Published: May 14, 2008 05:59 pm            

Bulldogs run down sectional title

GREENCASTLE — Coming off a disappointing seventh-place finish in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet last week, the Brownsburg girls’ track team reloaded for Tuesday’s sectional at South Putnam and came out with a much more favorable result.

In qualifying for 10 spots in next week’s West Lafayette regional, the Bulldogs rang up 104.50 points to capture the sectional crown, comfortably topping second-place Avon (88).

“I think the girls just stepped up,” Brownsburg coach Chad Neal said. “I can’t speak for everyone, but I think some of them were embarrassed at the way we performed (last week). Our mind was on this meet two weeks ago. I don’t want to make excuses, but we didn’t put our best lineup in at conference, trying to get some girls healthy and keep them fresh for these next three weeks.”

Leading the way for Brownsburg was Allison Weimer, who won the 100-meters (12.86) and 400 (57.37) while also taking second in the 200.

“Allison has got a lot more confident in herself on the track,” Neal said. “Last year it was a feeling-out process. This year, she doesn’t like to lose. She had a bad week last week, and she put that behind her.”

All three of Brownsburg’s relay teams advanced. The 4x400 unit (Kirsten Gaerke, Haley Johnson, Rio James, and Haley Miller) took first in 4:06.99; and the 4x800 (Jenny Gleissner, Haley Wittig, James, and Miller) and the 4x100 (Mikyla Houston, Morgan Miller, Johnson, and Kenya Owens) teams each placed second.

Pole vaulter Jacque Toth captured the Bulldogs’ fourth event title by clearing 9 feet, 3 inches. Owens also qualified by placing third in the 200 and fourth in the 100. Haley Miller advanced with a second-place finish in the 800.

With Avon claiming nine regional spots, first-year coach Stephanie Chenoweth was quite pleased with the Orioles’ effort.

“Oh my gosh, yes,” Chenoweth said. “We had so many improvements all around, and so many people stepped up. It was pretty cool.”

Oriole Lorna Whaley blew by the competition. She took first in the 1600 (5:13.37) while finishing over 16 seconds ahead of second place, and won the 3200 (11:38.94) in crossing the finish line 40 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.

Also moving on for Avon were Briscney Fleming (second in the long jump); the second-place 4x400 relay team (Rachel Lucas, Maya Nagy, Sara Lucas, and Taylor Heidorn); Lucas (fourth place) in the 400; Audra Cokain (fourth place) in the 300 hurdles; and Chelsea Todd (fourth place) in the pole vault.

Plainfield took fourth as a team and secured nine regional spots. Megan Ford won the discus (114-09) and took third in the shot put, where teammate Alicia Peterman placed fourth. Rebecca Hoesman placed second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 hurdles; Courtney Erlenbaugh took second in the 100; Kelsey Erlenbaugh placed third in the 800; and Casey Moore and Krista Beal placed 3-4 in the 3200.

Danville finished in sixth place. The Warriors had third-place winners in Jessica Coccaro in the 100, Abbie Brewer in the 100 hurdles, and Stephanie Cullison in the pole vault. The 4x100 relay team (Molly Stewart, Taylor Reyes, Brewer, and Coccaro) and Lauren Callahan (fourth in the 800) also advanced.

It was a strong outing for Cascade as the Cadets finished eighth but had Shelby Reynolds win the long jump (16-03.50), Nina Winkler take second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles, Shalynn Eckols place third in the high jump, and the 4x100 relay unit (Kelsey Morefield, Melissa English, Kelsey Cooper, and Reynolds) take third.

Tri-West had one regional qualifier in Sara Blair, who placed fourth in the long jump.

The competition now gets much tougher as the qualifiers move on to perhaps the strongest regional in the state next Tuesday.

“We go back to the same competition that we saw at conference and you add in Carmel, the Lafayette schools, and some other quality programs,” Neal said. “The competition is going to increase, which means we have to step it up a little bit.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.