South Putnam takes down Eminence in track action

On Thursday, Eminence came to South Putnam to try to get a team win against the boys and girls track teams. But thanks in part to Eminence not having a single high jumper, long jumper or pole vaulter compete, South Putnam took home the win for both teams, with the boys winning 82-48 and the girls winning 78-36.

Some South Putnam athletes had personal bests for the day. South Putnam's Tyler Neumann hit 18-5 in the long jump, with Wes Riner close behind with 17-9. Trent Workman hit his personal best in the pole vault with 11-0.

For the girls, Steffany Baker won the long jump with a jump of 10-7.5 and Bri Baker won the 800-meter run with a time of 3:02.04. Both teams competed despite not having an opponent to run or jump against.

"We ran pretty well, had some good performances," said Carl Coons, head coach of the boys track team. "I'm not disappointed at all."

Coons had shuffled the relay teams around in the final 4x4 race, and though the team ended up losing to Eminence's time of 3:54.73, the loss was only by about three seconds, 3:57.31, and it remained a close race throughout.

Madi Marsteller for the girls team had a great day, winning the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 20.99 and placing in several others. Marsteller came in second in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 1:08.85, behind first place winner Melodie Williams and her time of 1:02.10, and she also came in second in the high jump with a jump of 4-0, losing to Mariah Minick's jump of 4-4.

Shea Arnold had a bit of a frustrating day for the boys team. Despite hanging on in several races, he couldn't pull out a win in the individual events. Arnold ran a 5:20 in the 1600-meter race, earning him second place, and he also earned second place in the 3200-meter race, losing by just over a second with his time of 11:58.41.

The one area Eminence had a distinct advantage in was the shot put and discus event, where Eminence claimed first in the boys and girls teams. Eminence swept the girls discus events, but Kelsey Searles placed second in the shot put with a throw of 28-6.5.

The boys were able to place a few more throwers. Eminence's Blake Garland had a monster shot put throw, hitting 46-7 and earning first, but South Putnam's Ryan Chestnut and Michael James were right behind him with throws of 45-0 and 42-0 respectively. Eminence also took first in discus for the men, but Chestnut again placed second with a throw of 98-4, and Jacob Williams placed third with a throw of 90-10.5.

Coons said it was still early in the season, but he was proud of the boys' progress so far. He said they have been constantly improving and getting better and he wants to see that continue.

"We've been constantly improving on what we've done," Coons said. "If we haven't improved we've remained steady."

South Putnam will race again Monday against Owen Valley and Cloverdale at home.