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Depth has carried St. Henry track teams to dual victories in three invitational meets this spring


By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sport reporter

Despite adverse weather conditions, St. Henry has swept boys and girls team titles in three track and field invitational meets over the last four weeks.

“We haven’t had really good weather for track yet,” said coach Greg Enxel. “I’m praying that we actually get some spring weather in the next couple weeks to see what potential we really do have.”

St. Henry relay runner Hayden Norris, left, takes a baton handoff from teammate Luke Brockman during last week’s Donnie Carnes Invitational. (Photo by Bob Jackson)

Enxel will be keeping an eye on the forecast for next Tuesday when St. Henry hosts the Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Championships for Division II schools.

In that meet, all of the running events will be relays and scoring in field events will be based on two-person totals. Teams with the most depth are usually the top contenders for the titles, and that’s just what carried the Crusaders to victory in three previous meets.

In the Donnie Carnes Invitational last Saturday, St. Henry scored double points in eight girls events and seven boys events to sweep the team titles against a field that included several larger schools.

“It’s hard work and determination from the kids, and the unbelievable depth we have on both our teams,” Enxel said of St. Henry’s early season success. “When somebody goes down with a small injury or tries to do something else, I can move another person in and never miss a beat.”

The standout performer on the St. Henry girls team is junior sprinter Natalie Pope. Last Saturday, she finished first in the 100, 200 and 400 dashes and 4×400 relay.

St. Henry sprinter Natalie Pope. (Photo by Bob Jackson)

“She’s absolutely been tough as nails this year,” coach Enxel said. “At the beginning of the season, I told her she’ll probably have to do all those (events) if we want to push for that state championship that got away from us last year. She’s really bought into it and working hard, and I think she’s going to do good things at the state level.”

In last year’s Class A state meet, St. Henry finished second behind Murray in the girls team standings. Pope was a member of the 4×400 relay team that won a gold medal.

The St. Henry boys team placed fourth in last year’s Class A state meet with mostly underclassmen on its roster. The top returning seniors include distance runner Ethan Snyder and cousins Collin and Evan Strassberger, who compete in several different events.

“These guys are hungry and they’ve been working hard and know what it takes to take that next step and win a state championship,” coach Enxel said of the boys team.

In last Saturday’s meet, St. Henry’s first-place finishers were Snyder in the 1600 and 3200 runs, junior Logan Blaut in the pole vault and the 4×400 relay team. The Crusaders got most of their points by placing second through seventh in events.

“Depth in our sprints has really been what’s building this boys team,” Enxel said. “Everybody’s got a few guys faster than ours, but we’ve got two guys who are middle of the pack all the time and getting us points that way.”


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