University Heights Academy will send a contingent of athletes to the KHSAA Class 1-A State Track and Field Meet today in Lexington.
The Lady Blazers have a pair of relay teams seeded and Head Coach Carter Hendricks said he feels strongly they could earn a medal at the meet.
The 4×200-meter relay team of Emma Dill, Palin Hampton, Kendall Hancock, and Ajae Oatts won the Class 1-A, Region 1 championship with a time of 1:50.65.
Meanwhile, the 4×400-meter relay team of Dill, Hancock, Oatts, and Amoree Owen is entering the state meet after a Class 1-A, Region 1 title with a time of 4:26.80.
Hendricks said he also was excited to see how seniors Dill and Oatts will perform individually.
Dill is the repeat region champion in the 300-meter hurdles (51.22 seconds). She also finished third in the 100-meter hurdles. She is seeded outside the top medal contenders at the state meet, but Hendricks said he thinks she has a chance to move up.
Oatts will compete in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash after finishing as regional runner-up. Hancock, a junior, also was regional runner-up in the 400-meter dash.
Hendricks believes Oatts and Hancock could move up to medal in their respective races.
For the UHA boys’ team, freshman Graham Conrad and Jude Finch will compete individually in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, respectively. Both are seeded after finishing as regional runners-up in those races last week in Mayfield.
Hendricks points to the boys’ 800-meter relay team, which is seeded, as the Blazers’ best chance to earn a medal. That team consists of Ronan Croney-Sallie, Finch, Conrad, and Zech Davis.
Hendricks said his young team has been a pleasant surprise and he is looking forward to see their growth at the state tournament.
Today’s meet is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the University of Kentucky Norton Spirits and Learning Center.
Hopkinsville High School will compete in the Class 2-A meet on Friday and Christian County athletes will take to the track on Saturday morning.
Photos by Faye Hendricks