hamstring injury suffered earlier this
season to capture the 100 and 200.
Oldham County senior Ken Prater won the 1,600 and 3,200, and sophomore Joe
Mallek captured the 800.
Fern Creek won the 400, 800 and 1,600 relays. Southern senior Detrick Briggs
captured the long jump and triple jump.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046.