PREP GIRLS TRACK: Concord, Northridge, Goshen file in behind Warsaw, underclassmen shine at sectionals

WARSAW — Starting and finishing under a light drizzle but worsened by bitter wind gusts, The Goshen News area was well-represented at the first stage of the girls track and field postseason.

Warsaw scored 179 points and landed at the top of the team standings for the 18th-consecutive season. Elkhart Central was the last team to defeat the Tigers, doing so in 2006.

Behind the hosts, Concord finished second for the third-consecutive season. The Minutemen scored 84.5 points, just in front of Northridge with 80. Goshen was fifth with 59.5. Fairfield (6th, 48 points), Wawasee (7th, 33.5) and Bethany Christian (10th, 14) followed behind.

The Raiders advanced in five individual events and the 4x800-meter relay. Dakotah Moore was the two-mile champ with a fast time of 11:01.32. Moore was also a member on the first-place relay team alongside Allison Ambers, Isabel Snyder and Adelyn Long.

Concord advanced six different individuals in six different events. Fairfield featured two event winners and Goshen counted one event champion.

A rundown of some of the top storylines from the area is included below.

UNDERCLASSMEN TAKE CHARGE

A common theme for many of the area schools were the standout performance by some of its freshest faces. Bethany Christian’s Amari Lind was one of the top individual scorers among freshmen.

“It’s really exciting, other than meets where there’s not as much competition,” Lind said about running in a highly contested pair of sprint finals while advancing to regionals next week, also in Warsaw. “It’s exciting to be with people who push you. It’s really fun.”

Lind was the Bruins only advancer against a sectional known for being hard to escape. The first-year high school runner began her day by finishing third to Fairfield sophomore Emma Walter in the 100-meter dash finals. Walter crossed in 12.36 seconds while Lind crossed with a time of 12.78. Warsaw’s Camryn Burner was second with a time of 12.58.

“I was pretty worried coming out of the blocks a little bit slow,” Lind said. “With competition it’s a lot easier to push.”

Lind has run track since fifth grade. Outside a few middle-distance runs during her elementary years, she’s primarily been a sprinter. She was well-represented by fans cheering her on.

“A lot of pride for sure,” Lind said about representing the Bruins. “I know I have a lot of people supporting me back at home. I have some parents out here watching.”

Lind was also second in the 200-meter dash, finishing with a time of 26.12 seconds. Bruner bested her with a time of 25.81 seconds.

Lind wasn’t the only first-year standout from the area. Goshen’s Destiny Sanchez hasn’t garnered as much attention due to running behind former state qualifier Kristina Petkova, but she’s been surely in the conversation for being one of the top sprinters in the area.

Petkova and Sanchez finished in the top two spots in the 400-meter dash. Petkova’s time beat the sectional record, crossing in 57.05 seconds. Sanchez was second, clocking in at 59.54 seconds.

“I think it went pretty good,” Sanchez said after the race, still gathering her breath.

“She pushes me a lot,” Sanchez said of running with Petkova. “I think I’ll be improving just by having her as a teammate.”

FOUST TACKS ON FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP

With NorthWood placed in the Bremen sectional this year, the high jump title, held by the Panthers’ reigning champ Claire Payne, was up for grabs.

It came down to representatives from Fairfield, Northridge and Concord.

The Minutemen were the first to fall out. Lia Davis advanced to regionals with a third-place finish of 5-feet. Then it came down to a jump-off for Northridge sophomore Allis Steele and Fairfield sophomore Claira Foust.

Both cleared 5-feet-2 and after both failed to clear 5-foot-3 in the first two tries, Foust was perfect on the third jump. Steele couldn’t match and the Fairfield second-year gave the Falcons their first event champion of the afternoon.

It was the first sectional title for the 6-foot-1 high jump.

“It’s amazing; last year I was here and no-highed it. It’s a big step up,” Foust said.

What got her to this point?

“Lots and lots of training,” Foust replied.

She noted her youth in the event.

“It’s really nice coming out and knowing I have a few years left of it and to keep improving from here on out. It’s fun,” Foust said.

Her parents lined the fence and often shouted out cheers.

“I love having competition, so it’s nice going against the girls and having jump-offs against them,” she said.

