Hopkinsville track team chasing state track crown

The Hopkinsville High School track team is hoping its final appearance at the KHSAA Class 2-A State Track and Field Meet is one to remember. 

Hoptown is coming off its first Class 3-A, Region 1 title last week at Calloway County High School as it hits the track Friday at the University of Kentucky. 

Hopkinsville Head Track Coach Jessica Caudill said the team prepared all season and was rewarded with its first region track title in school history. 

Leading the way for the Tigers at the state meet will be Keyshun Teal, who is seeded No. 1 in the 100-meter High Hurdles. Teal won the region championship with a personal record time of 14.90 seconds. Teal also is seeded third in the state meet in the 300-meter hurdles. 

Hoptown’s boys’ relay teams also are expected to do well. The 800-meter relay team of Tyson Cavinder, Savior Davis, Carlo Jones, and LaMareon Jeffers is seeded seventh as is the 200-meter relay team of Jaylen Ray, Teal, Willie Ennels, and James Bradley Jr. 

In the field events, Ray is seeded sixth in the Long Jump. 

For the Lady Tigers, Leaunna Wilkerson is seeded sixth in the 100-meter hurdles. Alexis Herrera-Lovato (800-meter run) and Lauren Mayes (3,200-meter run) also are seeded ninth in their respective races. 

Caudill said the key for Hoptown to earn a state crown will be everyone doing their best to pick up points throughout the day. 

Weather could also be a factor at the meet on Friday, but Caudill said her team has practiced in and is prepared for rain if that happens. 

On Saturday, the Christian County Colonels will send 10 athletes to the Class 3-A state meet. Hopkinsville and Christian County will consolidate for the 2027 track season. 

HHS State Qualifiers: 

Boys: 

800-meter relay team: 7^th (Tyson Cavinder, Savior Davis, Carlo Jones, LaMareon Jeffers, Jayon Bass, Fernando Ginez Rojas) 

110-High Hurdles – 1^st, Keyshun Teal; 12^th, Kayden Humphrey. 

100-meter Dash – 23^rd, James Bradley Jr.; 24^th, Willie Ennels 

200-meter relay team – 7^th, (Ray, Teal, Ennels, Bradley Jr., Jones, Bass, Mekhi Manning Lewis, Humphrey). 

100-meter relay – 14^th, (Bradley Jr., Humphrey, Teal, Manning Lewis, Ennels, Ray, Jones, Mychael Pulley) 

400-meter Run – 16^th, Bass 

300-meter High Hurdles – 3^rd, TEal; 18^th, Humphrey 

200-meter Dash – 23^rd, Ennels 

3,200-meter Run – 16^th, Cavinder 

400-meter relay team – 11^th, (Jones, Davis, Jeffers, Bass, Manning Lewis, Bradley Jr., Humphrey, Cavinder). 

Long Jump – 6^th, Ray 

Triple Jump – 20^th, Pulley 

High Jump – 13^th, Pulley. 

Girls: 

100-meter Hurdles – 6^th, Wilkerson 

200-meter relay team – 13^th, (Grace Cansler, Alanni Quarles, Laelah Watkins, Leaunna Wilkerson, A’Ireona Spikes, Heavean McCollough, SauKuuipo Esteban, Jayla Brunson. 

1,600-meter Run – 21^st. Lauren Mayes. 

100-meter relay team – 13^th, (Jayla Brunson, Spikes, Watkins, Wilkerson, Quarles, Cansler, McCollough, Esteban). 

400-meter Dash – 10^th, Quarles; 11^th, Cansler. 

300-meter Hurdles – 18^th, Wilkerson. 

800-meter Run – 9^th, Herrera-Lovato. 

3,200-meter Run – 9^th, Mayes. 

400-meter relay team – 11^th, (Cansler, Quarles, Watkins, Herrera-Lovato, Spikes, McCollough, Brunson, Kaydon Coats) 

High Jump – 27^th, McCollough.