This past weekend, the Russell County High School track team traveled to  West Jessamine for the Class AA Region 5 Championships.

For many student-athletes, this was their last meet of the season, but for two seniors it allowed them to earn their trip back to the KHSAA State Championships to be held Friday, May 22 at the University of Louisville.

Bryon Ellis and Ashley Wilson will both travel to compete among the state’s finest in their respective events.

Ellis placed second at the region meet in the discus event. He will compete in that event at 3:15 on Friday.

Wilson is the Region 5 champion in shot put as well as runner up in the discus. She will compete in both events starting at 1:30 central time.

Wilson placed third last year in shot put.

This year, she hopes to improve on that position as well as place in the discus event. Ellis earned the right to compete at state last year, but had surgery at that same scheduled time.

Both Ellis and Wilson will have to throw in their events and rush back to enjoy their senior night at the high school starting at 6 p.m.

Both are exceptional young athletes and students and will be missed from the RCHS track and field program. Only the top two in region goes to state and the next ten best times and distances move forward.

Several other members placed well in the region, but did not advance for Friday’s state competition.

The results for girls are as follows: 4x800 relay-7th; 100 hurdles: Chandra Walters-14th, Selena Padilla 15th; 100 Dash: Whitney Grider-11th, Kelsey Haydon- 14th; 4X200 Relay-10th; 1600 run: Autumn Smith 12th, Heather Owens-13th;  4x100 Relay-11th; 400 dash: Ally Harris-6th, Emily York-11th; 300 hurdles: Katie Williams-15th, Chandra Walters-17th; 800 run: Ally Harris-7th; 200 dash: Whitney Grider-12th; 4x400 Relay-8th; Shot Put: Ashley Wilson-1st; Discus: Ashley Wilson-2nd, Emily Wilson-13th; High Jump: Selena Padilla-10th; Long Jump: Whitney Grider-6th.

Boy’s results are as follows. 4x800 Relay-6th; 11 hurdles: Jamison Meece-9th, Joe Meza-13th; 100 dash: Brett Huddleston-16th; 4x200 Relay-4th; 1600 run: Trevor Robertson-7th; 4X100 Relay: 8th; 400 dash: Aaron Pierce-6th, Daniel Ortiz-12th; 300 hurdles: Jackson Evans-7th, Joe Meza-13th; 800 run: Trevor Robertson-14th, Bobby Montville-19th; 200 Dash: Landon Meece-5th, Aaron Pierce-12th; 3200 run: Trevor Robertson-12th; 4X400 Relay-8th; Discus: Bryon Ellis-2nd, Shot Put Codey Bell-10th; High Jump: Jake Blakey-10th.

“It is disappointing not to make it to state as a team, but at least we have two that are going,” said Russell County Coach Misty Matney.

“Hopefully one day we might have a track and field facility to train on and help give us the advantage that most schools have in training.

It’s hard on their bodies having the outdated asphalt track and the facilities for jumping and throwing are not up to par like the other schools in our region.

The kids worked hard for the most part and tried their best and that is all a coach can ask of on competition days.

There were several on the team that decided to quit at the end of the season or not show up for regionals, and as a team that hurts, not to mention that act is frustrating for the coach.

“I always want them to have no regrets looking back at their performances, and those individuals will regret their choices later in life.

On a positive note most of the runners, throwers and jumpers left the season on a high note and a promising future as long as they work hard and are determined to be the best.”

The KHSAA State Track and Field Championships will be held Friday, May 22

for Class AA on the campus of University of Louisville.