Jaquellus Martin has reached a track and field stratosphere that only Wildcat legends Al Baker and Greg Bridges have visited before.
The Trigg County sophomore crossed the finish line in fifth place at the KHSAA Class 2A State Track and Field Championships Friday. His time of 22.22 seconds is the second-fastest in school history, falling just short of Greg Bridges’ time of 22.15 seconds in 1987.
Martin also took 11th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.24 seconds, which was the fastest time run by a Trigg athlete since Greg Bridges won the Class A state meet in 1987 with an identical time. It’s the fourth-fastest 100-meter time in school history and seventh fastest sprint time, which includes the old 100-yard times of the 1970s. Al Baker holds the school record and state Class A record in the event at 10.7 seconds.
Martin’s trip to the medal stand was the first for a Trigg County male track athlete since 2012.
On the girls’ side, DeDe Barbee came in 16th in the 400-meter run with a time of 1:02.84.
Livi Ricks finished the 3200-meter run in a time of 14:37.17
The 800-meter relay team of DeDe Barbee, Iyanna Grubbs, Trinity Cavanaugh, and Lexie Wright took 12th place in a time of 1:51.72.
Trigg County’s 3200-meter relay team of Rylee Bush, Livi Ricks, Lexi Ricks, and Trinity Cavanaugh finished 20th in a time of 10:58.91.
The meet was suspended due to stormy weather with Trigg County yet to compete in both the boys’ and girls’ 1600-meter relays. They will be run Saturday morning at the University of Kentucky Track and Field Complex.