MOUNT VERNON — It was a bit breezy, but Mother Nature held off the rest of her fury and let the stars of area field events shine brightly for the 2010 Spectrackular at Mount Vernon High School on Friday Night.
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Fredericktown’s Kaitlyn Newkirk topped all girls pole vaulters with a jump of 9-feet-6, defeating Clear Fork’s Taylor Long (9-feet-0) and Johnstown’s Katrina Cartwright (8-feet-6).
“In pole vault, you always have something to prove,” said Newkirk. “Spectrackular is one of those, where you have to prove yourself here. This is one of those places where it means the most. It gets you in that mindset, better than a practice meet, where if you want to do your best, you have to do your best here.”
Mount Vernon high jumpers placed first and second with Jessica Roden taking the top spot with a jump of 5-feet-4 and Brittany Shelhorn second at 5-2.
“I did my average. I’m more of a hurdle-type person,” said Shelhorn. “Finishing first and second with Jessica is a thrill because we are always pushing each other.”
Tayler Carpenter (5-0) of Fredericktown was third in the high jump and her long jump of 15-10 1/4 was also good for third.
“It’s been a little up and down this year,” said Carpenter. “I’ve been trying to hit 16 and I did a few weeks ago, and I am still trying to get back up to that point. I hope I’ll be there for the MBC. In the high jump, I finished with my PR.”
Finishing ahead of Carpenter in the girls long jump were Taylor Ross of Johnstown and Dana VanDerVort of Northridge.
Cody Wirth of East Knox hurled the discus 136-5 to top Isaac Ute of Clear Fork, who tossed it 132 feet. Jordan Crabtree of Mount Vernon was third at 125 feet.
“I didn’t see it coming,” said Wirth. “I thought I would come in second and Isaac would take first. I didn’t watch anyone throw today and just focused on beating my personal record and not how anyone else is doing. (Being here) is quite an honor. I didn’t make it last year, but I improved lot and I’m glad I made it.”
“Spectrackular is kind of unique in the fact that it’s all on you,” said Ute. “You’re competing more as an individual than in any other meet.”
“I didn’t do as good as I thought I would do,” said Crabtree, who was sporting a mohawk haircut along with Mount Vernon’s Mark Lawson. Crabtree was happy to be there as a freshman. “Hopefully, I’ll do a lot better next year.”
Wirth’s teammate Emily Morris was the only girl to top 100 feet, winging the discus 105-2 for the Bulldogs. Heather Skelton of Fredericktown (99-4) was second and Mount Vernon’s Emily Miglin was third at 91-3.
“It wasn’t my best throw, but I was pretty content with it,” said Morris. “(Competing in Spectrackular) definitely makes you get mentally ready, prepare and focus on what you are doing in an event like this where the best of the best are participating.”
Highland’s Matt Stooksbury won the boys shot put, with a heave of 47-feet-11.
“My brother came down from college to help me,” said Stooksbury. “It was tough — especially Isaac Ute. He and I have been battling for a couple of years, now. He’s great competition.”
Ute (40-2) finished third behind his younger teammate Logan Slavinski, who made a toss of 42-3.
“It’s a great experience. I didn’t throw the discus last year, but I threw it in my freshman year,” said Slavinski. “I decided to come out and give it a whirl again. Overall, Isaac has got me, he’s a great mentor and a great guy to throw with.”
The Freddies took the top two spots in the boys high jump. Jon Gallagher (6-4) and Nathan Cubbage (6-2) seem to have a good-natured rivalry going.
“Coming in, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Gallagher. “I did what I could do. I came in prepared and I just went with it. There’s kind of a rivalry between (Cubbage) and I. We push each other and try to see who’s the best.”
“I need to start pushing (Gallagher) a little harder,” said Cubbage. “I really happy for Jon for winning. It’s great for us to be one and two. It been a great season and we’ll see if we can get to the state.”
Greg Shaum jumped six feet to wind up third.
Mount Vernon’s Leevi Stump won the boys long jump with a leap of 21-3 1/2. Danville’s Weston Severns was second (20-9) and East Knox’ Jordan Coffman third (19-7).
The boys’ pole vault was won by Mount Vernon’s Nick Sahr, who jumped 11-6. Clear Fork’s Steve Bollinger also jumped 11-6, but was awarded second due to misses. Clear Fork’s Dillon Spreng was third (11-0).
Centerburg’s Anna McCann won the girls shot put with a heave of 32-0. Emily Morris of East Knox was second at 30-8 and Fredericktown’s Sarah Fletterich was third (29-9).