Patton hoping for more postseason success

<p>Most of Nick Patton’s hurdles races are decided before the Greenwood senior reaches the midpoint of each event.</p><p>As a result, Patton’s times haven’t what they were a year ago, when he made it to the state finals and placed 16th in the 110-meter high hurdles.</p><p>Starting today, a lack of competition won’t be an issue.</p><p>All Johnson County boys track teams participate in the Columbus North Sectional, a venue Patton recalls fondly after winning the 110 hurdles last season in 14.84 seconds. A week later, he ran a personal-best 14.78, finishing runner-up at the Franklin Regional.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]<p>His low time this season is the 15.17 he ran at last month’s county meet at Whiteland.</p><p>“The season has been good so far. I’ve been winning more events, but my times in the 110s haven’t been quite where I want them,” Patton said. “A big part of that is not having the competition like (former Franklin hurdler Nick) Riggles and some other guys to push me.”</p><p>Patton hopes to advance to next week’s regional at Warren Central in three events. Today he is competing the 110 hurdles and running on Greenwood’s 4×100 and 4×400 relays.</p><p>Patton’s lone hurdles loss this season was at a dual meet at Franklin Central on April 4 against Flashes senior Malachi Quarles, who finished eighth at state last season in the 110s. Running in the cold and rain, Quarles and Patton produced respective times of 14.9 and 15.5.</p><p>Quarles holds the state’s best time this season with a blazing 14.15, and Patton is likely to see him again at the regional.</p><p>&quot;My first memory of Malachi would be last year,&quot; Patton said. &quot;I know that if I can stick with him, then I’ll have a chance to make it to the state finals and maybe finish in the top eight. Just trying to be at the level he’s at pushes me more.&quot;</p><p>Today marks the start of Patton’s final postseason in high school track. He carries a 3.7 grade-point average and plans to attend Franklin College, where he’ll run track and major in applied mathematics.</p><p>Patton’s track journey began in sixth grade when a Greenwood coach needed someone to represent the Woodmen in a hurdles event at the county meet. He continued improving to the point where he didn’t lose a race as an eighth-grader in the 110s.</p><p>As a freshman, Patton qualified for the sectional finals at Columbus North, placing a respectable fifth in 15.75 seconds.</p><p>Greenwood coach Blaine Williams won’t be surprised to see Patton’s times return to the 14s starting today.</p><p>“When there’s somebody running right alongside you, there’s a lot more motivation to go faster than if you’re 20 yards ahead of everybody,” Williams said. “Nick is just such a competitor. He knows what he wants to do. He has his goals and wants to get to the state meet and get on the podium.</p><p>“He’s one we don’t have to worry about a whole lot. He’s going to get his work done and has a good head on his shoulders, for sure.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><p><strong>Columbus North Sectional</strong></p><p>When: 5:30 p.m.</p><p>Teams competing: Center Grove, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood, Greenwood Christian, Indian Creek, Whiteland, Columbus East, Columbus North, Hauser, Southwestern (Shelbyville), Waldron</p><p>Local individuals to watch: Center Grove — Nate Line, Gavin Matheson; Franklin — Matt Frazier; Greenwood — Lex Logan, Nick Patton; Indian Creek — Nate Decker; Whiteland — Logan Beers, Alec Given, Will Jefferson</p><p>Advancement: Top three finishers in all events and those who meet state qualifying standard move on to Warren Central Regional on May 23.</p><p>Admission: $6</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]