Mount Vernon High School's track and field teams delivered impressive performances on May 2 at the Fredericktown Invitational, securing both the boys' and girls' team titles.
According to the results, the girls' team scored 174 points to clinch first place, while the boys' team accumulated 128 points to lead the standings. The event featured competition from schools including Fredericktown, East Knox, Highland, Utica, Centerburg, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Newark Catholic, Delaware Christian, St. Peter’s, and Columbus Academy.
Senior Kennedy Howard led the girls by breaking both school and meet records in the pole vault with a height of 11 feet, 9 inches. This surpassed the Mount Vernon record set in 2015 by Sadie Brass. Lucy Rush also set a meet record in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 20.41 seconds.
Danaisa Best achieved victories in both the 100 and 200 meters with personal-best times of 12.97 and 26.83 seconds respectively. Nadia Nougi won the long jump at 15-8.75, while Ainsley Bonaudi claimed victory in the 3,200 meters with a time of 12:45.63. The girls’ relay teams also excelled; Rush, Bonaudi, Ellie Salvucci and Megan Packard won the 4x800-meter relay in 10:29.20, while Juliet Boyd, Nougi, Savannah Rose and Best secured first place in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 51.01.
The boys’ team recorded six first-place finishes including a meet record in the 4x200-meter relay with Cole Wilson, Brady Wiles, Brady Mills and Maddox Baker winning in a time of 1:31.78. Dakota Wagner swept victories in shot put and discus events with throws of 46-3 and a personal-best of 142-2 respectively. Ben Fitzpatrick won the long jump at a distance of 21-2.25 and Wiles also triumphed in the 300-meter hurdles clocking at 40.94 seconds. The boys’ relay team comprising Jamison Oakes, Mills, Wilson and Wiles claimed victory in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:31.00.
"It was an exciting night to be a Jacket," head coach Kathy Thayer said following their success at Fredericktown Invitational. "There were 27 personal records set, three meet records broken and one new school record." Thayer added that "the athletes are ready to compete" as they continue to push each other towards improvement.
