Gonzales shatters 1,600 record, Shelby athletes earn berths in state meet
By CHUCK RIDENOUR Daily Globe Sports Editor
LEXINGTON — One day Kayla Gonzales figured she’d be the school record holder in the 1,600meter run.
That day was Saturday at the Division II Regional at Lexington High School.
The Shelby junior shaved nine seconds off her previous best with a 5:03.52 and won the race and earned a spot in next week’s state meet for the second straight year.
The distance standout for the Lady Whippets shattered the 33-year-old mark of 5:07 held by Lisa Smith.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I would get it this year, but that was the goal. It feels nice to get that goal,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales took the lead on the opening lap and held off a late charge by Huron’s Kennedy Schlessman who was second with a 5:03.97.
“I could feel them and hear them behind me and that pushed me along. I felt good my last lap and gave everything I had,” said
Gonzales.
Gonzales was one of a number of SHS athletes to punch their tickets to state during the final day of regional competition.
Another junior from Shelby — Huck Finnegan — was second in the boys 3,200 meter run.
In the final 100 meters, Finnegan and teammate Mason Hendrickson were locked in a duel with Columbus Bishop Watterson runners Max Latshaw and Finn Kephart.
At the end, it appeared Finnegan’s kick at the finish would be enough as he raised his arms in triumph. Instead he was nipped by .01 by Latshaw with a 9:39.52. Hendrickson was fourth with 9:42.96. Both times were personal best by the SHS teammates.
“That’s a rookie mistake,” summed up Finnegan. “I looked over my peripheral vision and he wasn’t there. I thought I had it and he got me by .01,” said Finnegan.
Making it to state was all that mattered to Finnegan. Having his teammate in the 3,200 also reach state was huge.
“I made it to state. I don’t really care,” said Finnegan about the end. “I wish I had not done that, but it is what it is. With my teammate going that is what we wanted to happen.”
Finnegan and Hendrickson will join Luke Dininger and Marshall Moore in the 4 x 800 relay at state. The foursome won their regional race Thursday with a season best time of 8:04.77.
It was a Shelby sweep in the 4 x 800 as the girls prevailed with a time of 9:41.42 — a best this year. Members of that team include Reyna Hoffman, Channon Cundiff, Emma Montgomery and Gonzales.
Hoffman secured a state berth by finishing third in the 800 with a showing of 2:20.06.
Also garnering a runner-up finish and qualifying for state for the Whippets was Garrett Baker in the pole vault.
Rain suspended competition Thursday and the regional title was down to him and Clear Fork’s Ethan Staley. Both cleared 14-10 and Staley was the winner with one fewer miss.
Also earning a spot at state was long jumper Connor Henkel. He was third with a best of 21-7 3/4 and going to state for the second straight year.
Reaching the podium and missing out on state were Cundiff in the girls 800 (7th, 2:25.25), Moore in the boys 800 (8th, 1:59.72), Dininger in the boys 1,600 (5th, 4:34.06) and Caleb Vogt in the boys 1,600 (7th, 4:37.42).
Also participating in the regional were Andre Hill in the boys long jump (10th, 19-11 1/2), Xander Wilkins in the boys shot put (11th, 44-10 1/4), Olivia Barnard in the girls 100 (14th, 13.20), Ava Bowman in the girls 100 (15th, 13.24), Alainah Carmel in the girls 200 (15th, 27.89). The SHS girls competed in the 4 x 200 and 4 x 100 relay preliminaries Thursday and failed to reach the finals.
The state meet will take place Friday and Saturday in Columbus at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University.*