Despite rain and wind delays, the Class 3A Region 1 track and field meet pushed through to its conclusion Thursday night at McCracken County High School.
By the end of a long and soggy evening, Marshall County emerged victorious, hoisting the trophy as Class 3A Region 1 champions. The team produced six individual champions and five runner-up finishes, securing automatic qualification in 11 events for the KHSAA State Track and Field Championships — with several more athletes likely to qualify based on time and marks.
Class 3A Region 1 champions crowned came from Sam Morgan (100 meters), Hayden Gray (300-meter hurdles), Kobey Yates (3200 meters), Deegan Croley (discus and shot put) and the 4×800 meter relay (Kobey Yates, Austin Lyles, Fisher Beth, Owen Futrell).
Joining these six are five second place automatic qualifiers for state that include Owen Futrell (800 meters), Sam Morgan (200 meters), 4×200 meter relay (Sam Morgan, Isaac Hodges, Isaac Reynolds, Cade Sorrells), 4×100 meter relay (Sam Morgan, Jett Jones, Isaac Reynolds, Kruz Powell) and 4×400 meter relay (Cade Sorrells, Avery Lovett, Owen Futrell, Isaac Reynolds).
Two new school records were set on Thursday. Sam Morgan set a new fastest time in the 100 meters in 10.87 and Kobey Yates broke his own school record in the 3200 meter run with a new time of 9:23.
The 4×800 relay produced an exciting finish with Owen Futrell running the final leg with a huge come-from-behind final push to cross the line in first. Futrell came oh so close to the same scenario with a lean at the line in the open 800 to finish second. The 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams set the second fastest times in program history.
Deegan Croley continues to shine in the throws – already an indoor state champions in shot put – he will be looking to repeat as state champion in the shot put and earn his first state title in discus.
The KHSAA State Track and Field meet for Class 3A takes place on Saturday, May 31 at the University of Kentucky Track and Field Complex.
Marshall County Class 3A Region 1 results:
4×800 meter relay: 1 Marshall County (8:22.99)-Kobey Yates, Austin Lyles, Fisher Beth, Owen Futrell
100 meter hurdles: 4 John Foley (17.07)
100 meters: 1 Sam Morgan (10.87), 7 Kruz Powell (11.44)
4×200 meter relay: 2 Marshall (1:30.29)-Sam Morgan, Isaac Hodges, Isaac Reynolds, Cade Sorrells
1600 meters: 4 Daniel Walker (4:48.21), 7 Levi Walker (4:51.07)
4×100 meter relay: 2 Marshall (43.52)-Sam Morgan, Jett Jones, Isaac Reynolds, Kruz Powell
400 meters: 3 Cade Sorrells (51.81), 4 Isaac Hodges (52.55)
300 meter hurdles: 1 Hayden Gray (42.51), 3 Isaac Reynolds (43.64)
800 meters: 2 Owen Futrell (2:00.02), 8 Austin Lyles (2:09.77)
200 meters: 2 Sam Morgan (22.47), 9 Isaac Hodges (24.46)
3200 meters: 1 Kobey Yates (9:23), 7 Daniel Walker (10:53.73)
4×400 meter relay: 2 Marshall (3:31.72)-Cade Sorrells, Avery Lovett, Owen Futrell, Isaac Reynolds
Shot put: 1 Deegan Croley (57-06)
Discus: 1 Deegan Croley (153-05), 12 Dalton Hartman (96-06)
Long jump: 3 Hayden Gray (20-11)
Triple jump: 7 Houston Johnson (36-08.25), 10 Fisher Beth (35-10.25)
Pole vault: 5 Golovin Williams (11-00), 8 Brody Spalding (9-00)
