Ogles breaks school record, claims state title
Taylor Ogles placed first in the high jump competition at the KHSAA Class 3A State Track & Field Championship on June 4. He is the first BCHS Trojan to win a state high jump title. Photo submitted by Emily Ogles.
Mary Beth Sallee
Jobe Publishing, Inc.
Earlier this summer, a Barren County High School (BCHS) student-athlete earned a spot for his name in the record books.
Taylor Ogles, currently a senior at BCHS, broke a track and field school record and also claimed the school’s first track and field state title in nearly three decades.
When Taylor was preparing for the 2022 Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Class 3A Track & Field State Championship held at the University of Kentucky on June 4, he had one goal in mind: to beat the BCHS record for the high jump.
The previous school record was 6’4”, previously held by Nick Mabe in 2016. However, Taylor surpassed that record by two inches and broke that school record with his jump of 6’6”.
“I was honestly a little bit shocked,” Taylor said. “…You have three jumps for each height, and I cleared it on my first jump. I was just shocked. It’s probably the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Taylor Ogles set a BCHS high jump record with a jump of 6’6”. Photo submitted by Emily Ogles.
Taylor began participating in track and field when he was in the 8th grade, but described this past year as his “breakout year”.
The main goal for Taylor at the state championship, as well as for his parents, Lance and Emily Ogles, and his BCHS Coach, Catherine Beals, was to break the school record. But on June 4, not only did Taylor land himself in the school’s record books, he also claimed a state title. He placed first in the state of Kentucky in the Varsity Boys High Jump.
Taylor’s mom, Emily, said that it had been almost 30 years since anyone from BCHS had won a track and field competition at the state level. Through research, this has proven to be true.
Jamie Pendygraft won the state titles of the 800-meter run and the long jump in 1993. In addition, according to KHSAA records, Taylor Ogles is the first BCHS track and field athlete to earn gold in the state high jump competition.
“It’s very emotional because I know it’s been that long, and I played sports in high school,” Emily said. “I think winning the state title is a great achievement, obviously. It’s emotional because I knew the guy (Pendygraft) who had won it (a state title) before, and now that it’s my child. It’s really amazing.”
Emily stated that she and her family had traveled to the state track and field tournament on June 4 with hopes that Taylor could break the school record, but never expecting that he would place first within the state.
“The guy that he (Taylor) beat, we never thought he would beat him,” Emily said. “I knew Taylor would probably finish second place…I think he knew, too, in his mind that he wouldn’t beat this guy. It wasn’t because he was being negative, but that guy had been jumping 6’8” occasionally.”
A week before the state track meet, Emily asked Taylor what his goal was for the day. Taylor said he simply wanted to break the school record. And on that day, he broke the school record and also won a state title.
For track and field next spring, Taylor has more goals that he hopes to accomplish. “I want to one-up myself and break 6’6”,” he said. “I’m aiming for 6’8” or 6’10”. That’ll be my main goal next year, just to beat myself.”
As for future plans, Ogles said he would consider attending a Division I school next fall if he were to receive an athletic scholarship for track and field. But for now, he plans to attend lineman school upon graduation from BCHS.
Taylor Ogles, right, was recognized as July’s Student of the Month for Barren County Schools. With Taylor is Coach Catherine Beals. Photo submitted.
Taylor Ogles won gold at the KHSAA Class 3A Track & Field State Championship held at the University of Kentucky. Photo submitted.
