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Asked to describe this year’s members of the George Rogers Clark High School track meet, Head Coach Dodd Dixon responded quickly.

“[They’re] probably one of the better teams we’ve had in GRC’s history,” he said.

The results, in more ways than one, have proven why.

At the 2023 KHSAA Class 3A State Track Meet on Saturday, June 3, various state and personal records were set as both the Cards and Lady Cards presented equally strong showings.

“The boys came into this [as] regional runner-up. We’re in Region 6, [Class] 3A, and that’s tough. That’s the Lexington region, and we felt really happy to come in runner-up in that,” Dixon said. “Our girls are young, primarily eighth-graders and freshmen. They looked smooth out there. They’re exchanges looked really good, and we were really pleased with them.”

On the girls’ side, Bailey Howard – a freshman and one-time student of Kaizen Pole Vault – set a personal record with a vault of 11 feet.

While finishing in third place overall, during a weekend of competition that featured athletes from over forty schools, it exceeded Howards’ prior all-time high.

“That was gratifying to watch her clear that,” Dixon added. “I think she’s got more in her as the year progresses.”

Senior graduate Corbin Ison arguably led the boys’ team.

Soon to compete at Centre College, Ison was a part of the mixed 4×100 meter shuffle hurdle and mixed 2×200 meter relay.

Other athletes soon to be competing in college sports included Union College football signee Kareem Guerrant, Morehead State University basketball signee Jerone Morton and Eastern Kentucky University football signee Tyleik Maxwell.

Guerrant competed in the mixed 2×200 meter relay and mixed long jump event and Maxwell and Morton have also shined.

While Maxwell broke the school record in the high jump, Morton broke the school record in the 400m dash with a time of 50.14 seconds.

“[At] the start of it, I just prayed at first and just asked God to perform through me, and I think he did. I got a good start off the blocks,” said Morton, a leader on GRC’s state champion and runner-up basketball team the last two seasons. “I felt pretty good while I was running.”

Liam Parido and Joey Hill, each expected to return next season, set school records in the 800-meter run and long jump, respectively.

“I think that everybody pretty much knew where they stood and what the expectations were. Everybody really did well”, Dixon said. “The things that we’re pleased with are the school records that just keep falling every single time.”

Also competing at the meet were the Girls’ 4×100 meter relay team of Howard, Brooklyn Christopher, Annette Miller, and Amelia Jones.

The girls also featured Reece Patrick participating in the high jump.

In addition to Parido, Morton, and Ison, Josh Wilson competed in the boys’ 4×400-meter relay.

Other athletes competing for GRC were Mayson Letcher, Michele Smith, Jackson Rogers, Harley Kathlina, Jaylob Clifford, Aidan Larkin, Cade Randle and Shai Scaraboro.