Tigers’ boys and girls teams prevail in 74th annual contest
This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market. Happy Memorial Day weekend! While you’re opening the pool and firing up the grill, why not stop by the Market at the corner of Washington and Mulberry streets on Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon! Local vendors have everything you need for a top-flight barbecue or a little Spring decorating! Get fresh produce, sweet treats, and beautiful hand-crafted items that will make Memorial Day … well … memorable!
Kick off your weekend right with the Kokomo Downtown Farmers Market! We’ll see you there!
The road to the IHSAA Track and Field Sectionals apparently ran through Northwestern High School, at least in Howard County. The Tigers posted victories in both the boys’ and girls’ varsity competitions at the Howard County Track Meet on May 14.
Taylor High School played host for the 74th iteration of the event, though the hosts had trouble finding the scoreboard. Northwestern collected 116 points to lead the field in a lopsided girls’ competition, followed by Western (104), Eastern (17), and Taylor (3).
The Northwestern boys won by a slightly larger margin, racking up 101 points, followed by Western (86), Eastern (42), and Taylor (12).
Northwestern’s win on the boys’ side of the ledger was fueled by hurdlers and efficient relay teams, as the Tigers captured first place with Braxton Schieffer in the 110 M and 300 M hurdles. Gavin Pyatt brought home a blue ribbon in the shot put to cement the victory. And the team won the 4x400 M and 4x800 M relays.
But Western looked to threaten for the championship, thanks to Brett Kalio and Camden Raab. The sprinters swept their individual events, with Kalio taking the 100 M, 200 M, and 400 M dashes and Raab prevailing in the 800 M, 1600 M, and 3200 M runs. A winning performance in the pole vault by Rylan Hart kept the Panthers in the hunt.
Eastern netted a pair of blue ribbons with a winning sprint by its 4x100 relay team and a personal-best discus tally from Zane Marr. Taylor’s lone victor was long jumper Santana Howard, who registered a personal best leap.
The IHSAA boys’ sectionals began May 21, and Kalio proved to have what it takes, as he advanced to the regionals a winner in the 100 M, 200 M, and 400 M races. Cooper Cage of Kokomo won the 800 M and 1600 M races. Raab came out on top in the 3200 M event.
Omar Daniels of Kokomo took the 110 M and 300 M hurdles titles. Kokomo also came out on top in the 4x100 relay, and Western was fastest in the 4x800 relay. Braxton Schieffer of Northwestern advanced as the winner in the high jump. Jeremiah Young of Kokomo was the top long jumper.
The girls’ competition also was dominated by a few exceptional athletes. Northwestern’s Zoie Scheiffer wore a path to the podium with four victories, including the 110 M hurdles, 300 M hurdles, as part of the 4x100 relay team, and the high jump with a personal best distance.
Emma Baker (100 M) and Alaina Dubbels (400 M) dominated the sprints for the Tigers, and Baker added a win in the pole vault.
Western offered strong competition in its second-place finish. Sophia Dechert proved her name will be called frequently for the next few years, as the freshman outdistanced the competition in the 800 M, 1600 M, and 3200 M races. She also was a part of Western’s winning 4x800 relay.
Norah Ewing was a double winner for the Panthers with a 200 M win to go with her participation in the 4x800 relay. Ellyse Walden dominated the shot put and discus contests to add a pair of blue ribbons to Western’s total.
Results from the May 19 IHSAA Girls Track and Field Sectionals were not available.
Individual winners in the boys’ track events were:
- 100 M: Brett Kalio, Western 11.33
- 200 M: Brett Kalio, Western 23.00
- 400 M: Brett Kalio, Western 52.19 (personal best)
- 800 M: Camden Raab, Western 2:01.94 (personal best)
- 1600 M: Camden Raab, Western 4:37.06
- 3200 M: Camden Raab, Western 10:16.26
- 110 M Hurdles: Samuel Martin, Northwestern 16.36
- 300 M Hurdles: Braxton Schieffer, Northwestern 43.34 (personal best)
- 4x100 Relay: Eastern (Braylon Brooks, Ke’Mari Butler, Kay’den Butler, Riley Helberger) 45.99 (personal best)
- 4x400 relay: Northwestern (DeWayne Perrigen, Henry Neher, Bryan Burkhalter, La’Ron Johnson) 3:36.45 (personal best)
- 4x800 Relay: Northwestern (Ryland Barnes, Isaac Everson, Bran Burkhalter, Mason Broeker) 8:31.68 (personal best)
Individual winners in the boys’ field events were:
- Shot Put: Gavin Pyatt, Northwestern 45’11” (personal best)
- Discus: Zane Marr, Eastern 117’2” (personal best)
- High Jump: Braxton Schieffer, Northwestern 6’4”
- Pole Vault: Rylan Hart, Western, 12’6”
- Long Jump: Santana Howard, Taylor 21’0.25” (personal best)
Individual winners in the girls’ track events were:
- 100 M: Emma Baker, Northwestern 12.72 (season best)
- 200 M: Norah Ewing, Western 26.28 (season best)
- 400 M: Alaina Dubbels, Northwestern 1:01.76 (personal best)
- 800 M: Sophia Dechert, Western 2:27.46
- 1600 M: Sophia Dechert, Western 5:40.48
- 3200 M: Sophia Dechert, Western 12:24.07
- 110 M Hurdles: Zoie Scheiffer, Northwestern 15.17
- 300 M Hurdles: Zoie Schieffer, Northwestern 47.63 (season best)
- 4x100 Relay: Northwestern (Chloe Shuck, Bryella Lefforge, Zoie Schieffer, Emma Baker) 50.92 (personal best)
- 4x400 Relay: Western (Gracie Shade, Sophia Dechert, Norah Ewing, Ashlyn Powell) 4:22.33
- 4x800 Relay: Northwestern (Elle Shoaff, Alaina Dubbels, Bella Winrotte, Annabelle Brewster) 10:35.29 (personal best)
Individual winners in the girls’ field events were:
- Shot Put: Ellyse Walden, Western 45’3”
- Discus: Ellyse Walden, Western 141’
- High Jump: Zoie Schieffer, Northwestern 5’2” (personal best)
- Pole Vault: Emma Baker, Northwestern 11’
- Long Jump: Bryella Lefforge, Northwestern 17’8.5” (personal best)
See additional photos from the Howard County Track Meet, courtesy of Adam Hartsough, on the Lantern’s Facebook page.