Leopards’ Kent will stick to throwing despite competing in 1,600 relay
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Belle Vernon’s coaching staff doesn’t plan on making any changes on the track, but if they do, Ryan Kent is a willing participant.
The junior Leopard decided to help his team in running a leg of the 1,600-meter relay. Kent felt good the first-half of his 400, but didn’t enjoy the last as he left the track and collapsed from exhaustion on the field.
“I was moving for the first 200,” Kent said.
Despite his exuberance to compete in the event, Kent said Saturday’s run in the final event on the track in the Fayette County Coaches Association Track & Field Championships will be his first and last time running a 400, as he plans to stick to the throwing events.
Kent’s decision is a wise choice, and he provided evidence at Mustang Field on the campus of Laurel Highlands High School in winning the boys Field MVP.
Kent won the discus (138-10) and javelin (150-03), and was second in the shot put (45-08.50) to Connellsville’s Glen Strickler (45-11.50).
“The discus is definitely my best event,” Kent said. “I made states last year in the discus. I finished fourth in the WPIAL last year. My family is actually full of runners, which is kind of ironic considering all that occurred today.”
Belle Vernon doesn’t have a track & field facility, but Kent has created his own area to work on his technique.
“I prepare a lot at home,” Kent said. “I have a big patio, and I spin a lot in a day, and just keep practicing and practicing because it’s all about repetition for throwing.
“You know who the top throwers are going in by watching them warm up. If you see their technique is beautiful in warm ups, they are going to most likely throw far.”
The Lady Falcons’ Madelynn Johnson competes in golf and swimming, but, like Kent, plans to stick to throwing, as the senior won the girls Field MVP award with victories in the discus (103-05) and shot put (29-09.50). She was sixth in the javelin (74-00).
Johnson has the luxury of a throwing area at Connellsville Stadium, but perfecting her technique throughout her career has been key.
“As I was working my way up, I put a lot of focus on my technique,” Johnson said. “But this year, I have been trying to get stronger, too, and I think that was what helped me a lot.
“I started track & field in middle school and I did pretty well, so that is where I got my love for field events. I also jumped in middle school, but throwing was my thing, so I kept up with that. I do dance, which helps a lot with the spin and everything.”
Johnson looks forward to finishing her high school career in style, as Connellsville will compete in the Baldwin Invitational this upcoming Friday and the last-chance meet at West Mifflin on May 9 before the WPIAL individual championships on May 14 at Slippery Rock University.
“The Baldwin Invitational and last-chance meet will provide me with opportunities to improve my throws,” Johnson said. “I would say, right now, the discus is my best event. My PR (personal record) is 105 in the discus, and we have a goal of 110.”
Johnson’s teammate, Allison Painter, broke her PR in winning the javelin (100-04).
Uniontown won two out of the four jumping events, as Lyric McLee broke her PR in winning the triple jump (33-11) and Eleanor Carei won the pole vault (9-01).
Brownsville freshman Aijanae Foster won the high jump (5-0) and Frazier’s Elisabeth Keaton topped the field in the long jump (15-09).
There was a tie in the boys high jump, as the Albert Gallatin senior duo of Matthew Gaborko and JJ Jackson each cleared 5-08. Jackson broke his PR in the event.
Brownsville’s Levi Grogan won the long jump with a leap of 20-02.75. Belle Vernon’s Chase Mertz won the triple jump in 41-00.50. Laurel Highlands’ Grant Brambley cleared a season-best 13-07 in winning the pole vault.