The Harlan County Black Bears served notice Friday that they’re as close to the “reload, not rebuild” adage as any track program in the mountains.

The senior-laden girls program claimed a win at the Harlan County all-comers meet Friday, while the boys, hit hard by graduation this season, garnered a comfortable second-place finish.

“I’m proud of both teams,” Harlan County coach Ryan Vitatoe said. “This is a solid opening to the season, with the girls taking wins in the first two meets, and we had a vast improvement on the boys side in the last two weeks. We still have a long way to go, but this an excellent starting point.”

The girls cruised to a 50-point victory over second-place Middlesboro, claiming first-place finishes in seven events. Two of those wins went to junior Baili Boggs, who took first in both hurdle events, finishing the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.01 seconds and 300-meter hurdles with a time of 54.53 seconds.

Senior Phebe McHargue won the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.69 seconds and was also part of the 4 x 100-meter, 4 x 200-meter and 4 x 400-meter relay winners. The 4 x 100 team of McHargue, Abby Stephens, Makayla Walters and Hannah Wood posted a time of 54.51 seconds. McHargue, Stephens, Wood and K.K. Johnson won the 4 x 200-meter event with a time of 1:58.52. The 4 x 400-meter relay team of McHargue, Johnson, Kassydee Owens and Morgan Blakley posted a time of 4:36.78.

The girls team’s other winners were sophomore Abby Vitatoe and senior Amber Allen, who tied for the win in the pole vault with a vault of 6 feet, 6 inches.

The boys finished 27.5 points behind Middlesboro and 43.5 points ahead of Whitley County.

Junior Zack Carmical won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:17.26. Carmical was also part of the boys squad’s only other event win, joining Caleb Brock, James Chasteen and Cooper McHargue to win the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 9:12.51.

“The boys are rebuilding, and we’re still moving folks around to find the right spots for everyone, but there was significant progress from the first meet, and that’s encouraging to see as a coach,” Vitatoe said.

Harlan also posted a win, as sophomore Story Miller won the pole vault with a best vault of 10 feet, 6 inches.

The Black Bears will return to action at home Friday in the Coal Miners Memorial Invitational.

Top three results and all local finishers are listed below:

Girls

100-meter dash: 1) Phebe McHargue, Harlan County, 13.69; 2) Hannah Wood, Harlan County, 13.77; 3) Emily Stollings, Perry Central, 13.99; 6) Makayla Walters, Harlan County, 14.36; 15) Emily Eldridge, Harlan County, 14.95; 18) Emily Fultz, Harlan County, 15.11; 42) Erica Stevens, Harlan County, 17.67.

200-meter dash: 1) Kayla James, Middlesboro, 29.51; 2) Halee Jackson, Red Bird, 29.94; 3) Marta Segura, Middlesboro, 30.49; 4) K.K. Johnson, Harlan County, 30.52; 5) Hannah Wood, Harlan County, 30.55; 17) Emily Fultz, Harlan County, 32.08; 18) Makayla Walters, Harlan County, 32.20; 36) Erica Stevens, Harlan County, 38.49.

400-meter dash: 1) Aubrey Baker, Oneida Baptist, 1:07.99; 2) Morgan Blakley, Harlan County, 1:09.03; 3) Caroline Buckle, Leslie County, 1:09.93; 10) Ariel Madden, Harlan County, 1:14.66; 20) Taytum Griffith, Harlan County, 1:21.57; 26) Emily Eldridge, Harlan County, 1:27.01; 32) Hannah Sturgill, Harlan County, 1:38.33.

800-meter run: 1) Grace Rose, Middlesboro, 2:40.51; 2) Makenna Gayheart, Perry Central, 2:49.38; 3) Chelsie Napier, Perry Central, 2:56.91; 5) Ariel Madden, Harlan County, 3:03.79; 8) Paige Phillips, Harlan County, 3:04.98; 12) Haley Middleton, Harlan County, 3:22.82; 14) Sarah Sturgill, Harlan, 3:33.30; 19) Amanda Caudill, Harlan County, 3:44.31; 20) Taytun Griffith, Harlan County, 3:44.98; 23) Kayla Irvin, Harlan County, 3:55.93; 26) Hailey Madden, Harlan County, 4:25.08.

