Sectional runners brave the rain

Friday, May 16, 2008
Greencastle sophomore Jordan Hickam won the long jump with a leap of 21-feet-3-inches.

PLAINFIELD -- Thursday night was not a pretty swan song for the Plainfield High School track. A steady rain made the old track even slicker than usual for runners at the IHSAA Boys' Track Sectional.

Most of the runners likely would have said "good riddance" to the dilapidated track.

But you won't hear any complaints out of a pair of Greencastle High School athletes, as Jordan Hickam won the long jump and Ashton Marshall tied for the low time in the 200 meters, but finished second on a judge's decision.

In the team event, Avon won going away, scoring 176.83 points. For the Putnam County schools, Greencastle placed fifth with 55.5 points. North Putnam tied for eighth with 22 points. South Putnam was 12th with 6.5 points.

Hickam's jump of 21-feet-3-inches was a nice showing, particularly for a sophomore, and won him the event by 1.25 inches.

"It was a heck of a jump," Coach Mike Schimpf said.

In the 200, Marshall tied with Plainfield's Levi West with a 23.29. In the judge's decision, West got the win, but Schimpf was happy for Marshall.

"That's big. We had he and Steven Miller both in the finals, so we scored points there," Schimpf said.

The other Tiger Cub advancing to regionals individually is Ben Wilson, who placed third in the 800 with a 2:03.41 and in the 1,600 with a 4:45.52.

The GHS 400 relay team will also be back in action at regional. Marshall, Miller, Ryan Payne and Trevor Teal ran a 46.30 to finish fourth.

"The guys did great. I'm very pleased with them. It's always great to move a few more on."

But the coach also talked of of simple improvement, as his kids continued to set personal records.

"We performed really well. We're still having PRs today. That's what it's all about," he said.

"Nick Walkosak got 11 feet in the pole vault. That's great," Schimpf added.

Walkosak's vault was good enough to tie for fifth.

Schimpf was also pleased with how Greg Lilly bounced back from a disqualification in the 110 hurdles at WCC. He ran a 16.21 to place sixth.

"Greg Lilly came so close in the 110. He had that rough night the other night, and then he comes in here and makes it to the finals," Schimpf said.

Greencastle's other two relay teams just missed advancing, as both finished fifth. The 1,600 team of David Cath, Lilly, Miller and Marshall ran a 3:46.03. The 3,200 team of Cameron Cash, Ryan Gillespie, Kyle Harlan and Luke Smith ran a 9:05.15.

Schimpf called it "a good day."

For regional Schimpf wants to see his athletes continue to work and improve as they have to this point.

"If we can still PR a couple more times for people, that's what it's about," Schimpf concluded.

North Putnam's Shin Ryu (left) pulls up as Jerrett Ban takes off in the 400 relay Thursday.

North Putnam junior Jerrett Ban another good night, advancing in both the 100 and the long jump.

Ban ran an 11.64 to finish third in the 100.

"I was just thrilled for Jerrett that he was able to get out in the 100," Coack Kevin Lutes said. "It's such a competitive field with the guys that are running this year. A second can mean the difference from first to last."

In the long jump, Ban had a 20-0.5 to finish fourth.

As Lutes' only advancing athlete, Ban will certainly be getting plenty of the coach's attention this week.

"In long jump, he's got the ability to jump over 22 feet. It's about just hitting the board right. We'll be doing a lot of run-throughs and seeing what happens," Lutes said. "It's just fine-tuning the skills he already has. We're just hoping that it all comes through when it's time."

North's other scoring came from fellow sprinter Griffen Dahlstrom and thrower Josh Keyt. Dahlstrom placed sixth in the 200 with a 23.88.

"Griffen ran a pretty good time. I know he would have liked to have done better, but he ran well," Lutes said.

Keyt was sixth in the discus with a 126-7 and eighth in the shot put with a 41-1.

"For our throwers, I know Josh Keyt was probably three feet off of getting out in the discus," Lutes said.

North had two relays in the top eight with its 400 and 1,600 teams. The 400 team of Ban, Dahlstrom, Tim Mason and Shin Ryu placed sixth with a 46.94. The 1,600 team of Ban, Mason, Kasey McLaughlin and Ryu was eighth with a 3:56.20.

"Our relay teams did a great job," the coach said.

