MOUNT VERNON — Reaching the state tournament is never a small feat. Doing it more than once — in multiple events — is something else.
Fredericktown’s Garrett Gatton did just that. And it helped earn him the honor of being the 2011 Mount Vernon News All-Area Boys Most Valuable Track Athlete.
In 2011 Gatton returned to state as a 110- and 300-meter hurdles qualifier, reaching the finals in both races. He qualified by hitting personal records in both at the regional meet the week before (14.95 and 39.44, respectively).
Gatton dominated the Mid-Buckeye Conference Championship meet and the Mount Vernon News SpecTRACKular, winning both hurdles events at both meets.
He also reached state in the 4x400-meter relay event, along with Nathan Cubbage, Max Miller and Clay Riley.
On the girls’ side, a Fredericktown freshman takes the nod as Emily Roberts is the All-Area Girls Most Valuable Track Athlete.
Roberts kept appearing at or near the top of the list in every distance race. She was the top qualifier in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs at SpecTRACKular, ultimately winning both events. She also won the 1,600 at the MBC championships.
Once in districts, Roberts dominated the distance events, winning a regional title in the 1,600 and qualifying in the 3,200. She ultimately finished sixth in the state in the 1,600 running a PR of 5:13.28.
