Sectionals loom for area tracksters
Conference track meets have dominated the high school schedule recently, but an even bigger event is coming up soon. The IHSAA state track series begins next week with sectionals. The girls will compete on Tuesday, May 17 and the boys on May 19. First, second and third place finishers in all individual events and relays advances to the regional round the following week. Here is a quick glance at the prospects for area tracksters.
Girls got next
At Bremen, there will be 11 schools including local entries Culver Girls Academy, Culver Community, Plymouth, Triton and the host Lady Lions. CGA is the defending champ and one of the favorites again this year.
Plymouth has a number of athletes that could make some sectional noise. Those to watch include Aumrie
Heckaman (100H, 300H),
Sophie Wray (800, 1600), Sydney Rice (shot, discus), Amber Schrameyer (200m), Summer South (LJ), Arielle Ferman (PV), Rilynn Ames (100H), Jeanne Michely (discus, LJ), Joy Everett (HJ), Sonya Joseph (300H), the 4x100 relay team of Schrameyer, Ferman, South and Sara Calix Moreno, and the 4x400 relay team of Sue Everett, South, Joseph and Heckaman. The 4x100 has a best time of 51.78, with the school record of 51.12 within reach.
Small numbers have kept Triton from showing well in large meets, but the Lady Trojans have some of the top individuals in the area. Makenna May is rehabilitating an ankle injury, but is hopeful to compete next week. She is the defending 100m hurdle sectional champion and her best time in that event is 16.95. May made it to regionals in the 300m hurdles last season as well and has a best time this year of 51.51. The senior was seeded No. 1 last year in pole vault, but failed to advance. She currently is the co-school record holder with a jump of 9-0. Sophomore Addyson Viers looks to make it out of sectionals again in shot put and discus. Her best marks are 37-2 (shot) and 99-10 (discus last season at regionals). She was 1/2 inch away from advancing to state in the shot put a year ago. Sophomore Jocelynn Faulkner looks to return to the regional in the 800 and 1600. Her season-best times are 2:39 in the 800 and 5:49 in the 1600.
Mishawaka will have a 12-school field including Glenn and Laville. Even though this sectional is loaded with top athletes (Penn is the defending champ), Laville is a team to watch.
The Lady Lancers have two solid relays - the 4x100m with Olivia Goze, Abby Leonhard, Lily Smith and Madelyn Fuchs (52:89) and the 4x400m with Leonhard, Smith, Mikalah Kuskye, and Fuchs (4:27.07). Lucy Sherk is the defending champion in shot put (33-9) and Faith Rock advanced last year in that event too (31-7). Rock is a regional hopeful in discus as well, consistently throwing over 100 feet. Besides the relays, Fuchs advanced in the 200m (27.62) and high jump (5-0) last year and has a good shot at getting out again. Goze advanced in long jump (16-7.5) on a call back last year and has a shot at it again. The senior is also a threat in the 100m (12.49) and 200m (27.46). Lauren Edison advanced to the finals of the 100m hurdles last year (17.46), and is a darkhorse to move out of sectionals.
Glenn discus thrower Michaela Hurford is another local to watch with a season-best of 101-7.
Oregon-davis is the lone local school participating at the Kankakee Valley Sectional.
The girls regional meet is at Kokomo HS on May 24.
For the boys, Plymouth HS will host 11 schools including Bremen, Culver Academy, Culver Community, Triton and the host Pilgrims. The defending champ is CMA and should be one of the top teams again this year.
Area athletes to watch from Plymouth include Zane Lark (long jump), Carter Druzbicki (long jump), David Schadek (high jump, 800) and Cristian Quintana (throws). CMA’S George Bourdier has been hampered by injuries, but is a state-quality sprinter and pole vaulter.
Penn will host a dozen schools, including Glenn and Laville. This is probably the deepest field in the area, but a few local athletes could vie for regional advancement. Athletes to watch include Laville’s sophomore pole vaulters Lincoln Hulsey (a best of 13-6) and Matthew Schaefer (best is 12-6), junior sprinter Owen Smith (100, 200) and junior Garrett Wagoner (shot put).
The defending champ is the Kingsmen of Penn.
Oregon-davis travels to the Rensselaer Central Sectional.
The boys regional meet is at Goshen HS on May 26.