The Mount Vernon High School track and field teams delivered strong performances at the Newark Invitational on April 5, with the boys team finishing sixth and the girls team placing eighth among 14 competing schools.
The Yellow Jackets faced tough competition from schools including Bexley, Big Walnut, Bishop Hartley, Bishop Watterson, Central Crossing, Fairfield Union, Granville, Groveport Madison, Heath, Licking Valley, Newark, Newark Catholic, Northridge and Thomas Worthington.
Senior Lucy Rush led the way for the girls team, making history in the 3200-meter run. Rush broke both the school and invitational records with a time of 11:11.53, shattering the previous school record of 11:18.80 set by Sarah Baker in 2009.
“Lucy Rush is such an impressive athlete,” head coach Kathy Thayer said. “She is goal-oriented, determined, and a hard worker. Her best two-mile time during outdoor last season was 11:54.49. She’s opening this season with an 11:11.53. She looked comfortable and relaxed which really bodes well for the season. Sarah Baker left an impressive legacy at Mount Vernon, and her school record held for 16 years. Not only did Lucy break the school record, but she also broke the invitational record from 2018.”
The girls 4x800-meter relay team of Ainsley Bonaudi (senior), Cora Stetler (freshman), Rush and Megan Packard (sophomore) claimed second place with a time of 10:06.64. Packard also earned second in the 800 meters, clocking 2:24.53, while junior Kennedy Howard finished second in pole vault at 11-0.
On the boys side, the 4x400-meter relay team of Cole Wilson, Kalman Kanuckel (senior), Brady Mills (junior) and Brady Wiles (senior) took first place with a time of 3:29.77. The 4x200-meter relay squad — Wilson, Wiles, Mills and Wiles again — narrowly missed the school record while finishing second in 1:30.98.
Wiles had a standout meet, placing second in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best 40.74 and third in high jump with a mark of 6-0. Maddox Baker (senior) took third in the 100 meters (11.56), and Dakota Wagner (senior) finished third in the shot put with a throw of 47-1.5.
Adding to the record-setting weekend, the boys 4x100-meter relay team of Thomas Sant (senior), Ben Fitzpatrick (junior), Sami Lacksonen (senior) and Baker broke a school record that had stood since 2021.
