Weatherford leads Putnam County charge at sectional

For tonight's boys' track sectionals, the county schools will once again head in two different directions.

Greencastle, North Putnam and South Putnam will be heading east to the Plainfield sectional, while Cloverdale will make the trip south to Bloomington North High School.

At Plainfield, all eyes will be on Greencastle's Andy Weatherford, as he begins yet another defense of his 1,600 state title. Weatherford's seed time of 4:13.60 makes him the heavy favorite for the sectional title, with his closest competitor, Plainfield's David Eichenberger, more than 15 seconds behind.

The Tiger Cub senior also finds himself the favorite in the 3,200, but by a much thinner margin. Weatherford's seed time of 9:39.00 makes him a 3.49 second favorite over Eichenberger.

Greencastle's third top seed comes from the legs of high jumper Jordan Lewis, with a height of 6 feet 4 inches. Just behind Lewis is North Putnam's Raine Young, in a three-way tie for the second seed at 6'2".

North Putnam has one top seed at sectional with long jumper Jerrett Ban. While Ban's distance of 21' is good enough for the sectional's top seed, it is just one-half inch better than county rival Joel Bottom. The Tiger Cub has outleapt Ban at both the Putnam County and WCC meets.

South Putnam comes in without a top seed. Its best seeds come from Allen Riddell and the 400 relay team at fifth. Riddell's seed time in the 300 hurdles is 42.30. The 400 relay's time is 45.41.

In Bloomington, the Clovers' lone top seed comes from senior Christian Cheatham. His leap of 6'4.5" is good for the top seed in the high jump.

Any participant gaining a first, second, third or fourth in any event, including relays, plus any individual or relay meeting the three participant standards, will advance to regionals.

Regionals will take place Thursday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. Those advancing from Plainfield will compete the at Lafayette Jefferson regional. Athletes advancing from Bloomington North will return to Bloomington North for regional.

The Plainfield sectional begins tonight at 5 p.m. The Bloomington North sectional will begin at 5:30 p.m.

2007 Boys' Sectional No. 1 Seeds

(Putnam County schools only)

At Plainfield

1,600 -- Weatherford (GHS) 4:13.60

3,200 -- Weatherford (GHS) 9:39.00

LJ -- Ban (NP) 21-00.00

HJ -- Lewis (NP) 6-04.00

At Bloomington North

HJ -- C. Cheatham (Cl) 6-04.50