WARSAW – Repeat. Record. Redemption.

The Warsaw girls track team added up those important “Three R’s” Tuesday night to equal another impressive regional championship.

The host Tigers repeated as team champions for the third straight year.

Warsaw totaled 67 points to outdistance runner-up Penn, which finished with 60.5 points.

It was quality depth that made the difference for Warsaw, which advanced athletes in five events to the State Finals. The host Tigers scored pivotal points in several events to top the No. 9 Kingsmen, along with No. 19 South Bend Adams (56) and No. 18 Mishawaka (50) in the final team standings.

The top three finishers in each event advance to the State Finals June 6 at Indiana University in Bloomington.

The Tigers got a record-setting performance from its 4 X 100 relay team, anchored by Ann Harvuot along the way.

Harvuot, who missed the regional last year due to an injury, redeemed herself in a big way and also bounced back big time Tuesday night. The senior sprint star finished a disappointing sixth in the finals of the 100-meter dash before helping the Tigers set a new regional standard and earn a spot in the State Finals.

Harvuout teamed with junior Mariah Harter and sophomores Samantha Alexander and Audrey Rich for the lone regional title individually for the Tigers, who won this regional crown thanks to its depth. The foursome set a new school and regional record in winning in 48.52.

“I was definitely disappointed and frustrated with myself after the 100,” said Harvuot, who was seeded third in the event. “But, I put it out of my mind and focused on the relay. I was definitely motivated, knowing this was my last chance to go to State.

“Our goal was to qualify for State. I think all of us are surprised now that we won. It was our best race of the season. We just had killer handoffs tonight.”

Harter ran the opening leg of the record-setting relay, which had the third fastest seed time at 49.38. Alexander then followed for the second leg, then Rich and finally Harvuot. Harvuot hit the finish line in 48.52, breaking the old school mark of 48.69 and the regional record of 48.59 set by Penn in 2011 and South Bend Clay in 2000.

The old Warsaw school standard of 48.69 came in 2006 at the State Finals by the team of Tiffany Shepherd, Rachel Voorhorst, Mercedes Plummer and Karrie Burch.

“What an incredible performance,” said Warsaw coach Scott Erba about his 4 X 100 quartet. “At the start of the year, we thought this group could break the school record. We thought they had it in them. We were not thinking about the regional record.

“It was great to see Ann do that as the anchor. It’s a great way for her to have her last race here. We worked on the handoffs. They nailed those big time tonight.”

Senior Claire Hickerson also had a tremendous night for the Tigers. The senior was runner-up in the pole vault to earn a berth back at the State Finals. Hickerson advanced to State two years ago, but had a tough junior season. She cleared 11-0 on Tuesday night to place second to Angola junior Kennedy Trine, who set a regional record by clearing 12-6. Hickerson was eighth at the regional a year ago, clearing 9-6.

“Look up the word perseverance in the dictionary and that’s Claire,” Erba said. “I give her so much credit for conquering her fears. She could have packed it in after last year and she didn’t. I’m so happy for her.”

The Tigers also got a second-place performance from its 4 X 800 relay team of sophomores Hannah Dawson and Brooke Rhodes and freshmen Allison Miller and Anna Craig in a time of 9:34.41.  The 4 X 400 relay team of senior Jackie Ferguson, juniors Nicole Eckert and Tennie Worrell and sophomore Brooke Rhodes capped the meet by placing third in 4:04.50.

Eckert also punched a ticket to State by placing second in the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 45.74.

Alexander was fourth in the long jump for the Tigers. Harter was fifth and Harvuot sixth in the 100. Worrell was fifth in the 400, while Hannah Dawson was sixth in the 800. Rich was fifth in the 200 and freshman Allison Miller eighth in the 3,200. Senior Brooklyn Harrison was sixth in the shot put.

“We talked to the girls about them belonging here and all of our points meant something tonight,” said Erba. “Those fifths and sixths and eighths add up to another regional championship. It was nice to have athletes in 13 events tonight.”

Wawasee junior Catherine Yankosky was 10th in the preliminaries on the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.66.

Lexi O’Connell and Jazzmine Brown each placed for Tippecanoe Valley. Sophomore O’Connell finished in seventh place in the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 16.09. Brown, a junior, tied for seventh place in the high jump by clearing 5-1 1/4.

 

TEAM SCORES

WARSAW 67, PENN 60.5, SOUTH BEND ADAMS 56, MISHAWAKA 50, CULVER COMMUNITY 46, SOUTH BEND RILEY 30, CONCORD 29, ELKHART MEMORIAL 26, DEKALB 23, CULVER ACADEMIES 21, FREMONT 20, PLYMOUTH 20, EAST NOBLE 18, ANGOLA 16, MANCHESTER 15, MARIAN 12, LAKELAND 12, FAIRFIELD 12, NORTHFIELD 12, JIMTOWN 11.5, ELKHART CENTRAL 10, GOSHEN 9.5, WEST NOBLE 8, ROCHESTER 8, WESTVIEW 7, BREMEN 6, NORTH MIAMI 4, ELKHART CHRISTIAN 4, TIPPECANOE VALLEY 3.5, GARRETT 3, EASTSIDE 1, NORTHRIDGE 1, CENTRAL NOBLE 1, PRAIRIE HEIGHTS 1.