1,600-meter run: 1) Mallory James, Middlesboro, 5:51.70; 2) Morgan Blakley, Harlan County, 6:18.49; 3) Makenna Gayheart, Perry Central, 6:25.64; 8) Abby Stockwell, Harlan County, 7:23.01; 11) Leah Taulbee, Harlan County, 7:38.78; 14) Sarah Sturgill, Harlan County, 7:48.09; 15) Lainey Garrett, Harlan County, 7:48.47; 18) Amanda Caudill, Harlan County, 8:15.60; 20) Hannah Sturgill, Harlan County, 8:37.13; 22) Hailey Madden, Harlan County, 10:37.73.

3,200-meter run: 1) Mallory James, Middlesboro, 13:44.81; 2) Cadance Ferguson, Harlan County, 14:37.79; 3) Emery Glover, Middlesboro, 15:04.19; 4) Summer Farley, Harlan County, 16:11.01; 7) Abby Stockwell, Harlan County, 17:00.66; 8) Leah Taulbee, Harlan County, 17:18.53; 9) Haylee Couch, Harlan County, 17:19.59; 10) Lainey Garrett, Harlan County, 17:37.98.

100-meter hurdles: 1) Baili Boggs, Harlan County, 18.01; 2) Baylee Woody, Middlesboro, 18.25; 3) Abby Stephens, Harlan County, 19.19.

300-meter hurdles: 1) Baili Boggs, Harlan County, 54.53; 2) Baylee Woody, Middlesboro, 55.79; 3) Aubrey Baker, Oneida Baptist, 56.37; 5) Mekenzie Cornett, Harlan County, 57.89.

4 x 100-meter relay: 1) Harlan County (Phebe McHargue, Abby Stephens, Makayla Walters, Hannah Wood), 54.51; 2) Whitley County, 56.66; 3) Oneida Baptist, 57.14.

4 x 200-meter relay: 1) Harlan County (Phebe McHargue, K.K. Johnson, Abby Stephens, Hannah Wood), 1:58.52; 2) Whitley County, 2:00.14; 3) Red Bird, 2:00.70.

4 x 400-meter relay: 1) Harlan County A (Kassydee Owens, K.K. Johnson, Phebe McHargue, Morgan Blakley), 4:36.78; 2) Middlesboro, 4:43.75; 3) Letcher County Central, 5:07.52; 5) Harlan County B (Paige Phillips, Taytum Griffith, Sarah Sturgill, Hannah Sturgill), 5:48.97.

4 x 800-meter relay: 1) Middlesboro, 11:14.24; 2) Harlan County A (Cadance Ferguson, Ariel Madden, Sarah Sturgill, Summer Farley), 12:21.04; 3) Letcher County Central, 12:31.91; 5) Harlan County B (Abby Stockwell, Paige Phillips, Leah Taulbee, Hannah Sturgill), 13:28.61; 6) Harlan County C (Amanda Caudill, Haylee Couch, Kayla Irvin, Hailey Madden), 15:06.97.

High jump: 1) Amber Brown, Knox Central, 5-0; 2) Mikkah Siler, Whitley County, 4-10; 3) Kassydee Owens, Harlan County, 4-4; 6) Hailey Foster, Harlan County, 4-0.

Long jump: 1) Emily Stollings, Perry Central, 14-5.5; 2) Abigail Hudson, Perry Central, 14-2.75; 3) Alicyn Croley, Whitley County, 13-8.25; 4) Abby Stephens, Harlan County, 13-7.5; 6) Hailey Foster, Harlan County, 12-6.5; 9) Hayley Key, Harlan County, 12-2.25; 10) Mekenzie Cornett, Harlan County, 11-6.75; 13) Katelyn Hensley, Harlan County, 11-2.25.

Triple jump: 1) Amber Brown, Knox Central, 30-10; 2) Abby Phipps, Knox Central, 29-1.25; 3) Amber Mullins, Middlesboro, 25-0.5; 4) Katelyn Hensley, Harlan County, 23-1.5; 7) Hayley Key, Harlan County, 22-7.

Pole vault: 1) Abby Vitatoe, Harlan County, 6-6; 1) Amber Allen, Harlan County, 6-6; 3) Danielle Hampshire, Knox Central, 6-6.

