Track Readying For Second Season
WARSAW – All of the winter offseason training and seemingly winter-like track meets this spring will culminate into conference track meets this week around the area. The Northern Lakes Conference and Three Rivers Conference will hosts its boys and girls meets Tuesday at Warsaw and Indiana Wesleyan, respectively, as will the Hoosier North Athletic Conference girls at Knox. The HNAC boys will run Thursday at Knox in the first steps toward the state tournaments.
NLC Is Tigers For The Taking
Warsaw continued to grip its stranglehold on the Northern Lakes Conference, posting 7-0 marks once again in the boys and girls round robins. Warsaw’s girls didn’t have much opposition in its dominance while the boys from Warsaw and Goshen could pose an interesting team race with the Tigers holding off the RedHawks in the final dual of the season last week.
Warsaw’s girls are locked and loaded once again, with a solid field corps to go with distance and sprint depth and getting the advantage of competing on its home field. The distance team has been very impressive, with Mia Beckham, Allison Miller, Anna Craig and Hannah Dawson leading the way. Depth from experienced runners like Brooke Rhodes, Remi Beckham, Emma Hayward and Claire Kehler have given the Tigers quite a lineup for the 400, 800, 1,600, 3,200 and 4×800. Look for Sam Alexander, Abbi Curtis and Audrey Rich post low numbers in the sprints, and Alexander to soar in the long jump, already the school record holder. Alexie Day is a contender in high jump and the duo of Joelle Messenger and Nikki Parrett give Warsaw legit pole vaulters.
Warsaw’s boys have actually been tested despite its perfect mark. Concord exposed Warsaw’s speed in its dual and Goshen’s numbers matched Warsaw’s in both depth and distance. Expect to see the Tigers, however, orchestrating itself on its home track Tuesday. Ross Armey could have a huge night in hurdles, and is part of a very good Warsaw 4×400 relay.
The trio of Landan Perry, Brandon Reinholt, Rane Kilburn and Will McGarvey give Warsaw a ton of individual and relay speed. Owen Glogovsky, Zeb Hernandez and Xavi Ramirez look to rekindle their cross country success with more glory in the milers. Tommy Hickerson has been a wild card for Warsaw, on some days and off others in long jump, but has the ability to win the entire meet, as does Kilburn. Brock Riley and Joseph Harness have been very good in high jump, and Dylan Childers is Warsaw’s top thrower.
Look for Wawasee to season some of its top athletes at the NLC in prep for the sectionals next week.
Cole VanLue is Wawasee’s top track performer, a sprinter who can keep up with the top dogs. Luke Griner has been emerging, especially in the 300 hurdles, and the duo of Michael Katzer and Jacob Moore have improved greatly for the Warriors this season. Dylan Elpusan and Stephen Possell give Wawasee a potent duo in throws, as does Brady Robinson and Ramiro Medina in pole vault.
The Warrior girls have one of the top throwers in the area in Katlyn Kennedy, who has established the school shot put record three times already this season. Pole vaulter Jada Parzygnot had a great Goshen Relays this past weekend, and look for Elizabeth Zorn in distance and Adriene Gill in sprints to compete.
Look for Goshen, NorthWood and Concord to push for event titles, but Warsaw’s depth to outlast for its sixth straight NLC and 26th overall. The Warsaw girls should cruise to its 11th straight NLC crown. Watch for Panther Bailey Gessinger in the 100 and 200 dashes, he’s one of the fastest athletes in the state.
Whitko, Valley Have Pieces In TRC
Whitko presents an interesting scenario in the Three Rivers Conference. Not loaded with depth, both the boys and girls from South Whitley have tons of frontline talent that should vie for multiple titles.
The boys finished second at the prestigious Goshen Relays to a very good NorthWood team, and have the horses to compete for a TRC title. Garrett Elder, Alex Wilson and Brady Weeks have been consistent this season in speed events, and mixed with Alex Morales and Josh Wright, have the pieces to challenge anyone. Walker Hobbs, Conner Sherwin and Gavin Howard are all elite in throws.
The girls again have a lot of solid performers but not a lot of depth. Kaitlyn Reed is one of the state’s best in sprints and high jump. Suzi Sickafoose is a quality middle distance and Brigit Nemitz is Whitko’s best long distance runner. Lyndsey Sapp could be interesting in throws.
Tippecanoe Valley bolsters one of the top hurdlers in the area in Lexi O’Connell, who should be a top seed in the 100 hurdles final. O’Connell also anchors a very good 4×100 relay team for Valley. Jalyssa House and Sarah Tucker offer quality sprint speed.
Look for Neil Clampitt to have a good day in Marion in the 200 and long jump. Shot putter Will Hassenplug could also be in the mix.
Triton Has Work To Do At Knox
Triton isn’t very deep or top heavy, but at the HNAC meets, the small-school conference will likely mirror one another. Winamac has perhaps the most talented team, but Triton does have athletes who could break through.
Baylee McIntire could be the one to do it for Triton, who has the distance ability plus closing speed. Abigail Powell is also a talented freshman who has improved over the spring. Sara Stevens is a second sprinter to go with Powell, and the duo of Katie Hepler and Mariah Musilli are legit field performers.
Bailey Watkins and Jeremy Jones have the chops to run with anyone, Jones in the 100 and Watkins in distance. Trey Watkins could make noise in the throws.