The Kenton Times

Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
Clean exchanges
Above left, Kenton's Ryan LaVergne takes a handoff from Dailyn Campbell during the 400 meter relay at the Elida District track and field meet on Friday; while at the right, the Wildcats Shaylee Sexton reaches for the baton from Mari Bennett during the 800 relay. The Wildcat boys were third in the 400 relay, while the KHS girls were fifth in the 800 relay.
Sprinters, Bloom lead Wildcats charge to regional track meet
By KENDRICK
JESIONOWSKI
Times sports editor
ELIDA - What a difference a week makes.
Seven days ago, Kenton track coach Chuck Downing was filled with disappointment after injuries hampered his team and brought the Wildcats down in the team standings at the Western Buckeye League meet.
On Friday, even though some of his top sprinters were still banged up, the Wildcat mentor was able to celebrate the fact that his team was able to advance more runner to next week's regional meet than in recent memory after Kenton athletes advanced in seven events.
"I'm very excited," Downing said. "This is the most events we've qualified in a long, long time. After last week at the WBL meet with all the injuries and issues we had to overcome, for the kids to step up and run as well as they did today is just fantastic.
"I don't think any of our kids have peaked yet and are hoping that they don't peak for two more weeks. Although next week, they're going to have to run their best to make they are competing for another week (state) after that."

FRIDAY MAY 23, 2008

Times photo/Kendrick Jesionowski
Into second
Riverdale Alicia Naus gets to second base safely after smacking a double during the Falcons district final game against Crestview on Thursday afternoon.
Lady Falcons toppled by Crestview in district finals
By KENDRICK JESIONOWSKI
Times sports editor
ELIDA - Riverdale was able to keep it close against Crestview for seven innings on Thursday night.
But unfortunately for the Falcons, close doesn't count for much in tournament play as a two-run blast over the center field fence in the third inning by Melissa Eikholt proved to be the difference in the Knights' 4-2 victory in a Division IV softball district final matchup.
Crestview, the state's No. 1 ranked Division IV team, improves to 24-1 and advances to next week's regional tournament at Findlay, while Riverdale falls to 13-9.
It is the fourth year in a row the Knights have won a district championship at Elida and the second time in four years that they have knocked Riverdale out in the district finals. In 2005 the Knights defeated the Falcons 2-0.
"We did the same thing here three years ago when we came down here – we gave them a game – and that's the same thing we wanted to do today," Riverdale coach Doug Ebright said.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)

Times photo/John Blake

Clearing the bar
Upper Scioto Valley's Rachel Jeffers competes in the high jump during the Division III district track and field meet Thursday evening at Minster High School.
Area athletes advance at Minster
MINSTER - As the first day of the Division III Minster district track and field meet kicked off on Thursday, three Ada competitors, three Ridgemont individuals and an Upper Scioto Valley hurdler lived to see another day.
Placing in the preliminaries and advancing to Saturday's semifinals for Ada was Samantha Fell in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.20 seconds, good for third place among the 16 competitors eligible for the semifinals. Fellow teammate Moriah Rouch also will move on to the semifinals with a 15th place finish in the event (18.90). Ada's Corissa Cole placed 12th in the prelims of the 800 run (2:56.41) and will compete in Saturday's finals.
(Refer to page 8 of the Kenton Times)