The top three finishers in each event advance to the State Finals on June 6 at Indiana University in Bloomington.

4×800 relay: 1. Penn (Sarah Hamilton, Emma Jankowski, Madison Woods, Ashleigh MacLeod) 9:26.77; 2. Warsaw (Brooke Rhodes, Allison Miller, Hannah Dawson, Anna Craig) 9:34.41; 3. Plymouth (Libby Read, Rachel Crawford, Abby Patrick, Allie Wright) 9:38:18; 4. Elkhart Memorial (Haley Lehman, Sierra Moore, Allison Hoefle, Hailey Moore) 9:49.34; 5. Goshen (Adrienne Henke, Ashton Ellis, Jasmyn Brown, Nora Rangel) 9:55.66; 6. East Noble (Kara McLaughlin, Riley Larson, Alexia Zawadzke, Courtney Casselman) 10:05.59; 7. Culver Academies (Stephanie Ma, Kennedy Thompson, Lydia Jaqua, April Miltich) 10:06.28; 8. Northridge (Brey Baltazar, Olivia Golden, Molly Campbell, Mariah King) 10:08.69.

100 hurdles: 1. Dezha Moore (Adams) 14.65; 2. Jessica O’Connell (Concord) 15.23; 3. Taryn Pruitt (Westview) 15.68; 4. Alexys Harper (Mishawaka) 15.79; 5. Lydia Walterhouse (East Noble) 15.97; 6. Jessica Miller (Fairfield) 15.97; 7. Lexi O’Connell (Tippecanoe Valley) 16.09; 8. Aleyiah Williams (Elkhart Central) 16.94.

100: 1. Kayla Shaffer (Culver Community) 12.54; 2. Denisha Brown (Culver Community) 12.57; 3. Gabrielle Ravotto (Marian) 12.60; 4. Ashley Moon (Adams) 12.63; 5. Mariah Harter (Warsaw) 12.69; 6. Ann Harvuot (Warsaw) 12.70; 7. Riley Miller (Fairfield) 12.73; 8. Kendall Kelley (DeKalb) 12.84.

1600: 1. Anna Rohrer (Mishawaka) 4:55.66; 2. Rae Bedke (Manchester) 5:02.97; 3. Abigail Hostetler (Fremont) 5:05.25; 4. Sierra Moore (Elkhart Memorial) 5:10.70; 5. Kayla Casaletto (Elkhart Christian) 5:13.20; 6. Josey Korte (Angola) 5:19.80; 7. Emma Jankowski (Penn) 5:22.67; 8. Jessica Duvall (Mishawaka) 5:25.14.

4×100 relay: 1. Warsaw (Mariah Harter, Samantha Alexander, Audrey Rich, Ann Harvuot) 48.52 (RECORD; old 48.59 set by Clay in 2000, tied by Penn in 2011); 2. Adams (Ashley Moon, Dezha Moore, Catherine Mittiga, Jessiyan Lottie) 48.82; 3. Mishawaka (Alexys Harper, Alexis Jackey, Ayanna Moody, Hannah Roth) 49.47; 4. Culver Community (Kayla Shaffer, Mickella Hardy, Justine Dexter, Denisha Brown) 49.54; 5. Fairfield (Riley Miller, Cierra Lau, Danae Miller, Jessica Miller) 50.35; 6. Bremen (Maddy Coffel, Emily Bickel, Marisa Browing, Katelyn Aguayo) 50.88; 7. Angola (Lindsay Dyson, Kathryn Andrews, Mackenzie Simmons, Kennedy Trine) 50.97; 8. Elkhart Memorial (Ashayla Mills, Tonisha Maddox, Victoria Mills, Tailor Schultheis) 51.54.

400: 1. Ayiana Gaines (Riley) 55.26 (RECORD; old 56.68 set by Ayiana Gaines of Riley in 2013); 2. Kendall Kelley (DeKalb) 58.23; 3. Ahmanah Woods (Adams) 58.24; 4. Amairany Cruz (West Noble) 1:00.04; 5. Tennie Worrell (Warsaw) 1:00.56; 6. Drue Bodey (Garrett) 1:01.57; 7. Madisen Kujawski (Penn) 1:01.64; 8. Emma Moughler (Eastside) 1:01.65.

300 hurdles: 1. Jessica O’Connell (Concord) 45.23; 2. Nicole Eckert (Warsaw) 45.74; 3. Jacklyn Peas (Northfield) 46.31; 4. Tajaa Scott (Adams) 47.11; 5. Kelcie Bailey (Penn) 47.89; 6. Jenna Thomas (Adams) 47.94; 7. Hannah Staples (Mishawaka) 49.06; 8. Janessa Fogle (Central Noble) 49.06.

