BGJHS Track

Lexington, KY.
 
With record high temperatures and the track reaching over 100 degrees; several BGJHS track and field athletes break seven Bowling Green Jr. High School records while setting a new state meet record.
 
In the sprinting events, Blake Cleary set the stage early by placing 5th out of 44, in the boys 100m hurdles while setting a new school record of 15.35 (see the video). Blake came back a few races later to finish in 3rd place in the boys 300m hurdles while setting a new school record in that event as well. Blake narrowly missed a medal by placing 9th in the boys high jump with a height of 5-2. He was also 14th in the boys long jump, with a distance of 16-00.
 
Robbie Lofton had a huge day himself. Robbie became the State Champion in the boys triple jump, 39-5.5, while setting g a new BGJHS record.  Robbie also brought home the hardware in the boys 400m placing 6th with a time of 55.26. Robbie was not done there either he brought home a medal with an 8th place finish is the boys 200m. Robbie also ran the anchor leg of the record breaking 1600m relay team that ran a new best time of 3:56.88, which consisted of Jamale Carothers, Trajon Hall, AJ Hampton, and Lofton.
 
Jasmine Varner had a big day on the girls side. She placed 10th in the girls 200m with a time of 28.51 setting a new BGJHS record. Did I mention that Jasmine is only a 6th grader? She was not done there, Jasmine also ran a leg on the girls 400m relay team of Tyria Smart, Camille Smart, Jasmine Varner, and Rose Mary Jackson that finished in 6th place out of 51 other teams. Rose Mary Jackson also placed 23rd of 64, in the girls 400m with a time of 1:07.80. Camille Smart placed 21st out of 45 other athletes, in the girls 100m hurdles she was also 22nd out of 41 other girls in the 300m hurdles. The boys 3200m relay of Jack Atkerson, Chris Grinstead, AJ McAllister, and Michaels Spencer finish a strong race by placing in 25th. Tyria Smart was 27th out of 71, in the girls 100m. Jamale Carothers placed 34th of 69 in the boys 100m.
 
In the distance events, BGJHS came home with two state champions and a state runner-up. On the boys side Trajon Hall not only won the boys 800m setting a new Bowling Green Jr. High school record, but he broke the old KTCCCA Middle School state meet record with a new time of 2:05.89! To put this is perspective Trajon broke the old meet record of 2:06.22 set by Tretez Kinniard. For those that don’t know who Tretez is, he is the young man who broke the Kentucky Class 3A High School state meet record this year as a Junior with a time of 1:49.96. Still not impressed? Well Kinniard is also on the Junior Olympic team which he qualified for as a sophomore. In other BGJHS events was Jack Atkerson who ran a very impressive race in the boys 1600m, where he finished 20th out of a field of 62 other boys while running 5:36.14. Great job Jack!
 
On the girls side Brittney Hansen came into the meet as the #1 seed and returning State Champion in the girls 1600m. She was very nervous and the heat was not helping the situation. However, with the experience of Brittney running up with the High School kids she did not disappoint herself. She led the entire race from start to finish. Although her time 5:27.96 was not where she would have liked it she was excited to defend her title and to go back-to-back as a state champion, something that has never been done at the KTCCCA state meet. Not to be out done, Madisyn Peeples came in as the #1 seed in the girls 3200. However, the 3200m was ran at the hottest time of the day. The track was a scorcher! Madisyn only a 7th grader (okay 8th technically since school just got out for the summer) looked like a season veteran. Started the race very strong only to take the lead a few laps later. The race came down to the wire and Madisyn narrowly missed her first state title by finishing as state runner-up. Madisyn ran a very tough race in extreme temperatures. I predict big things for this young lady. Chloe Games receives my most determined award. Knowing her parents I can see where she gets that from. At the start of the girls 800m, Chloe was pushed to the ground by a group of girls all fighting for the same position. I was horrified and thought that the race should have been called back for an unfair start. However, to my amazement I see Chloe get up and get herself right back into the race. She passed several other runners and finished very strong 36th out of 68. Great run Chloe and way to finish strong.
 
Last but definitely not least. The field events faced a lot of tough competition. One of the boys from another school is ranked in the top two in the nation and almost threw the discuss out of the stadium. Tyler Hughes was 15th in the boys discuss with a throw of 94-7. Tyler was not done there he placed 26th in the boys javelin throw with a distance of 72-7. He was also 40th with a throw of 28-1, in the shot put an event he is not to familiar with, but that did not scare him. Great job.
 
Rose Mary Jackson was 24th in the girls high jump with a leap of 4-0. Katrina Hanson also had a busy day on the field. She was 20th in the girls discuss with a throw of 64-08. Katrina was also 20th in the girls shot put with a throw of 29-00. Katrina finished up the day with a 23rd place finish in the girls javelin throw, with a distance of 41-05. Awesome job.
 
After all the sweat and tears the Bowling Green Jr. High School team showed what we are made of. The boys came in 4th over all and the girls were 10th out of 113 schools. Congratulations to all of you, performing at the level you all did was not easy especially in the extreme heat conditions. Go Purples!
 
To see all the results from the  2012 KTCCCA Middle School State Track Meet