Plus 4 county athletes claim individual championships
By JOSH BURRIS
MARION – The Norwell Lady Knights scored 77 points in Tuesday’s track and field sectional at Indiana Wesleyan University for a runner-up finish.
Oak Hill was the only team that outperformed Norwell, scoring 107.5 points to claim its first sectional championship since 2015. The Knights had won five straight sectional meets coming into Tuesday.
Still, Norwell is not complaining.
“The girls showed up today,” Norwell coach Deidre Stoppenhagen said. “We scored in places we didn’t think we were going to score in. I think they faired well. We knew Oak Hill was tough. We knew it was going to be a fight to even get that first place, so second place – we are definitely happy with second place.”
Following Norwell in the team standings were Eastbrook at 73, Bluffton with 62, Southwood at 52, Frankton at 50, Mississinewa at 40, Alexandria at 36, Wabash at 33, Marion at 31, Southern Wells at 28.5, Blackford at 26, and Elwood at 8.
Wells County as a whole had athletes qualify in eight events, including four sectional champions, for next week’s regional meet – also at IWU. The top three in each event automatically advanced.
Bluffton’s Leslie Sprankles won the 800 meter run with a school-record time of 2:21.81 and also won the 1,600 with a time of 5:35.89. Her teammate Lauren Reiff was champion in the discus with a throw of 122 feet 11 inches.
“I’m super proud of them,” Bluffton coach Tara Cocanower said. “Leslie Sprankles is the new record holder at Bluffton High School in the 800, super proud. Lauren Reiff had her most consistent track meet of the year tonight, and that just shows you that on the big stage she is prepared to go the extra mile and to make it fully to state. That’s been her goal all season long. The two of them, super proud.”
Southern Wells’ Sydney McFarren was the champion in the 3,200 meter run, finishing with a time of 12:37.18. She also finished second to Sprankles in the 1,600 with a time of 5:48.18.
Coach Gary Paxson said he thought McFarren’s performance was a step up from when she ran in the ACAC meet.
“Tonight she looked a lot fresher, and I think she was going off a little bit of adreneline in the 1,600 where she placed second. She didn’t run her best time tonight in the 3,200, but she’s a sectional champion. So I’ve got to be really happy for her, and I’m pretty sure she is going to be happy,” Paxson said.
Norwell’s Claire Bailey was the 300 meter hurdles champion, crossing the finish line with a time of 48.76. She also placed second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.33.
Norwell’s 4×800 and 4×400 meter relays also advanced to regional. The 4×800 relay of Ali Riley, Addy Archbold, Maddy Reinhard, and Haleigh Reinhard finished second with a time of 10:29.92. The 4×400 relay of Riley, Archbold, Fuess, and Bailey took third with a time of 4:22.33.
Fuess also advanced individually in the 400 meter dash with a third-place time of 1:04.16.
The top eight placers in each event contributed points to their teams.
For Norwell, Fuess placed fourth in long jump at 14 feet 10 inches and was eighth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.71.
Kendall Dunwiddie took fourth in pole vault and Emerson Meredith was right behind in fifth. Both cleared 8 feet.
Makenzee Kahn finished fourth in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 5:52 and was fifth in the 3,200 with a time of 12:58.79. Haleigh Reinhard was sixth in the 1,600 with a time of 5:58.88 and eighth in the 3,200 with a time of 13:05.59.
Riley came in sixth in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:32.45, and Maddy Reinhard took seventh in the event with a time of 2:38.
Emma Dummer placed seventh in high jump, clearing 4 feet 6 inches. Jillian Melcher finished eighth in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 54.51.
The Knights’ 4×100 meter relay took sixth with a time of 54.52.
For Bluffton, Reiff was fourth in shot put with a throw of 32 feet 0.25 inches. Alexandria Mackenzie was right behind in fifth with a throw of 31 feet 8.5 inches. Mackenzie also placed fourt in discus with a throw of 98 feet 2 inches.
Haley gibson took fifth in long jump at 14 feet 7.5 inches. Olivia Pula placed sixth in high jump, clearing 4 feet 8 inches.
Ryleigh Johnson came in eighth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 28.27. Elsa Corkwell was eighth in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.95.
All three of Bluffton’s relays scored points as well. The 4×800 placed fifth with a time of 11:34.49, the 4×400 placed sixth with a time of 4:35.98, and the 4×100 placed seventh with a time of 55.25.
For Southern Wells, Brooke Tonner placed fourth in high jump by clearing 5 feet. Allison Barger tied for eighth in the event after clearing 4 feet 6 inches. Zoey Solga was sixth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 28.21 and seventh in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.67.
sports@news-banner.com
