The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kenston’s distance impresses
The revolutions on the trademark wind turbine were going a little faster than usual April 9 during the Greg Lusk Relays at Kenston.
The revolutions on the track from the Bombers’ distance crew did a nice job generating power as well.
Kenston’s girls 4x1,600-meter quartet of Paige Masson, Ellie Pleune, Emerson Greene and Cece Paglia contributed to that cause, shattering the meet record in the event with a time of 22 minutes, 8.57 seconds.
The prior standard was a 22:19.93 by Woodridge in 2014.
The early portion of the race for the Bombers, including Masson’s opener, was steady and solid into Paglia on the anchor.
Things suddenly got interesting with a ferocious 250 attack by Woodridge anchor Reese Reaman. Paglia did well to stave off the win, though, in the last 50 as the Bombers reigned on their home track.
“I haven’t really run the 1,600 in a long time,” Masson said. “So we were all really excited to try it. Cece and the rest of them have all been used to running it, so we had a pretty solid idea with it. I started it off, and I just tried to hold on. We all kept it going strong, and then we get the meet record and the Kenston school record, so we did good.”
Masson was also the popper on Kenston’s firstplace 4x8, which recorded a 10:16.53. She and her teammates know well in Division I they’ll have to push for the 9:40 range by May, but this will serve as a starting point nonetheless.
“At (the state indoor meet), we ran a really good time (a 9:36.40 to take third in D-I),” Masson said. “That’s still in our heads, but we’re still getting warmed up to it. And we did pretty good today. Our times were a little
slower than usual but was still pretty good for the first meet and we were all putting in our best effort, which was good.”
On the boys side, the host Bombers also encouraged, capturing the 4x1,600 as
well as distance medley.
In the 4x16, Garrett McConnell and Braden Hunt turned in quality middle legs leading into Dennis Princic on the anchor as Kenston recorded an 18:32.09.
The Bombers, with Princic anchoring, also captured the DMR with a 10:56.19.
“We’re super pleased,” Princic said of 4x16. “We were looking for the school record, but you can’t get them all. The team looked good. The team looked strong. There is room for improvement for sure, but a solid season opener.
“Personally, running anchor leg is never easy by yourself like that. The field was strong today, and I’m proud of myself and proud of the team.”
Kenston thrower Cameryn Walters impressed with her first two discus throws as the Bombers won that relay, unleashing a 1261, followed by a 125-4. The 126-1 is a News-Herald coverage area season-to-date best in the event.
Sophomore Lucas Simmons impressed with a 21-8 long jump as Kenston won that relay as well.
Mayfield and South also participated in the meet area-wise.
The Wildcats got a smooth relay anchor from Tim Steffens as they won the boys shuttle hurdles with a 1:11.85. The Rebels got their lone win of the meet in boys high jump relay, with Tyree Talley clearing 6-0.