LEXINGTON – This was that rare track and field meet that Lexington boys coach Mike Moore decided to circle on the calendar
On Saturday, his Minutemen put an exclamation point right through the heart of that circle.
By winning the 50th Lexington Invitational — and, notably, first bearing the name of legendary track coach Ray Mitchell — they finished the job they started one year earlier when they finished just three points shy of keeping the title trophy at home.
“Coming in a couple of years ago (as the new head coach) and seeing all the records and old data and seeing all the well-rounded coaching (Mitchell) did, he was a master of all,” Moore said. “He had that kind of approach.
“I’ve heard stories from our coaches and old alums, coming in and talking about Ray and how motivational he was about certain things. He just instilled confidence in the kids. That’s why winning this one was big. We don’t circle a lot of meets, and being able to do this in the ‘first’ Ray Mitchell meet is pretty cool for the community.”
Behind senior and triple winner Will Perkins, the Minutemen out-distanced runner-up Avon by a 111.33-81 margin, denying their out-of-town guests of a boys title to match the first-place performance of its girls.
The Lex boys finished top three in eight events and doubled up with two placers among the top three in the 200 and 400 meter dashes, the 3,200 and discus.
This probably won’t be the last time this season you hear that Lex finished the running finals the same way they started – with a relay victory.
The Minutemen kicked things off by winning the 4x800 in 8:09.52 behind the crew of Chance Basilone, Will Hooper, Gage Devaney and Latrell Hughes. They won by an impressive eight seconds over a strong Ontario quartet of Xavier Trent, Dean Morrison, Xander Chitwood and Jace Young.
Lex capped the afternoon in equally grand style, as Hughes collaborated with his twin brother Dantrell, Perkins and Bryston Hess to win the 4x400 in 3:20.33.
Perkins, competing in his first invite of the young season, was coming off a strong indoor season where he and Basilone excelled at the state meet before competing at the New Balance Nationals in Boston.
In addition to his 4x400 leg Saturday, Perkins nipped relay sidekick Latrell Hughes by .01 to win the 200 (22.42), took first in his specialty, the 400 (48.43), and finished third in the 100 (11.42), essentially a new event for him.
“I struggled to go faster than 50 (seconds) in the 400 last year at the (Ohio Cardinal Conference) meet, so to crush a 48 in my first invite of this season, I’m super happy,” Perkins said. “I came in my freshman year and they put me in mid-distance. I didn’t really have a choice, but I love it. I really do.”
Basilone is a reigning indoor state champ in the 1,600, but ran only the 4x800 and the 3,200 on Saturday, taking second in the latter with a fine time of 9:36.46. Most days that would be plenty good enough to win for the Ohio State commit, but Perrysburg’s Anthony Clark, who was sidelined last season, ...