Discus throw: 1) Jessica Boggs, Letcher County Central, 93-7; 2) Mackenzie Lawson, 91-1; 3) Lindi Lawson, Whitley County, 81-6; 5) Kelly Beth Hoskins, Harlan County, 69-8; 15) Peyton Griffith, Harlan County, 61-2; 16) Whitney Wilson, Harlan County, 60-3; 18) Breonna Rhymer, Harlan County, 58-9; 24) Kiki Dean, Harlan County, 52-5; 29) Janice Dean, Harlan County, 49-3; 31) Taylor Clark, Harlan County, 48-0; 35) Jessica Caudill, Harlan County, 44-7; 38) Mary Gross, Harlan County, 38-0.

Shot put: 1) Tionna Collins, Letcher County Central, 31-3.5; 2) Taylor Caldwell, Red Bird, 28-11; 3) Faith Long, Pineville, 28-4; 6) Whitney Wilson, Harlan County, 26-7; 8) Peyton Griffith, Harlan County, 25-10; 16) Kelly Beth Hoskins, Harlan County, 21-4.5; 20) Janice Dean, Harlan County, 20-9.5; 24) Kiki Dean, Harlan County, 18-11; 30) Mary Gross, Harlan County, 17-6; 33) Breonna Rhymer, Harlan County, 16-11.5; 35) Taylor Clark, Harlan County, 15-10.5; 36) Jessica Caudill, Harlan County, 15-3.

Boys

100-meter dash: 1) Alex Mason, Middlesboro, 11.71; 2) Scotty Overbay, Middlesboro, 12.07; 3) Matt Brown, Harlan County, 12.10; 12) Jacob Bailey, Harlan County, 12.52; 15) Tyler Flanary, Harlan County, 12.66; 17) Hunter Crain, Harlan County, 12.71; 24) Ben Landis, Harlan County, 13.24; 32) Ethan Robinson, Harlan County, 13.51.

200-meter dash: 1) Alex Mason, Middlesboro, 23.61; 2) Jabari Kyle, Middlesboro, 24.23; 3) Exuace Ngoy, 24.74; 4) Jacob Bailey, Harlan County, 24.77; 8) Matt Brown, Harlan County, 25.28; 9) Hunter Crain, Harlan County, 25.53; 13) Cameron Smiddy, Harlan County, 26.02; 15) Hunter Mefford, Harlan County, 26.41.

400-meter dash: 1) Steven Poore, Middlesboro, 55.39; 2) Landon Couch, Pineville, 55.96; 3) Will Parks, Letcher County Central, 57.29; 8) James Chasteen, Harlan County, 59.61; 9) Hunter Mefford, Harlan County, 59.79; 16) Gavin Napier, Harlan County, 1:04.87; 24) Caleb Whitehead, Harlan County, 1:09.83.

800-meter run: 1) Zack Carmical, Harlan County, 2:17.26; 2) Ethan Smith, Pineville, 2:17.64; 3) Weston Sizemore, Perry Central, 2:18.56; 4) James Chasteen, Harlan County, 2:20.16; 15) Cooper McHargue, Harlan County, 2:29.02; 29) A.J. Howard, Harlan County, 2:49.78; 35) Caleb Whitehead, Harlan County, 3:01.28; 38) Breydy Daniels, Harlan County, 3:07.38.

1,600-meter run: 1) Erik Chesley, Oneida Baptist, 4:53.80; 2) Caleb Brock, Harlan County, 4:54.37; 3) Dustin Driver, Red Bird, 4:58.66; 4) Zack Carmical, Harlan County, 5:11.16; 8) Cooper McHargue, Harlan County, 5:29.20; 15) Austin Crain, Harlan County, 5:48.74; 18) Lucas Epperson, Harlan County, 5:55.97; 20) A.J. Howard, Harlan County, 5:59.93; 21) Sean Cooper, Harlan County, 6:01.45; 26) Breydy Daniels, Harlan County, 6:53.10; 28) Jody Summers, Harlan County, 7:12.88.

3,200-meter run: 1) Dustin Driver, Red Bird, 11:04.03; 2) Caleb Brock, Harlan County, 11:16.17; 3) Javier Polly, Letcher County Central, 11:34.45; 8) Austin Crain, Harlan County, 12:48.02; 9) Lucas Epperson, Harlan County, 12:51.00; 11) Sean Cooper, Harlan County, 13:24.51; 15) Jody Summers, Harlan County, 16:10.98.

