Zebras, Vikings Earn Split
BOURBON – It was perhaps the most snappy track meet in Northern Indiana this spring. And yet, several moments were created where the clock stood still Tuesday at the boys and girls track meets hosted by Triton. Rochester was the clear winner in the girls triangle, taking a 26.5-point victory over Tippecanoe Valley while the Valley and Rochester boys made it close in a 57-51 result in favor of Tippecanoe. Triton was well back in the girls meet with 31.5 points, but 13 off the pace in the boys tallies.
Valley had just six winners in the boys events, and only four on the track. Jordan Owens took the 800 at 2:16 and Neil Clampitt claimed the 200 dash, but that was it for the Vikings. Clampitt added an 18-5 soar in the long jump and Will Hassenplug sent the shot put 42-7. The Viking 4×800 and 4×100 relay teams were also winners.
It would be up to the Viking chasers to get the job done, and having six runner-up finishes helped stack points when Valley didn’t have a point scorer in the last two events – the 3200 and the 4×400 relay – both Rochester victories.
Dakota Parker was second in both the 100 and 200 races and Jared Mikel was second in the 100 hurdles.
Triton’s sprint corps were pretty solid, led by an 11.5 event win from Jeremy Jones in the 100 and a 1:02 in the 400 by Bailey Watkins. Powell was first in the 300 hurdles at 49.3.
Trey Watkins led the field in the discus with a heave of 132-8 and was second in shot put.
On the girls side, Rochester won nine of the events, staving off a talented Vikings squad. Sarah Tucker put her best two feet forward in the 100 and 200 dashes, going 13.1 and 27.9 in two wins for the green and gold. Tucker also helped the 4×100 relay to a win, as did Lexi O’Connell, who also posted a 15.6 winner in the 100 hurdles, her signature event.
Anna Walters led the way in the 800 at 2:50 and Haley Hoover was two seconds faster than Rochester in the two-mile at 15:54.
Triton had Mariah Musilli and Baylee McIntire one-two in the long jump, Musilli tops at 14-0. Runners-up for Triton included Abigail Powell in the 100, Jaela Meister in the shot put and Katie Hepler in the pole vault.
Tippy and Triton will both be in action Thursday as Tippecanoe Valley will host Culver and Triton will host LaVille and LCA. Rochester will regroup for the TRC meet next Tuesday at IWU.