Local track athletes call it a season at regional

Friday, May 28, 2010

WEST LAFAYETTE -- Thursday marked the end of the line for 10 local boys' track athletes in their quest for a state title.

Getting things going for the boys were Jeff Couse of Cloverdale and Tyler Shorter of North Putnam in the 100 prelims. The runners ran identical times of 11.35, but failed to make it to the finals in the event. Shorter went on to post a time of 23.07 in the 200 prelims and placed seventh overall in the 200 final with a time of 23.13.

Shorter's time set a new school record.

Greencastle hurdler Ryan Payne posted a time of 15.53 in the 110 hurdles to earn a trip to the finals, where he placed eighth with a time of 15.59. Payne was also a member of the 400 relay team along with Jordan Hickam, Steven Miller and Trevor Teal, which placed seventh with a time of 43.84.

Hickam earned a seventh place finish in the long jump with a jump of 19-11.75 and Cloverdale high jumper James Hinton was 13th overall with a jump of 6-feet-even.

Rounding out the field athletes, South Putnam's Adam Masters was 10th overall in the discus with a toss of 138-7.