MADISON TOWNSHIP — She scored four goals in her high school soccer debut at STARTEK Stadium, but Taylor Huff’s first ever track meet at the same venue may have been even more impressive.
A sophomore who went out for track at her mother’s urging, Huff broke three meet records as the Madison girls rolled to the team title at the fifth Madison Invitational on a soggy Friday evening.
The Rams piled up 182 points thanks in no small part to Huff’s four first-place finishes. She set individual records in the 200 meter dash (26.58) and the 400 (1:00.44) and anchored the record-setting 1,600 relay team to a time of 4:13.16, tracking down Shelby standout Makenna Heimlich in the final 100 meters.
“It was after the four-by-four, her last race, and I said, ‘Welcome to what is going to be a great track career at Madison,’ ” coach Andrew Saris said. “What a way to put yourself out there.”
Huff, who already has verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Tennessee, ran track in junior high before sitting out her freshman year.
“To be honest, my mom wanted me to do it,” Huff said when asked why she decided to return to the oval. “I knew in the back in my mind I always wanted to run track. It was a matter of making time for it.”
Huff nearly broke four records, winning the 100 in 12.85. The record of 12.79 was set by Mansfield Senior’s Alaysia Grose in 2017.
Madison’s Kari Eckenwiler got into the act as well. The sophomore won the 300 hurdles in 49.94 and took first in the long jump (15-feet, 8-inches) and teamed with Montana Walker, Chesney Davis and Alexsia Davis on the winning 400 relay team (52.80).
Madison’s 800 relay team of Olivia Remy, Phyllis Stanfield, Chesney Davis and Montana Walker won in 1:52.12. Kami Baker won the shot put competition with a throw of 35-4.5.
Shelby finished second in the team standings with 94 points.
Heimlich, who recently won an indoor state title in the 800 run, broke her own meet record in the 800, winning in 2:21.01. The senior also was a member of Madison’s record-breaking 3,200 relay team, joining Reyna Hoffman, Alex Cundiff and Ciera Gurney to win in 10:13.09.
Bailey Walter won the discus competition with a throw of 110-8, while Kassie Stine matched a meet record, winning the high jump with a leap of 5-feet.
Ashland’s Katie McQuillen won the 110 hurdles in 16.63. Teammate Lea Jerkovic won the 1,600 in 5:30.54 and Danielle Honaker won the 3,200 in 12:16.28.
On the boys side, Shelby distance ace Caleb Brown set a meet record in the 1,600 (4:32.85) and easily won the 3,200 (9:50.55) as the Whippets claimed the team title with 118 points.
Brown, who was the runner-up to Lexington’s Kyle Johnston at the Division II state cross country meet last fall, broke the indoor state meet record in the 3,200 as the Whippets placed second as a team.
“It was definitely a confidence-booster going into the outdoor season,” Brown said. “We need to keep working hard and stay healthy.”
Teammate Blake Lucius broke the meet record in the 400 in 51.34. Other individual winners for Shelby were Grant Gossom in the 200 (23.21) and Caleb Henkel in the long jump (20-0.25).
Madison’s Jamarius Jones had a big day, helping the Rams to a runner-up finish in the team standings. The senior won the 110 hurdles (15.58) and the 300 hurdles (42.41) and teamed up with Lyriq David, Johnathan Adkins and Isaac Brooks to win the 400 relay in 45.86. The Madison 800 relay team of David, Brooks, Adkins and Jaylon Scott won in 1:35.60.
Other individual winners were Mansfield Senior’s Cyrus Ellerbe in the 100 (11.61), Clear Fork’s Seth Stoner in the high jump (6-0) and Ashland’s Josh Hawley in the 800 (2:09.83).
Hawley joined Brayden Stone, Grant Vance and Reid McFrederick to win the 3,200 relay in 8:43.95. The Ashland team of Daniel Arimi, Zemed Krichbaum, Evan Etzweiler and Kaden Mendenhall won the 1,600 relay in 3:38.10.
