Keck, Parkinson have strong start to May in Newark Catholic Invitational
NEWARK — Erin Keck had excuse not to throw her best Thursday, but since the calendar has flipped to May it is now or never.
In a performance a long time coming, the Newark Catholic senior threw a personal-best 118-feet-7 to win the discus during the Green Wave's Newark Catholic Invitational at the Evans Athletic Complex. Keck broke the personal best of 111-11 she set at last season's Division III district meet.
"I just felt kind of weird today," said Keck, who also participated in senior night activities just before throwing. "It's hot, which isn't a normal circumstance for us. Everything was kind of off, but I felt like today was the day."
Keck's junior teammate Brooke Parkinson also picked the right time to run her best, winning the 800, crossing in a time 2:27.24. Thursday marked the final tuneup for most of the athletes before next week's Licking County League championships.
Keck hit the 113-foot mark during her first set of preliminary throws. She bettered that by 5 feet during her second set, winning the competition by nearly 7 feet ahead of Fredericktown standout Ella Bouton.
"It makes me feel really good because it lets me know there is more in the tank," Keck said. "I just have to get there. Put small things together, and then it will be there."
Parkinson came from behind to earn her victory. She kicked past Northridge senior Sarah Koker, who took runner-up in 2:30.01, with about 150 meters left.
"I was really excited because I was shooting for a 2:33," Parkinson said. "I hadn't run a 2:30 since the LCLs (last season), so I am really happy I got under that. I was looking to pace off (Koker) because she is really good at running the race. I knew if I stayed with her, I would have a good chance of placing, but when I got to 250 left, I thought I could kick it in now."
Northridge sophomore Ava Travis was the big winner in the girls meet, leading the Vikings to a runner-up finish, totaling 112 points, trailing Fredericktown's 150. Travis won the 200 (27.32) and 400 (1:02.68) and also joined Ruby Cermak, Macey Van Fossen and Olivia Bird on the winning 800 relay (1:52.82) and Bird, Koker and Courtney BeVier on the winning 1,600 relay (4:21.83).
Granville Christian sophomore Eliana Jackson was just behind Travis in the 400 (1:04.29), taking runner-up. Jackson, a cross country standout in the fall, has excelled in the shorter distances during the spring, having recently set the Lions' school record in the 400 at (1:02.88).
"My goal was to break the school record. Now, my goal is to break one minute," Jackson said. "I like sprints better. They are pretty fun."
Heights sophomore Addison Caudill cruised to a victory in the 3,200 (11:29.59) after earlier joining Morgan Watkins, Katherine Banks and Lillianne Busick on the winning 3,200 relay (10:41.98). Caudill, who placed sixth in the 3,200 in last year's Division I regional meet, could choose to make a deep postseason run in either the 1,600 or the 3,200.
"I need (competition) because it helps me work out strategy in my head, and I haven't really had much of that recently," Caudill said. "Honestly, I am just looking forward to the competition and hoping that it helps me get the times I have been aiming for."
Lakewood sophomore Jaylie Maas won the 100 (13.11) and joined Ellie Conaway, Claire Conaway and Hallie Layne on the winning 400 relay (53.21). Heights freshman Sabrina Bauer won the 100 hurdles (17.49).
In the boys meet, Tucker See won the 1,600 (4:28.14) and joined Ryan Baker, Jacob Lane and Joe Ward on the winning 3,200 relay (8:24.31), leading Heath to the team championship. Baker added a win in the 3,200 (10:27.02), for the Bulldogs, who totaled 136 points, 20 ahead of Fredericktown.
Heath junior Joshua Jones cleared 6-0 to win the high jump, and he just missed an attempt at a personal-best 6-2.5. Seniors Brayden Bayles in the long jump (20-8) and Carter Higgins in the discus (149-0) won field events for the Bulldogs.
"(Jones) has been trying to do a lot with track and AAU basketball," Heath coach Ben Gray said. "He had to take a week and a half off when he had his wisdom teeth out, and it was like a fresh reset. He came back as a different guy after that. He was in the right mindset. … He is one that when he has a little bit of confidence and thinks he can be the guy he goes after it."
Northridge junior Nathan Burkey won the 300 hurdles (42.23), but he was more pleased with his runner-up performance in the 110 hurdles (15.90). He ran a personal best while attempting to stay close to Zanesville's Camrom Willett, who won in 15.53.
"I am going for the school record 14.8, which is quite far away, in the 110s," Burkey said. "(Willett) really helped. I haven't had many people to run next to me unless it's like a huge meet."
Lakewood senior Isaiah Mitchell won the 100 (11.07). Heights junior Alex Amartey won the shot put (49-11).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Erin Keck, Brooke Parkinson win events in Newark Catholic Invitational
