Published: May 16, 2008 08:21 pm      

Avon wins program’s first sectional

PLAINFIELD — The Avon boys’ track team made history at Plainfield Thursday, winning the program’s first sectional title in decisive fashion on a rainy night. The Orioles pilled up 176.83 points for the victory.

“I’m ecstatic — the kids earned this,” Avon coach Cedrick Lloyd said. “It’s a good thing for them because at the beginning of the season the goal was to get each of these big meets and make our way to the championship, and do it as a team. I think this was our first step in getting that done.”

Plainfield finished second as a team with 103 points and Brownsburg took third with 85. In all, Hendricks County will send 32 individuals and eight relay teams to the Lafayette Jefferson Regional meet on Thursday. County athletes and relay teams won 13 of the night’s 16 events, with Avon racking up seven victories.



AVON

The Orioles advanced a meet-high 15 individuals and three relay teams to next week’s regional. Coming off a lackluster showing at last week’s conference meet, Lloyd was happy to see his team come up with a strong performance.

“Last week was a tough loss for us because mentally we weren’t there,” he said. “We talked about focusing. We corrected a few things we saw. If this was a product of that, hopefully we can correct a few more.”

All three Avon relay teams won along with Ronald Wilson (100-meter dash, 11.50 seconds); Christopher Surfus (1600, 4:31.99); Colin Yoder (pole vault, 12-06 feet); and Marvis Herring (400, 50.67).

“I’m really happy to make it through sectionals and place first,” Herring said. “I’m ready for next week to prove myself at regionals against more competition.”

After suffering a scary fall at the conference meet, Yoder defended his sectional championship at pole vault, battling through rainy conditions.

“He’s a terrific kid with great work ethic,” Lloyd said. “To have him come out here and win it (after last week) was huge.”

Other Avon athletes advancing to the regional are Keeven High (second, 100); David McKinney (fourth, 800); Surfus (third, 3200); Joseph Schmitt (fourth, 3200); Eric Burton (third, 110 and 300 hurdles); Darrian Mikell (fourth, high jump); James Hinton (fourth, long jump and third, high jump); Shayne Cureton (second, long jump); Montez Robinson (third, shot put); Gregory McDaniel (fourth, shot put and third, discus); Brandon Heeger (second, discus); and Harry Shepperson (second, pole vault).



PLAINFIELD

The Quakers were led by three first-place finishes that came down to the wire from freshman Levi West in the 200 (23.29); Andrew Wilhelm in the 800 (2:00.78); and Riley Greene in the 300 hurdles (41.11).

As he did last season, Plainfield distance runner David Eichenberger placed second in both the 1600 (4:32.49) and the 3200 (9:38.52). Matt Williams will advance to regional for the Quakers in the 400, where he finished fourth.

All three Plainfield relay teams placed second to move on.



BROWNSBURG

After a strong showing at conference, Brownsburg distance runner Scott Vicenzi won the 3200 in 9:37.51. Bubba Watson picked up the Bulldogs’ other win at discus (149-10 feet).

Other athletes advancing to regional for Brownsburg are Todd Nibbs (second, high jump); Chris Jones (second, shot put); Joel Crist (third, 400); and Alan Paddock (fourth, 200).

The Bulldogs’ 4x400 relay team placed third to move on.

For the other county schools, Danville placed sixth (38.33); Tri-West was seventh (26); and Cascade placed 10th (12.33). Danville’s Karl Schoening won the shot put with a toss of 51-11.25 feet and also placed fourth in discus. Other county athletes moving on to regional are Cascade’s Colin Ernst (second, pole vault); Tri-West’s Matthew Moore (second, 300 hurdles) and Daniel Hoover (fourth, 1600); Danville’s Luke Robinson (second, 400) and Trent Schaffer (second, pole vault); and the Bruins’ 4x800 relay team, which placed third.