Lutes was mostly pleased with the Cougars' effort and attitude all season.

"The effort was there from everybody and they were all cheering each other on," he said. "We had a great coaching staff this year I was able to work with. It was just a good meet, effort-wise."

South Putnam had a pair of seventh-place finishers for their top showings of the night. Senior Jon Weaver concluded his career with a 2:09.87 in the 800. Sophomore Adam Masters had a 43-11.25 in the shot put.

Eagle Coach Carl Coons was pleased with the performance of his young team.

"I thought the kids ran well. The competition here's very good and I thought we had some positive things," Coons said. "I thought, all in all, we came and we did it. I can't complain."

With the Eagles' season ending Thursday, the team had to bid its three seniors farewell, but can also look to a lot of returnees in 2009.

"We're fairly young. We have three seniors on the roster in Jon Weaver, Ben Parker and Allen Riddell. Those guys will be sorely missed," Coons said.

"We have a lot coming back as far as numbers are concerned," he continued. "We had a good mix of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, so we're looking forward to next year. We've got some eighth graders coming in next year that are very interested in participating next year. With some more work and time and effort, I think things will be positive for us."

Those advancing from the Plainfield Sectional will be in action at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday at the Lafayette Jefferson Regional.

At Plainfield

Plainfield boys' Track Sectional

Team Results

Avon 176.83, Plainfield 103, Brownsburg 85, Crawfordsville 63.5, Greencastle 55.5, Danville 38.33, Tri-West 26, North Putnam 22, Southmont 22, Cascade 12.33, Western Boone 8, South Putnam 6.5, Rockville 5

Individual results

(Putnam County only)

100 -- 3. Ban (NP) 11.64

100 H -- 6. Lilly (GHS) 16.21

200 -- 2. Marshall (GHS) 23.29, 6. Dahlstrom (NP) 23.88, 7. Mille (GHS) 23.90

1,600 -- 3. Wilson (GHS) 4:45.52, 10. Quisenberry (NP) 4:58.22, 13. Heavin (SP) 5:06.71

400 Relay -- 4. GHS (Marshall, Payne, Miller, Teal) 46.3, 6. NP (Dahlstrom, Ban, Mason, Ryu) 46.94, 8. SP (Cook, Parker, Nelson, Smiley) 48.85

400 -- 12. Bowen (SP) 56.89, 17. Guffey (GHS) 58.47, 20. Ryu (NP) 1:00.06, 21. Paul (NP) 1:00.63

300 H -- 11. Cath (GHS) 45.71, 12. Deer (GHS) 45.86, 13. Mason (NP) 46.01, 15. Smiley (SP) 46.74, 22. Williams (SP) 52.55

800 -- 3. Wilson (GHS) 2:03.41, 7. Weaver (SP) 2:09.87, 10. McLaughlin (NP) 2:13.46, 14. Harlan (GHS) 2:16.84, 19. Hayes (SP) 2:24, 22. Paul (NP) 2:31.58

3,200 -- 11. Quisenberry (NP) 11:20.42, 13. Heavin (SP) 11:32.56, 15. Gillespie (GHS) 11:32.73, 19. Kelly (SP) 12:56.62

1,600 Relay --5. GHS (Cath, Miller, Lilly, Marshall) 3:64.03, 8. NP (Ban, McLaughlin, Mason, Ryu) 3:56.20, 10. SP (Bowen, Hayes, Frame, Weaver) 4:05.54

3,200 Relay -- 5. GHS (Cash, Harlan, Gillespie, Smith) 9:05.14, 9. SP (Cavell, Heavin, Hayes, Kelly) 9:47.93

LJ -- 1. Hickam (GHS) 21-03, 4. Ban (NP) 20-00.5, 5. Payne (GHS) 19=06

HJ -- 11. Adams (NP) 5-6

Discus -- 6. Keyt (NP) 126-07, 9. Walker (GHS) 116-04, 10. Masters (SP) 113-11.5, 15. Harrison (GHS) 1-2.09, 21. Hyde (SP) 78-05

SP -- 7. Masters (SP) 43-11.25, 8. Keyt (NP) 41-01, 9. Vondersaar (NP) 40-03.75, 13. Frame (SP) 37-08, 15. Harrison (GHS)36-09

PV -- 5. Walkosak (GHS) 11-00, 6. Nelson (SP) 10-06

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