Lawrence Brings Garrard Its First ever State Title in any KHSSA-Sanctioned Sport

(Lancaster, KY - June 17, 2021) — The “Gold” in Golden Lion is no longer just a descriptive mascot moniker.

Garrard County High School senior Emma Lawrence won the gold medal in both the long and triple jump competitions Friday at the KHSAA State AA Track and Field Championships, bringing the Golden Lions athletics program its first state title, across all sports, in its 57-year history.

Lawrence’s winning distances of 19 feet in the long jump, and 40 feet, 2.5 inches in the triple jump, were both records for the Kentucky Class AA Championships.

The Golden Lions had seven athletes qualify for the state meet -- a school record number of entrants. Jasmine Ward, Grace Morrow, Molly Morrow and Lexi Hale teamed up to set a personal record time of 54.13 seconds in the women's 4-by-100-meter relay, which landed them in a tie for 18th place. 

Chase Burkhart competed in the men’s high and triple jump competition at the same time, as the events were being held adjacently. He also qualified out of region for the long jump. The junior cleared 5-feet, 10 inches in the high jump for ninth place, finished 17th in the triple with a 38-09, and scratched out of the long jump.

Junior Bennett Sparks finished seventh in the shot put with a distance of 47-06.75.

As a team, the GCHS girls finished 16th in Class 2A out of 35 qualified schools. The boys placed 34th out of 38 schools. Louisville Christian Academy took home the women’s title while Mercer County won on the men’s side.

The state meet at UK started out a bit dreary as squalls of rain had traveled through the Commonwealth throughout the morning. The runways and sand pits were slightly damp as Lawrence got mentally prepared to do what she has done all season -- dominate.

“I usually do the same things before I jump every single time,” Lawrence gave a glimpse inside her pre-game mindset. “I have to make sure everything is consistent. The only thing I think about is ‘push,’ because I think about pushing down the runway. Then I wear a cross necklace and I grab it before I jump... I’m very superstitious.”

In her first event of the day, the long jump, Lawrence’s fierce competitiveness showed through. Although she had just captured the first state championship in her school’s history, she walked off the track disappointed she wasn’t able to compete better against herself.

“It’s nice, all your hard work finally pays off, but I still wish I would’ve jumped farther,” she said after breaking a championship record with her 19-foot jump.

Lawrence had her eyes set on matching, or breaking, her personal record jump of 19-08.50. Still, her championship distance was enough for gold by well over a foot. The previous meet record was marked at 18-06.50 in 2012 by North Oldham’s Brianne Brown.

“It actually never registered that I had won, or that I had broken the 2A record,” Lawrence explained her thoughts after having a chance to reflect. “That literally never entered my mind. I was just kind of upset I didn’t jump what I had wanted to, which was a 20. But after that I was like, ‘Ok, I have to jump what I want to jump in triple.’ So then it kind of motivated me more.”

After a downpour and a 90-minute weather delay, the humid June sun came out to watch as Lawrence was able to focus that motivation into the triple jump and give Garrard its second state title.

Lawrence jumped a PR of 40 feet, 3.25 inches earlier in the season and since hasn’t been satisfied with any attempt under that 40-foot mark. In her first of three prelim attempts Friday, she recorded a 38-06.75 -- a score that would have won the event by nearly a foot and broke the previous championship record by 3.5 inches. She improved to 38-11 on her second go, then broke through with a 40-02.5 on the third jump.

“Whenever I jumped the 40-foot-2, I was good,” Lawrence said. “My first jump was like a 38-11 I think, and that was no good for me. It was good I jumped the 40 in prelims so I could use finals to press a little harder and not worry about scratching.”

She couldn’t extend the record-breaking distance in the finals, but there was no stress to do so as no other competitor in Class AA had broken 40 feet on the season. The previous meet record was set in 2012 at 38-03.25 by Michaela Hunter of Rockcastle County.

Had Lawrence managed to break her personal record, she probably still wouldn’t have rested on those laurels.

“Then I would’ve wanted a 40-foot-9 and so on,” she explained. “That’s just how I think when I jump.”

Lawrence accepted her medals in a corner of the infield as another event took place on the track. Because of the nature of track and field meets, Emma’s podium presence wasn’t matched with the fanfare and attention that is deserved for someone whose achievement is unparalleled in their school’s history. So, it took a bit of time for the reality of her accomplishment to fully sink in.

“After reading all the articles and stuff it’s kind of, yeah, like a little crazy,” Lawrence laughed. “It’s not that I didn’t think it was a big deal, it’s just, I can’t describe it… It’s crazy because I don’t think of myself as somebody who would have an article written about them.”

