Franklin County track and field competed against Richmond April 19 on senior night. The Class of 2022 members are Kaitlyn Brunemann, Jenna Bruns, Chloe Heffron, Saige Mergenthal, Madison Merritt, Tyreke Carr, Chad Cox, Jacob Schatzle, Adam Grant and JD Stokes.

“These seniors have been through a lot in the last 4 years and have scratched and clawed and, through it all, they've been an historic, one-of-a-kind group,” said coach Joe Davidson. “Among them are 11 school records!”

The girls came out on top, but the boys lost by a narrow margin.

There were 43 personal bests from 33 athletes; “they're improving wildly every day.”

Emma Rosenberger- 100 (14.29), long jump (15-1), Merritt- 100 (13.6), Soraya Goergens- 100 (14.72), Christian Stortz- 100 (11.32), Pierre Demol- 100 (12.28), Devin Martin- 100 (12.52), Grif McClure- 100 (12.77), Dalton Ward- 100 (12.72), Landon Brewer- 100 (12.72), Benjamin Bryant- 100 (13.15), Cole Freese-100 (13.47), 200 (28.52), Brian Chen- 100 (14.16), 200 (29.62), Heffron- 100 (14.59), Hannah George- 100 (14.83), 200 (31.13), Sophie Garrett- 100 (17.00), Lauren Stacy- 100 (15.16), Claire Reister- 100 (15.73), 200 (34.28), Keyona Madden- 100 (15.93), pole vault (6 ft.), Marisa Marshall- 100 (16.23), 200 (35.55), Callie Ward- 100 (16.9), Braelyn Lindsay- 100 (16.93), Lucy Loutz- 100 (17.03), 200 (36.15), Owen Darwish- 1600 (6:03), 3200 (12:53), Phoenix Simons- 110 hurdles (17.88), Lance Fields- discus (85-1.5), shot put (30-4.5), Clayton Lunsford- discus (72- 8.5), shot put (33-7.5), Austin Willis- discus (67-3.25), Mergenthal- shot put (31-1), discus (80-9), Bruns- high jump (5-2), Alyssa Rapp- 100 hurdles (20.8), Owen Harvey- 400 (55.06).

South Dearborn hosted their 43rd annual invitational Thursday of 12 teams. Lawrenceburg won both titles, but the Wildcats came away with individual championships, personal records, and even an MVP trophy for Stortz.

Stortz scored the most points at the meet, taking 2nd in the 400 and 200 and 3rd in the 100 and part of the 4x100 relay team. His 400 time was good for second all-time at FC. “His time was a huge surprise for him and us, his coaches,” said Davidson. “We obviously knew he had 'long speed', but he didn't know he could extend it this far.”

Bruns won high jump with a career best of 5-3, her second PR in as many meets. Cox cleared 6-4 to defeat Lawrenceburg sophomore Kasey Sharpshair in a tiebreaker and stay unbeaten in the outdoor season. 

The Wildcats started off the night with a big win in the 4x800.  The team of Hunter Marshall, Harmon Marshall, Harvey and Grant brought home the championship in 8:52.

Simons PR'ed in discus (98-4), Earl Carr- 800 (2:23.76), Grant pole vault (10 ft.), Freese pole vault (8 ft.), Esther George 400 (1:04.06), Rosenberger pole vault (7-6), Audrey Weaver 300 hurdles (1:00.54), Clayton Bolser- discus (98-7).

The Wildcats competed at Pike April 23. 

Cox finished 2nd overall in the high jump to the 2nd best jumper in the state. Bode Gilkerson jumped 6-9 to win. Chad came in at 6 even, then cleared 6-2, 6-4 and tied the school record at 6-5 held by Ryan Rossi. Then he owned the new record at 6-6. He battled Gilkerson as the crowd cheered; on his third try at 6-7, he skimmed the bar and the official determined it was wind that knocked the bar off. Cox then cleared it at 6-8, the third best mark in the state to date. Davidson said the jump would make him the best leaper for Rutgers, Maryland and Minnesota in the Big 10.

Bruns led the day off with another victory in high jump, currently 5-0 in high jump this year.