Individuals advancing to regionals will be back in Warsaw next week on Tuesday, May 27, at 6 p.m. NorthWood, which competed in the Bremen Sectional, and Westview, at the Angola Sectional, will both be appearing at the Warsaw Regional 2.

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IHSAA SECTIONAL 7

Hosted at Warsaw High School. Regional advancers and team standings listed below. Regional advancement is given to top-three placers in each event as well as any time matching or besting the 3 Participant Standard.

Team standings: Warsaw (179), Concord (84.5), Northridge (80), Elkhart (62.5), Goshen (59.5), Fairfield (48), Wawasee (33.5), Jimtown (32), Lakeland Christian (22), Bethany Christian (14), Elkhart Christian (9)

100-meter dash: Emma Walter (Fairfield, 12.36), Camryn Burner (Warsaw, 12.58), Amari Lind (Bethany Christian, 12.78)

200-meter dash: Camryn Burner (Warsaw, 25.81), Amari Lind (Bethany Christian, 26.12), Allison DeFreese (Concord, 26.29)

400-meter dash: Kristina Petkova (Goshen, 57.05, sectional record), Destiny Sanchez (Goshen, 59.54), Rosell Robles (Elkhart, 1:00.77)

800-meter run: Eden Metz (Warsaw, 2:18.41), Isabel Snyder (Northridge, 2:24.31), Ella Laput (Warsaw, 2:24.97)

1,600-meter run: Eden Metz (Warsaw, 5:22.11), Hadley Troyer (Northridge, 5:32.03), Jetcimani Cid (Goshen, 5:32.78)

3,200-meter run: Dakotah Moore (Northridge, 11:01.32), Zoe Roberts (Concord, 11:20.78), Samantha Rastrelli (Warsaw, 11:26.23)

100-meter hurdles: Annabel Parker (Warsaw, 15.61), Lucile Odhiambo (Concord, 15.99), Isabel Schwartz (Wawasee, 16.37)

300-meter hurdles: Annabel Parker (Warsaw, 46.45), Melayna Howett, Warsaw, 48.58), Samantha Bloomfield (Lakeland Christian, 48.80)

4X100-meter relay: Warsaw (Addison Williams, Anna Stevens, Claire Walters, Camryn Burner, 49.99), Jimtown (Promisse Ruffin, Emma Martin, Terrisha Bennett, Kylie Wiegand, 50.43), Elkhart (Brendayah Dale, Jazlyne Torres, Trenyce Harris, Ja’leiiya, 50.45)

4X400-meter relay: Warsaw (Annabel Parker, Ella Laput, Hannah Fisher, Eden Metz, 4:07.47), Goshen (Destiny Sanchez, Kara Gwaltney, Penelope Jimenez, Lilly Clark, 4:15.43), Wawasee (America Benitez, Addison Powell, Aowyn Fuller, Bailyn Likens, 4:16.12)

4X800-meter relay: Northridge (Allison Ambers, Adelyn Long, Isabel Snyder, Dakotah Moore, 9:53.33), Warsaw (Savannah Purdy, Hannah Fisher, Samantha Rastrelli, Ella Laput, 9:56.24), Elkhart Christian (Sheridan Maxwell, Lily Maxwell, Kyle Yordy, Shiloh Grubert, 10:02.36)

Long jump: Leila Knepp (Warsaw, 16’10 1/4”), Isabel Schwartz (Wawasee, 16’9 1/2"), Dea ana Emerson (Concord, 16’6 3/4")

High jump: Claira Foust (Fairfield, 5’3”), Alli Steele (Northridge, 5’2”), Lia Davis (Concord, 5’0”)

Pole vault: Margaret Barnett (Warsaw, 10’6”), Elliana Transparenti (Warsaw, 10’6”), Jalyn Stofleth (Fairfield, 10’3”)

Shot put: Brynlee Jellison (Elkhart, 40' 8 1/4"), Brooklyn King (Jimtown, 39' 10 1/2"), Bayleigh Sleeth (Warsaw, 36' 2 1/4")

Discus: Cassie Jackson (Warsaw, 125’10 1/2”), Olivia Stoffel (Northridge, 120’7”), Isabella Kratzer (Concord, 107’9”)