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Local track athletes prepare for Saturday's state meet
Greencastle senior Colleen Weatherford is preparing for her fourth straight trip to the Indiana High School Athletic Association track and field state finals on Saturday, so the pressure is nothing new to her.
For GHS sophomore Jessica Lenihan, though, the brighter stage is a little bit overwhelming.
"I'm kind of nervous because I've heard there are huge throwers," Lenihan said. "I think it'll be cool just to see what it's like to go to state."
Lenihan qualified for the shot put by finishing third at the Evansville regional last week, just behind North Putnam senior Sam Lucas.
Lucas is the NPHS school-record holder and a four-year qualifier for regionals, but she is preparing to make her first trip to state.
"It's an awesome feeling," Lucas said. "I've never really experienced anything like this before. ... I'm sad it's my last meet. I think it's going to be a fun experience and a nerve-wrecking experience.
"I'll be ready."
While Lucas has fought through the long, four-year journey to state finals, the work will pay off on Saturday.
Adding to the stress is that North Putnam's commencement is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.
"They're both going to be once-in-a-lifetime things," she said. "I talked to my principal and he said we would get done (with commencement) at about 12:30. Then I have to be at the track at 2:30. Then I've got state finals, then I fly out to Florida (for a vacation) that night.
"I've got a busy night."
Lucas hopes to perform well enough that it makes canceling her graduation party, planned for Saturday afternoon, worthwhile.
"I set the school record (39-7 1/2) twice so far, and I'm looking to do it again," she said. "I want to throw over 40 feet and maybe 41."
The latter would likely push Lucas into the event finals, a successful meet to be sure.
The challenge will be a different one for Weatherford, who won both the 1600- and 800-meter races at regionals.
It was the second-consecutive 1600 win for Weatherford, but she scratched out of the race and will compete in only the 800 at state.
"I'm really excited," Weatherford said. "I kind of anticipated that I would only do the one event and I really want to be up there in the lead pack. Hopefully I'll be in that top one or two position but we'll see."
Weatherford is seeded third going into the meet with a regional time of 2:12.90, just behind Eastern senior Brittany Neeley (2:11.40) and Carroll (Fort Wayne) junior Olivia Hippensteel (2:12.70).
Neeley's sister Bethany, also a senior, is a favorite to win the 1600. Weatherford said she is looking forward to competing against Brittany, who she became friends with last summer.
"We've been talking. Both of them came to nationals with me last year so we met up there," Weatherford said, adding she wouldn't feel too bad beating her. "It's just part of the friendship. You're friends off of the field, but once you step on the track you know it's business."
Friendships and everything else will be put in the back of her mind come race. Because this is the fourth year she has qualified, the intensity of the race is even greater now.
Everything is about the 800, with a focus on breaking a goal she set as a freshman.
"I really want to break that 2:10 mark," Weatherford said.
To get there, she decided to drop the 1600. She finished fourth in both events at state finals last year and had a good chance at a similar, if slightly improved, performance this year.
While she will likely compete in the mile race next year when she's running for Butler University, her goals for that race were met at regionals.
She crossed the line at 5:11.93, going as hard as she needed to so that she could get the win and still conserve energy for the 800, her favorite event.
Weatherford ran the 1600 in less than five minutes at the state finals last year, but said it left her too drained to add any kick down the stretch in the 800.
"I'm sure that I could get out there and be with (the top milers), but I just feel like the 800 is my stronger race," she said. "I know it would be really hard to go sub-five again in the 1600 and then turn around 20 minutes later and run that sub-2:10 that I've been wanting to do my whole high school career. ... It was fun to do both last year, but I just want to see what I can do in the 800 fresh.
"I always wonder if I could have beaten the first-place girl last year if I had been fresh. I think I could have."
That added boost of energy should help Weatherford reach her goal of finishing under 2:10, which would give her a good chance to become state champion.
Last year's winner finished at 2:11.85. The state record is 2:08.91.
"Now I know different races strategies and I've talked to different coaches so I have different views on how to finish races," Weatherford said. "I'll probably just feel it out, but I know I like getting out quickly in that first 400 and then just hanging in there for the second (half)."
The goals are much more modest for the county's other state qualifiers.
Before the season began, Lenihan said she hoped to get to 38 feet. On her second-to-last throw at sectionals two weeks ago, she went 39-1.
One of only two sophomores to reach the shot put state finals, Lenihan (and Morristown sophomore Haley Hart) will begin her day in flight 2.
There are four flights and 28 total shot putters, with the top ten advancing to the finals.
Lenihan, and Lucas, will likely have to approach 41 feet to make it to the top ten. Lucas is in flight 3.
While she has already reached her preseason goal, Lenihan said she is not satisfied.
"Further into the season, coach was talking to me about (qualifying for state)," she said. "I'm happy with what my season has become, but I'm still going to try my hardest at state and try to get 41."
She is focusing on technique and execution. With a perfect throw, she said, she is capable of getting out beyond 40 feet.
"I've been throwing like 40s, 41s (in practice)," she said. "I'm working on speed and coming across the ring straight."
Lucas said the challenge at state, in addition to the added pressure, is that she won't have her coach in her corner during the event.
In previous meets competitors are able to consult with coaches about technique and strategy during the flight. At state, they're all alone.
After four years, and with the help of her coaches, she knows how to adjust.
"I want to thank my coaches for helping me out," Lucas said, "And for putting up with me for the last four years."
While the days for preparation are fast disappearing, the local athletes are already set to put on a show.
The IHSAA state finals are hosted by Indiana University. The girls' championship is Saturday at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington.
The shot put begins at 3:30 p.m. and will go until it is completed in the evening.
The 800-meter run is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m.
For more information visit IHSAA.org.
"Everyone there is good (at state)," Weatherford said. "You make it there and everyone is just as nervous as you. You're just as good as any of those girls, so you just have to step up and own it and know that you've put in the work and that you're prepared for this race.
"It's what you've worked for."