Trojans repeat as girls track sectional champs

<p>Tuesday’s girls track and field sectional at Franklin didn’t go quite how Center Grove coach Wes Dodson would have scripted it — but it was good enough.</p><p>The Trojans had a hiccup or two but still defended their title with ease, finishing with 156 points to easily outdistance runner-up Columbus North (108). Whiteland (105.5) was third.</p><p>&quot;It wasn’t as good as we wanted it to be, but we also had some really good positive things,&quot; Dodson said. &quot;It might not have been the perfect meet, but we still came in and won and put ourselves in a pretty good position for next week.&quot;</p><p>Kiyah Yeast broke her own sectional record with a time of 25.09 seconds in the 200 meters and also won the 100 in 12.02 seconds.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>Julia Riley was also a double winner for the Trojans, taking the 100-meter hurdles (15.31 seconds) and the long jump (18 feet, 1 1/2 inches). Taylor Jarosinski won the pole vault, clearing 11-10.</p><p>Other Trojans moving on to the regional meet were Makensie Kramer (second in both hurdles races), Myana Pace (second in the 100 and 200), Riko Williams (second in the long jump), Ella Rasche (second in the shot put), Alainey Kovacs (third in the 400) and Teagan Bixler (third in the pole vault). Center Grove also advanced in the 4×400 (second) and 4×800 (third) relays.</p><p>The Trojans will have to wait and sweat a bit to see whether their 4×100 relay team moves on to the regional. Riley, Yeast, Williams and Pace came in as a heavy favorite but wound up fourth after a bad exchange. Their time of 52.65 may still be good enough to earn an at-large spot.</p><p>&quot;I know that if we get a callback to regionals, we’re definitely going to take advantage of it,&quot; Yeast said.</p><p>Whiteland sophomore Isabella Jackson enjoyed a solid day, winning both the 300-meter hurdles (45.51) and the high jump (5-4) and joining Lauren Fish, Taylor Leytham and Ashlyn Little on the winning 4×400 team.</p><p>&quot;It was really successful, especially compared to last year,&quot; Jackson said of the Warriors’ night. &quot;I’m really proud of our 4×4 for doing good; we had a really good time and we all got PRs, so it was a good night.&quot;</p><p>Reagan Emberton was second in the discus for the Warriors, and Gabrielle Allen placed third in the 100 hurdles and the 200. The Warriors also moved on in both the 4×800 and 4×100 relays with runner-up finishes.</p><p>Lillian Lacy led the way for fourth-place Franklin, winning the 1,600 meters and finishing second in the 3,200. Maggie Auger was an individual winner as well, taking the 400 in 1:01.12.</p><p>Also advancing to regional for the Grizzly Cubs were Alyssa Henderson (second in 400), Jenna Newton (third in 1,600), Cami Kelsay (third in long jump) and Lia Vawter (third in high jump).</p><p>Greenwood’s Emily Bonser won the shot put with a heave of 40 feet, 1/2 inch and also moved on in the discus with a third-place finish. She feels as though she can perform better next week.</p><p>&quot;I think I was a little fatigued after discus and it kind of showed a little bit,&quot; she said,&quot; but knowing my marks I’ve had previously, I know I can do better, so I’m ready to come out and do better at regionals and hopefully get to state.&quot;</p><p>The only other regional qualifier for the Woodmen was Ava Leininger, who took second in the 800 meters.</p><p>The winner in that event was Indian Creek’s lone regional representative, Shaelyn Biddle, who overtook Leininger in the final 150 meters and hit the line in 2:26.08.</p>