Wawasee’s Clayton Cook won both hurdles races at the NLC Meet Tuesday night.

WARSAW – Clayton Cook did what was expected of him Tuesday night.

That meant that the Wawasee standout turned in another outstanding series of performances.

Cook was the man for the Warriors in leading his team to a second-place finish in the Northern Lakes Conference Meet.

Cook, a junior who also excels on the football field for Wawasee, won both hurdles races and also captured the 200 as the Warriors were runner-up to the host Tigers. Warsaw won the team title with 188, while Wawasee had 115.5.

“Anything can happen, but I just wanted to stay undefeated in the NLC,” said Cook. “I wanted to keep that and score points for us.”

Cook, despite a blister, won the 110 hurdles in 14.79 and the 300 hurdles in 41.35. He was champion in the 200 in a time of 22.64 and also teamed with senior Michael Pena and fellow juniors JJ Gilmer and Tyler Courter to take second in the 4 X 100 relay in a school record time of 43.50.

“I feel like I’m ahead of last year,” said Cook following his tremendous night.

Gilmer did his share for the Warriors once again as well. The talented junior placed second in the high jump at 6-4, losing on misses to Warsaw’s Stephan Kolbe. He was also second in the long jump at 20-4.

“Clayton was about where we figured he would be,” said Wawasee coach Scott Lancaster. “He’s dominated this season.

“JJ had a good night. He was consistent. He was a little disappointed to lose the high jump, but I know that he was excited about the competition with Kolbe.

“The conference is all about scoring points and protecting your position (standing) and we did that. We had no illusions about Warsaw. We were focused on what we can do tonight.”

Zach Cockrill was second in the 800 for the Warriors.

Junior Zach Cockrill was second in the 800 for the Warriors and third in the 1,600. Senior Adam Doll was fourth in the 1,600. Doll was fifth in the 3,200. Senior Ethan Brown was third in the discus and junior Jon Walker fourth. Senior Kevin Carpenter was third in the pole vault.

The Wawasee ladies scored 62 points to finish in sixth place among the eight teams. Warsaw won the title with 176 points.

Junior Catherine Yankosky was fourth in the 200 and fifth in the 100 for the Warriors. Junior Hannah Winters placed second in the discus and sophomore Katyln Kennedy was fourth in the shot put.

Junior Taylor Busse was third in the  pole vault. The 4 X 100 relay team of Yankosky, sophomore Sarah Lancaster and freshmen Leigh-Ann Shrack and Skylar Janda placed fourth. Janda was also fifth in the 200.

“Our girls made improvements in a lot of areas tonight,” Lancaster said. “All in all, they scored more points than we were seeded to.

“I’m pretty happy with the way they competed and what they did tonight.  We are still young and still growing.”

The Wawasee girls team will return to Warsaw for the sectional May 20. The boys squad will compete in the Goshen Sectional May 22.

Courtney Linnemeier competes in the 3,200 for Wawasee.