ASHLAND — Emily Thomas had herself a day.
Lexington’s senior sprinter won three individual events and anchored a winning relay team as Lady Lex captured its fourth straight Ohio Cardinal Conference crown Friday at Ashland University’s Ferguson Field.
Lex scored 147 points, followed by Wooster (130) and Ashland (128). West Holmes (101.5), New Philadelphia (81.5), Madison (36) and Mansfield Senior (31) rounded out the scoring.
Thomas struck OCC gold in the 100 meter dash in a personal-record 12.54 seconds and had season-bests in both the 200 (26.02) and 300 hurdles (45.81). She teamed with Allison Laury Brynley Liersemann and Sylvia Secrist to win the 4×200 relay in 1:47.88.
“I knew I was going to run four events to get as many points as I could for my team,” said Thomas, who was selected the OCC female runner of the year. “I was a little tired but I knew I had to suck it up and give all I had left in me.”
So did Lex teammate Katya Prykhodko. The junior distance ace won the 1,600 in a PR 5:20.28 then stunned West Holmes’ Iriel Mena to win the 3,200 in a PR 11:44.83. Mena seed time was nearly 30 seconds faster than Prykhodko’s.
“She was great,” Prykhodko said. “She kept surging and I thought that would take away a lot of her energy. She was strong and it didn’t take away as much as I thought it would.
“I had to be patient.”
Lexington freshman Kayla Soehnlen won the shot put with a throw of 34 feet, 9 inches.
“I had some girls who really stepped up,” said Lexington girls coach Michelle Smith, the OCC girls coach of the year. “(Soehnlen) winning the shot put as a freshman and Emily Thomas and Katya. The girls did amazing.”
Ashland’s Vivian Walter was selected the OCC’s combined female athlete of the year after winning both the pole (10-10) and the 100 hurdles (15.17). Walter had PRs in both events.
Ashland’s Alyssa Sampson won the 400 in 1:00.95. Teammate Frankie Rupsis won the high jump with a leap of 5-2.
Boys
Lexington won its second straight OCC title with 180 points, thanks in no small part to OCC male runner of the year Latrell Hughes. The junior won the 400 in a personal record 48.01 and teamed with Coen Queen, Bryston Hess and twin brother Dantrell to win the 4×200 relay in 1:28.76.
Dantrell Hughes won the 300 hurdles in a PR 39.45, edging Ashland’s Jayden Goings. It was the first time Hughes beat Goings, a 2024 Division I state qualifier.
“Every meet I knew I was getting closer and closer (to Goings),” Dantrell Hughes said. “I felt good off the start … and went out and got it.”
Lexington also got PRs from Chance Basilone in the 800 (1:54.72) and Will Perkins in the 200 (21.93). Basilone and Perkins teamed with Hess and Nathan Reed to win the 4×400 in 3:23.74.
“This is my senior year, so I’m trying to have my best times,” said Perkins, who will run track at Mount Union next year. “I want to show out for everybody.”
Lexington’s Eli Barr won the pole vault with a season-best 12-0. The Minutemen also won the 4×800 relay as the team of Luke Haring, Drew Hooper, Will Hooper and Trevor Reed finished in 8:21.71.
Ashland’s Goings won the 110 hurdles in 15.12, while teammate Dakota Kruty won the long jump competition with a leap of 22-4.25. Ashland’s 4×100 relay team of Kruty, Tyler Sauder, Garrett Davis and Jacob Holbrook won in a school-record time of 42.28.
