Clayton Cook of Wawasee claimed the 110 hurdles tile at the South Bend St. Joseph Regional Thursday night.

SOUTH BEND – It was a regional to remember for the Wawasee boys track team Thursday night.

Clayton Cook proved once again to be the top hurdler in northern Indiana.

JJ Gilmer soared to a regional championship in the high jump.

The 4 X 100 relay team etched its name into program history by earning a spot in the State Finals.

All in all, some kind of night for the Warriors at South Bend St. Joseph’s Leighton Field.

Cook, the senior star, literally left it all on the track in another superb showing. He won a regional title in the 110 hurdles in 14.39, anchored the runner-up 4 X 100 relay team and then was nipped for the championship in the 200 at the finish line by junior John Hankerson of South Bend Washington.

“It was a great night,” said Cook, who was sporting scrapes to his legs, arms and back after taking a hard tumble to the track as he lunged at the finish of the 200 that Hankerson won by .02 seconds. “I’m so happy for the team and for myself. The best thing is that we are the first 4 X 100 relay team in school history to make it to State.

“It was really important for our relay to get to State. You could see in everyone’s eyes that we’ve got this. We ran a great race. We shattered our old school record and broke 42 seconds and that was our main goal. Overall, I’m happy.”

Clayton Cook blasts out of the starting blocks in the trials of the 200 Thursday night.

Cook hit the finish line at 21.86 in the thrilling 200, which Hankerson won in 21.84.

Cook, who was dominant in the hurdles yet again, was second in his specialty at the St. Joe Regional last year and then placed fifth in the event at the State Finals in 2014.

Gilmer, who was third at the sectional a week ago, cleared 6-6 on his first attempt to win the title in the high jump. He was second at the regional a year ago to Treyton Harris of Elkhart Central after winning it as a sophomore at the Kokomo Regional. Harris was runner-up to Gilmer Thursday night.

“I’m pretty pumped to be a regional champion, especially my senior year,” Gilmer said. “I was looking forward to the high jump tonight. It’s fun to jump against the people who challenge you the most and to place third last week motivated me even more for tonight. The relay was awesome. We made history and we set the bar high.”

Gilmer was 12th in the high jump at State a year ago.

The 4 X 100 relay team of Cook, Gilmer, senior Tyler Courter and sophomore Cole VanLue clocked in at 42.76.  South Bend Washington won the race in a time of 41.82. The outstanding effort by the Warriors smashed their old school record of 43.07 in the event. They become the first 4 X 100 relay team in school history to qualify for the State Finals.

The Warriors also got a sixth place finish from senior Jonathan Walker in the discus. Walker’s top throw was 135-04.

Gilmer had a tough night in the long jump competition. He finished in 11th place with a top effort of 20-11.75.

The Wawasee 4 X 100 relay team placed second in a school record time at the regional. The team shown above (left to right) is Clayton Cook, JJ Gilmer, Tyler Courter and Cole VanLue.

“Our athletes went out and executed and got the job done against an outstanding field,” said Wawasee coach Scott Lancaster. “These guys have certainly set themselves up for a good meet in Bloomington. I could not be prouder of the way the competed and represented Wawasee.”

“Clayton ran extremely well in the hurdles despite not having anyone near him. JJ jumped clean and that got him the win against a power-packed field. The 4 X 100 relay crushed their school record and still has room to improve.”

Wawasee finished in fifth place in the final team standings with 39 points. Northridge won the regional team title with 49 points with St. Joe second with 42. Washington was third with 41 points and Warsaw fourth with 40.

The Warrior contingent of Cook, Gilmer, Courter and VanLue will compete in the State Finals on June 5 at Indiana University in Bloomington. Action will begin next Friday at 3 p.m.

JJ Gilmer soared to a regional championship in the high jump competition.