110-meter hurdles: 1) Tyler Boggs, Letcher County Central, 17.47; 2) River Braden, Whitley County, 17.72; 3) Tayshaun Eldridge, Leslie County, 18.34; 5) Matt Yeary, Harlan County, 19.38.

300-meter hurdles: 1) River Braden, Whitley County, 44.45; 2) Tyler Boggs, Letcher County Central, 47.09; 3) Jackson Morgan, Perry Central, 47.72; 5) Matt Yeary, Harlan County, 48.30; 10) Ethan Robinson, Harlan County, 53.72.

4 x 100-meter relay: 1) Middlesboro, 45.42; 2) Whitley County, 47.03; 3) Harlan County ( ), 48.10.

4 x 200-meter relay: 1) Middlesboro, 1:35.66; 2) Pineville, 1:42.24; 3) Leslie County, 1:43.00; 4) Harlan County, 1:43.15.

4 x 400-meter relay: 1) Middlesboro, 3:53.15; 2) Letcher County Central, 3:57.93; 3) Harlan County, 4:00.14.

4 x 800-meter relay: 1) Harlan County, 9:12.51; 2) Middlesboro, 9:24.76; 3) Knox Central, 9:34.94.

High jump: 1) Chandler Powell, Whitley County, 5-10; 2) Steven Poore, Middlesboro, 5-10; 3) Parker Williams, Letcher County Central, 5-8; 5) Matt Yeary, Harlan County, 5-2; 6) Cameron Smiddy, Harlan County, 5-0; 10) Ethan Robinson, Harlan County, 4-10; 11) Gavin Napier, Harlan County, 4-10; 12) Gavin Spurlock, Harlan County, 4-10.

Long jump: 1) Chandler Powell, Whitley County, 19-1; 2) Steven Poore, Middlesboro, 18-7.5; 3) Jabari Kyle, Middlesboro, 18-2.25; 10) Gavin Napier, 16-2; 11) Gavin Spurlock, Harlan County, 15-8; 13) Cameron Smiddy, Harlan County, 15-5.5; 15) Tyler Flanary, 15-3.75.

Triple jump: 1) Caleb Teague, Knox Central, 37-2; 2) Chandler Powell, Whitley County, 36-8.5; 3) Eric Helton, Middlesboro, 32-8.75; 6) Gavin Spurlock, Harlan County, 31-4.25.

Pole vault: 1) Story Miller, Harlan, 10-6; 2) Nick Spangler, Letcher County Central, 10-0; 3) Phillip Helton, Harlan County, 9-6; 6) Hunter Mefford, Harlan County, 7-6.

Discus throw: 1) Lucas Lambo, Knox Central, 134-0; 2) Ben Nichols, Whitley County, 118-11; 3) Cody Wells, Oneida Baptist, 110-9; 5) Cade Middleton, Harlan County, 99-1; 6) Hunter Blevins, Harlan County, 92-1; 8) Austin Caudill, Harlan County, 82-9; 9) T.J. Bryant, Harlan County, 82-2; 18) Tanner Griffith, Harlan County, 69-1; 31) Landon Perkins, Harlan County, 46-2; 33) Braden Hayes, Harlan County, 42-8.

Shot put: 1) Lucas Lambo, Knox Central, 44-10; 2) Hunter Blevins, Harlan County, 41-0; 3) Josh Roberts, Leslie County, 38-2.25; 6) Austin Caudill, Harlan County, 35-2.5; 14) Braden Hayes, Harlan County, 32-7.5; 16) Landon Perkins, Harlan County, 30-10.5; 26) T.J. Bryant, Harlan County, 29-0.5; 27) Jacob Surber, Harlan, 28-5.5; 32) Cade Middleton, Harlan County, 27-0.5; 37) Tanner Griffith, Harlan County, 22-6.

***

In previously unreported action, the Black Bears opened the 2019 track season at Middlesboro last month as the Yellow Jackets hosted their first home meet since 1992.

Harlan County’s girls squad edged the home team by seven points to claim the win, while the boys finished third to Middlesboro (by 48 points) and Madison Southern (by two).

The girls won without tallying a single event win, placing second in nine events and third in a handful more.

Zack Carmical (5:21.49) and Caleb Brock (11:03.12) won the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs, respectively, and the two teamed with James Chasteen and Cooper McHargue to win the 4 x 800-meter relay to open the day.

Full results can be found on ky.milesplit.com.