Licking County’s fresh faces steal show in Lakewood track invitational

On Apr 10, 2023

HEBRON — Morgan Watkins admitted concern that a step up in competition might intimidate the Licking Heights’ freshmen.

So far, Watkins and her young teammates have shown nothing of the sort. A flock of talented girls track team members are quickly making a name for themselves at the high school level, and they boosted the Hornets to an eye-popping performance Saturday, running away with the team championship during the Lakewood Invitational.

“It’s definitely nerve-racking because I was very nervous I wouldn’t do as well because I know the girls in high school are a lot faster,” said Watkins, who ran a time of 1:05.78 to win the 400. “It seems like we are doing well so far. I love these girls. They are like my closest friends, and it’s really nice having them there all of the time.”

Watkins joined Emma French, Addison Caudill and Liz Killey on an all-freshman winning 3,200 relay (10:43.36), which has already broken the school record. Watkins, French, classmate Kendyl Hunt and senior Jermera Clemons won the 1,600 relay (4;26.79). French took first place in the 300 hurdles (48.92), and Caudill was a double winner in the 1,600 (5:23.97) and 3,200 (11:43.10).

The youngest Hornets were not alone in their dominance as they totaled 184 points, finishing way ahead of Watkins Memorial’s 99, Lakewood’s 98 and Utica’s 95. Junior Temiloluwa Jaf-Ogunlayi won the long jump (14-4.5) and 100 (13.28) and anchored the 800 (1:53.73) and 400 (53.52) relays to wins, and sophomore Olivia Fink won the 100 hurdles (18.92).

“Our team got stronger from last year, and we just keep working,” said Jaf-Ogunlayi, who was joined by Fink, Hunt and sophomore Chanell Harris on the 800 relay and Harris, junior Amya Thompson and freshman Julia Lewis on the 400 relay.

“I can’t wait to see the competition,” Jaf-Ogunlayi added. “I am trying to make it to state in the 100 this year and the (400 relay) with my team, so hopefully we can accomplish that. (Competition) makes me stronger mentally and physically to not psych myself out and just run my race at the end of the day.”

The Lakewood boys also received a lift from a freshman, and it nearly helped the Lancers sneak past Heights for their team championship.

Nolan Moore was a double winner in the 110 hurdles (18.11) and 300 hurdles (46.59). Lakewood totaled 140 points, falling just one point short of the Hornets’ 141.

“It’s more to get placement for the team but also to (record a personal best),” Moore said. “Today, I knew the weather wasn’t the best for the 110s especially, but I was happy to get the 10 points for the team.”

As a freshman, Moore is encountering higher hurdles in the 110 hurdles and a step up from the 200 hurdles to the 300 hurdles. Still, he has shown no fear despite a head wind Saturday, which added a half-second to a full second to sprint times.

“The extra 100 meters has been terrible. It’s so much harder than last year,” Moore said. “With my height, I have never met a kid shorter than me this season so far. It’s been a struggle because most of the kids are like a foot taller than me.”

Field event victories for Heights sophomore Alex Amartey in the shot put (42-feet-2) and discus (124-0) and senior D.J. Fillmore (21-1.5) helped the Hornets to a sizable early lead. Fillmore also won the 400 (52.29).

Sophomore Jalynn Fillmore edged out Lakewood junior Isaiah Mitchell in a photo finish in the 100 (11.93) that, as it turned out, made the difference.

“It was very cold, but I tried my best. I just came here to win. I didn’t win everything, but I am cool with how I did,” Jalynn Fillmore said. “Me and my teammate (Similoluwa Jaf-Ogunlayi), we’re having a rivalry. We battle in practice and every race, so it was fun.”

Seniors Corey Rafferty won the 800 (2:09.14) and Caleb Rafferty the 3,200 (10:47.22) for Lakewood. They joined classmate Ryan Byers and freshman Graham Lohr on the winning 3,200 relay (9:07.53), and Byers joined Mitchell and freshmen Sam Zwayer and Derrick Norwood on the winning 1,600 relay (3:43.76).

Utica senior Brayden Ricketts saw a wide-open field in the 1,600 and took his shot. He broke away from the pack and then held onto his first invitational victory (5:11.73) with classmate Matt Reavley taking runner-up (5:13.85).

“I saw the times, and I thought I could take it home today. I just went for it,” Ricketts said. “That was so amazing. We have been talking about that since sophomore year. We knew senior year would be our year, and we wanted to go 1-2.”