Lawrence has also been amazed at the outpouring of encouragement she has received on social media.

“It’s kind of sunk in that it’s a big deal for the community,” she said. “It feels nice to have the support.”

Soon it won’t be just the local newspapers intrigued with Lawrence’s performances. The Boston Globe will likely also become interested as the track star has signed to further her education and athletic career with Boston University in the fall.

“I just felt the most comfortable when we first talked,” the future Terrier explained her decision to commit to Boston. “In our first recruitment call I felt the most comfortable with them out of all the other coaches. Plus the city is really beautiful and it’s a very nice school. It’s an adventure and I’m excited.”

Lawrence’s goals go beyond college.

“I would love to jump for the US Olympic Team,” she said. “That would be amazing. I know that’s a hefty goal, but you gotta have a crazy one to go for.”

Given Lawrence’s work ethic, “crazy” turns much more into “realistic.”

“I’ll work my butt off, as much as I can, to get as close as possible,” she promised.

These are Olympic dreams coming from someone whose school doesn’t have a track and field complex, and who wasn’t introduced to the sport of jumping until her sophomore year. Over her four years in high school, the track program has struggled with consistency, having three head coaches in that span.

Coach Robert Lyon showed Lawrence a video of a male Olympic jumper in 2019, believing she had the ability to practice the discipline.

“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to try that,” Lawrence said were her initial thoughts. “But the rest is history.”

She also credits current GCHS track coach Tyler Robinson and the school’s administration for finding ways to support her journey, as well as her AAU coach (and current Boyle head coach) Daylen Morris.

“I love Daylen,” Lawrence said. “He’s helped me a lot -- taught me everything I need to know. Coach Rob [Robinson] also has been really helpful, getting me everything I need and stuff. I appreciate all the love and support I have gotten. I feel like I have a great community behind me. For people to be proud of what I did -- it feels really nice, actually.”

Coach Robinson is in his second season at the helm of the track and field program, though the 2020 season was cut short not long after spring practices got underway due to COVID-19.

“What a ride this team and this group of seniors have been on during their high school career,” Robinson said. “In a span of four years this group of kids have had three different head coaches, three different training styles, and various individual routines while not having a track facility to train on. The conditions were not optimal for building a strong program that could fill a roster from one season to the next, but that did not stop this group of seniors and their team.”

Training without a track presents figurative hurdles. Administration worked out an agreement with Lincoln County to bus athletes to their track up to three times a week, and the GCHS parking lot was utilized in imaginative ways. From there, the upperclassmen anchored the team.

“We came up with a new routine for the track and the seniors lead the way, pushing themselves and their teammates,” Robinson explained. “Emma Lawrence took to the sand pits taking a group of eager-to-learn jumpers with her to learn the steps. Lexi Hale and Justus McGlone held down the running events while Brandon Brooks began mentoring younger throwers. I think the overall theme to this wild story has been PRIDE -- pride in themselves, pride in each other and most importantly, pride for Garrard County. This group of seniors had been itching to represent Garrard County on the track since the end of their sophomore year and wanted to show how much hard work pays off. It has truly been an honor to coach these seniors and help build the foundation to a program that they have built from sweat and tears.”

Robinson has been impressed with Lawrence’s performances, both on and off the track.

“Talking with Emma after it was all over she couldn’t help but smile -- she knows she has done something special,” he said. “But really Emma has done so much more, not just for herself but for the track and field program and Garrard County athletics as a whole. Earlier this year Emma spoke out about the future of what facilities would be located at the high school and why a track facility should be number one on the list. She said she thinks she has made the point clear now. Those two state championships are more than a personal victory -- it has set the attitude and expectations for our entire program, again building the foundation and paving the way for future athletes and what it means to truly be a Golden Lion.”

While Lawrence’s medals are certainly now the gold standard, the improvements in the track program as a whole have also been apparent.

“This year’s team has definitely left their mark in the history books as the boys and girls teams have combined to set 14 new school records, and multiple state records now as well,” Robinson explained.

Lawrence hopes her successes will inspire the next generation of Golden Lions.

“Try everything,” she advised young people entering high school, noting that she hadn’t discovered her niche until recently. “There’s just so many things you can do. Freshman year is the perfect time to try whatever you want, so keep an open mind.”

If she was able to finish atop the podium, she believes the same can be true for other Garrard Countians.

“I’m glad I’m in this position because I think it’s opened up opportunities for other kids to see that track is a sport you can succeed in,” Lawrence said. “It’s not just basketball, football, baseball and softball. I think it’s cool and I’m definitely proud to be a part of it.”