Shockro and Kuhlman lead Cape track at Bishop Loughlin Games

Sophomore Lainey Shockro and junior Katie Kuhlman etched their names into the record board for Cape indoor track history as both broke school records in their respective events at the Bishop Loughlin Games at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, N.Y., one of the largest high school meets in the country. Shockro, competing in the freshman/sophomore pole vault, cleared a new personal record of 10-feet-4-inches to win the event and set the record. Kuhlman started off the day racing in the varsity 1,000 meters, where she recorded a time of 3:17.10 to break the previous mark set in 2019 by Taylor Johnson, who ran 3:18.60. Kuhlman went after the record from the gun, as she cruised through the 800-meter split in a quick 2:34 and hung on to finish 10th overall in the varsity division. Both performances are even more impressive being that it is still very early in their season.

“I felt real good, and I think I can go even faster in the 1,000 meters,” Kuhlman said. Kuhlman will take another shot at lowering the record in January, midway through the season, while Shockro will jump again the first Saturday in January in Hampton, Va.

Other highlights from the Bishop Loughlin Games include the sophomore 4-by-400 relay squad of Montana Jones, Grace Wiggins, Landon Diehl and Shockro capturing the championship in a time of 4:27.53, while Padua’s sophomore team was second. The 4-by-200 relay of Hannah Maney, Shockro, Jones and Tia Jarvis ran 1:52.37 to qualify for the final, where they finished eighth overall. Wiggins was 13th in the 300-meter dash in 47.34. The Vikings were winning the 4-by-800 relay championship by a full straightaway after the first three legs of Kuhlman, Alexa Dougherty and Maney when anchor Jarvis twisted her ankle warming up and the Vikings were forced to stop, with Maney having no anchor runner to hand the baton to. The Vikings were then forced to scratch the varsity 4-by-400 relay, and instead focused on the sophomore relay, in which they would go on to win.

“It was an unfortunate thing that happened to us, and it happened so fast that we did not have time to get a replacement on the track,” said assistant coach Gilbert Maull. “We are hoping to get Tia back in January and hoping she can help us as we move toward the bigger meets at the end of the season.”

Jones was fifth in the sophomore 55-meter dash in 7.95, while Diehl was 14th in 8.24. The only freshman on the trip, Lina Frederick, was sixth overall in the freshman 600 in 1:53.65.

The UC Holiday Invite

The Vikings boys took part in the UC Holiday Invitational at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., where Ryan Baker led the way with a second-place finish in the 3,000 meters, racing to a photo finish with Polytech runner Kenny Guy. Guy was timed in 9:02.59, with Baker at 9:02.60 for the most exciting race of the day. Konner Knarr finished ninth in the 200 meters in 24.40, while Brian Sponaugle was seventh in the 800 meters in 2:09.51. Joey DeGregory was fifth in the 3,000 meters in 9:38.09. The 4-by-400 relay finished sixth in 3:54.48, while Barritt Ross was fifth in the high jump at 5-feet-3-inches. Justin Friscia was fifth in the triple jump in 36-3, while Daniel Saez was sixth in 33-8. Eddie Houck was seventh in the pole vault in 9-6, while Bailey Fletcher was 10th at 9-0.

Both the Vikings girls and boys will compete in the Christopher Newport High School Showcase Saturday, Jan. 8, in Virginia, before returning home to host Caesar Rodney Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Race Into The New Year 5K

Come out and race into the new year with the Seashore Striders on Friday, Dec. 31, in Rehoboth Beach. The race will start and finish at the bandstand, kicking off at noon and heading to North Shores and back. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in 16 age groups as well as the overall and masters champions. All participants who register by Monday of race week will be guaranteed a custom long-sleeved T-shirt. Register by going to seashorestriders.com. Merry Christmas to all my running and racing readers.