Under stormy skies and amid relentless competition, Mount Vernon High School’s track and field team delivered a standout performance at the District 1 Meet held May 20-24 at Hilliard Darby, advancing 14 athletes in 11 events to the regional stage — the program’s largest contingent in over two decades.
Despite finishing seventh in the girls’ standings and sixth for the boys out of 20 and 18 teams respectively, the Yellow Jackets emerged victorious in their own right, setting school records, hitting personal bests, and writing a new chapter in Mount Vernon track history.
“To my understanding, this is the most athletes that have advanced to the regional level since the early 2000s, maybe even earlier,” Head Coach Kathy Thayer said. “They’ve battled rough weather conditions all season, but it hasn’t deterred them from their training, their goals, nor their drive.”
Stars of the Track and Field
Sophomore distance runner Lucy Rush stole the spotlight, placing second in the 1600 meters with a school-record time of 5:03.74 and sixth in the 3200 meters to advance in both events. Rush also anchored the girls’ 4x800 relay team that finished seventh.
Fellow distance standout Megan Packard, also a sophomore, shattered the school’s 800-meter record with a time of 2:18.37 to earn third place and a ticket to regionals. She also competed in the 4x800 and 4x400 relays.
Freshman Khloe Bradley made a name for herself in the shot put, finishing second with a personal-best throw of 36 feet, 6 inches.
For the boys, senior Ben Fitzpatrick soared to second in the long jump with a mark of 21 feet, 10 inches — a personal improvement of 5.5 inches. He was one of four senior boys to qualify for regionals, joining a leadership core that’s helped steer the team through a challenging spring season.
“Their experience and leadership has been extremely beneficial this season,” Thayer said. “They have helped guide their teammates all season and have shown what four years of training can do for a team.”
Brady Mills (2nd, 400m) and Brady Wiles (2nd, 300m hurdles) led the way on the track, while the 4x200 relay team of Cole Wilson, Wiles, Mills, and Maddox Baker also advanced with a fourth-place finish.
A Youth Movement on the Girls’ Side
Perhaps most impressively, all eight girls moving on to regionals are underclassmen — one freshman, four sophomores, and three juniors — signaling a promising future for Mount Vernon’s program.
“They are quiet and humble leaders that let their performances speak for their training and teamwork,” Thayer said. “They have broken six school records this season.”
Other regional qualifiers include Kennedy Howard (2nd, pole vault), and the girls’ 4x100 relay team of Juliet Boyd, Nadia Nougi, Savannah Rose, and Danaisa Best (6th place).
Looking Ahead
The Yellow Jackets now prepare for the regional track and field meet, set for Wednesday and Friday at Pickerington North High School.
With momentum, experience, and a mix of veteran leadership and youthful firepower, Mount Vernon aims to continue its historic run.
