ST. LEON – Beautiful spring weather accompanied the 2022 East Central track and field invitational that draws not only area staples but also select schools in Cincinnati. The Franklin County Wildcats placed 5th on both ends of the meet, the boys scoring 66 and the girls totaling 59. 

Senior Chad Cox easily won in the high jump arena, needing to clear the bar at 6-feet-2-inches. This was four inches higher than the effort of South Ripley's William Tunny. Junior Christian Stortz rounded the oval the fastest in the 400-meter dash, racing through in 51.54 seconds or over a second quicker than the speedy Eli Pierson of Batesville. 

Tops for the girls were a trio of runner-up efforts: the 4x100 relay team of Audrey Harper, Ella Flannery, Madison Merritt and Mackenzie Brzezinski (51.8), senior Jenna Bruns in high jump (5-2) and the sophomore Harper in long jump (15-6).

In third for the ladies was the 4x400 unit (Esther George, Bruns, Flannery, Brzezinski; 4:28.49), freshman Emma Rosenberger in pole vault (8 ft.). Brzezinski was 4th in 300 hurdles (52.33) and Flannery the same in high jump (4-6). Taking 5th were senior Chloe Heffron in pole vault (7-6) and Rosenberger in long jump (15 ft.). George, Kamryn Dozier, Dani Bulach and Madesyn Sunderhaus were 7th in the 4x800 (11:30.83). In 8th were senior Saige Mergenthal in shot put (30-1) and Harper in both the 100 (13.8) and 200 (28.75).

There were no runners-up for the Wildcat boys but a few bronzes. The 4x800 crew of Hunter and Harmon Marshall, Owen Harvey and Adam Grant ran 9:06.83. The Marshall twins teamed up with Stortz and Harvey to get third in the 4x400 (3:37.4). Stortz was third in the 200 (22.95).

Taking 4th were Stortz in the 100 (11.59), Phoenix Simons in long jump (19-6). In 5th were the 4x100 team of Pierre Demol, Jesse George, Harmon Marshall and Harvey (47.77), Simons in 110 hurdles (18.15) and Ha. Marshall in the 800 (2:10.47). Claiming 6th was Simons (300 hurdles; 46.2). Harvey was 8th in the 800 (2:16.15), Hu. Marshall 8th in the 1600 (5:12.64) and Grant 8th in pole vault (9-6).

On April 26, the Wildcats faced off at home against conference foes Lawrenceburg and Connersville. The depth of the girls sprinters seemed to be too much for the Tigers and Spartans to handle as the Lady Wildcats came out on top.

“Our focus is to keep improving throughout the year, so we celebrate PRs (personal records),” coach Joe Davidson reiterated.

Merritt - 100 (13.49), 200 (28.06); Sunderhaus- 100 (15.46); Lucy Loutz- 100 (16.93); Sophie Garrett- 100 (16.99); Flannery- 100 (13.90); Audrey Weaver- 100 (15.13); Stortz- 100 (11.22); Simons- 110 hurdles (17.40) and discus (99-4.5); Griffin McClure- 100 (12.46); Landon Brewer- 100 (12.69); Devin Martin- 100 (12.32); Nick Perry- 800 (2:26); E. George- 200 (28.92); Hannah George- 100 (14.83), 200 (30.99); Maggie Riffle- discus (80' 11”), shot (27' 7.25”); Clayton Bolser- discus (99' 6”); Lance Fields- discus (87' 8.5”), shot put (32' 1”); Ian Flaspohler- discus (74' 7”), Austin Willis- discus (66' 6.5”),  Rosenberger- long jump (15' 5.5”).

The Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference invitational is Tuesday at South Dearborn.