Lesch, Norris compete in USATF Junior Olympics

LOUISVILLE — Two standout Norwalk High School track and field athletes competed in the USATF Region 5 Junior Olympics over the weekend at Eastern High School in Louisville, Ky. Kinleigh Lesch, an incoming junior at NHS, placed fifth overall in the discus throw with a best toss of 33.27 meters (109-feet-2 inches). With her throw, Lesch qualified for the USATF national Junior Olympic championships, set for July 21-27 at Savannah State University in Georgia. Lesch finished her sophomore year at Norwalk by placing fifth in the discus throw at the Division I OHSAA Findlay district on May 21. Her throw of 112-feet-3 was five inches shy of qualifying for the state championships. Meanwhile, sprinter Grace Norris, who also just finished her sophomore year at NHS last month, competed in the 400-meter dash at the event on July 12. Battling extreme heat conditions, Norris finished fourth in her heat and 11th overall in 1:00.82. Norris, who qualified and placed ninth at the OHSAA Div. I state championships in the event back on June 7 in Columbus, also recently was invited to run with the Oberlin Spikes club team to continue her training.