800: 1. Ashleigh MacLeod (Penn) 2:13.31; 2. Kacie O’Neal (Riley) 2:13.72; 3. Abigail Hostetler (Fremont) 2:17.75; 4. Sierra Moore (Elkhart Memorial) 2:18.66; 5. Allie Wright (Plymouth) 2:22.30; 6. Hannah Dawson (Warsaw) 2:23.26; 7. Rae Bedke (Manchester) 2:24.99; 8. Jessica Duvall (Mishawaka) 2:26.09.

200: 1. Ayiana Gaines (Riley) 25.42; 2. Kayla Shaffer (Culver Community) 25.51; 3. Gabrielle Ravotto (Marian) 25.85; 4. Ayanna Moody (Mishawaka) 25.89; 5. Audrey Rich (Warsaw) 26.26; 6. Mariah DeFreese (Concord) 26.30; 7. Alayna Bailey (Elkhart Memorial) 26.75; 8. Amairany Cruz (West Noble) 27.25.

3200: 1. Anna Rohrer (Mishawaka) 10:41.98; 2. Anna Bearss (Rochester) 10:56.50; 3. Jenna Halderman (Northfield) 10:57.09; 4. Madison Woods (Penn) 10:59.35; 5. Danielle Frank (Penn) 11:06.76; 6. Kiera Pelletier (Mishawaka) 11:46.78; 7. Riley Welch (Fremont) 11:47.50; 8. Allison Miller (Warsaw) 11:48.86.

4×400 relay: 1. Adams (Catherine Mittiga, Dezha Moore, Jenna Thomas, Ahmanah Woods) 4:01.71; 2. Concord (Jessica O’Connell, Ciana Bonfiglio, Vanessa Steiner, Mariah DeFreese) 4:02.31; 3. Warsaw (Nicole Eckert, Brooke Rhodes, Jackie Ferguson, Tennie Worrell) 4:04.50; 4. Penn (Madisen Kujawski, Amani Hardrict, Ashleigh MacLeod, Elli Mott) 4:05.34; 5. Elkhart Central (Morgan Markel, Jasmine Cotton, Gabi Yoder, Makaya Young) 4:08.47; 6. Mishawaka (Alexis Jackey, Inobia Bullock, Jessica Duvall, Ayanna Moody) 4:10.09; 7. Riley (Kacie O’Neal, Jessica Limon, Shelby Heckaman, Ayiana Gaines) 4:10.95; 8. Culver Academies (Mary Terhune, Lydia Jaqua, Miriam Ramirez, Bailee Brekke) 4:12.80.

Discus: 1. Kloee Fitch (Lakeland) 140-08; 2. Leah Heckaman (Culver Academies) 132-2; 3. Jacey Cauhorn (East Noble) 121-09; 4. Jenai White (Elkhart Central) 113-2; 5. Taloni Reese (Adams) 110-3; 6. Andrea Hagar (Fairfield) 106-11; 7. Jenna Thomas (Adams) 106-9; 8. Donna Zehner (Culver Community) 105-2.

High jump: 1. Kaydon Fosler (Plymouth) 5-2.25; 2. Haley Gibson (DeKalb) 5-2.25; 3. Makenna Behnfeldt (Fremont) 5-1.25; 4. Lindsey Dierks (Manchester) 5-1.25; 5. Madelyn Hendershot (Penn) 5-1.25; 6. Maria Corbett (Goshen) 5-1.25; 7. Nicole Duryea (Jimtown) 5-1.25; 7. Jazzmine Brown (Tippecanoe Valley) 5-1.25.

Long jump: 1. Shawntel James (Jimtown) 16-8.5; 2. Denisha Brown (Culver Community) 16-6.5; 3. Kendall Kelley (DeKalb) 16-6.5; 4. Samantha Alexander (Warsaw) 16-5; 5. Carlee Lefebvre (North Miami) 15-10.75; 6. Katelyn Aguayo (Bremen) 15-10.25; 7. Amairany Cruz (West Noble) 15-9.25; 8. Taryn Pruitt (Westview) 15-3.

Shot put: 1. Leah Heckaman (Culver Academies) 42-8.25; 2. Deanna Cornelius (Elkhart Memorial) 41-2; 3. Mickella Hardy (Culver Community) 39-11.75; 4. Tangi Moala (Penn) 39-0.25; 5. Alissa Richhart (Penn) 38-8.75; 6. Brooklyn Harrison (Warsaw) 38-5.75; 7. Kloee Fitch (Lakeland) 38-3; 8. Tressa Terry (Prairie Heights) 36-7.

Pole vault: 1. Kennedy Trine (Angola) 12-6 (RECORD; old 12-1 set by MacKenzie Redman of Penn in 2011); 2. Claire Hickerson (Warsaw) 11-0; 3. Kelley McNarney (Penn) 10-6; 4. Madison Cook (East Noble) 10-0; 5. Frankie Spalding (Mishawaka) 9-6; 6. Ashley Jerue (Adams) 9-6; 7. Tricia Place (Goshen) 9-6; 8. Ariana Cranston (Angola) 9-0.