COLUMBUS
Center Grove’s boys track and field team didn’t shatter any records at Friday’s Columbus North Sectional, but it did just about everything it set out to do.
The Trojans rode their superior depth and a strong performance in the sprints to the team title, posting 167 points to beat the host Bull Dogs by 49. Whiteland was third with 102 points. Greenwood (54) and Franklin (50) were fifth and sixth, respectively.
"We finished where we thought we would," Center Grove coach Eric Moore said. "The whole idea is to get guys through, survive and advance, and then try to win the sectional as you do it. So we were pretty successful in that aspect."
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The Trojans’ 4×100 relay team of Conner Delp, Gavin Matheson, Brandon Wheat and Clay Stambaugh won going away with a time of 42.68 seconds. Matheson and Delp later joined Jake Keith and Sam Hohlt to win the 4×400 in 3:28.46.
Wheat, a freshman, won the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.31 seconds, and Hohlt was first in the 300-meter hurdles, hitting the line in 39.80 seconds.
The hurdles win was particularly sweet for Hohlt, who feels as though he’s finally rounding into form after undergoing surgery in November for torn ligaments in his right ankle.
"It feels good to get back down to those times after my injuries from football," the senior said. "It’s for sure been tough, especially since this offseason I wasn’t really able to work; I was more recovering. But now I’m finally getting back into it and feeling good."
Stambaugh and Matheson later placed second and third, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Matheson was second behind Wheat in the 200 and Delp was second to Hohlt in the 300 hurdles.
Also moving on to the regional for the Trojans were Sebastian Martin (second in 800), Nick Wilson (second in 1,600), Nate Line (second in pole vault), Carson Steele (second in shot put), Austin Booker (second in discus), Jalen Goines (third in 110 hurdles), Charlie Ogega (third in 400), Jake Keith (third in high jump), Lucas Roehling (third in long jump) and Evan Brooks (third in discus).
Greenwood had three individual champions on the night. Nick Patton won the 110 hurdles in 15 seconds flat, Lex Logan was first in the 400 (50.28) and Zachary McCauley took the 800 (1:59.29).
Those three teamed with Nick Willham to finish second in the 4×400 relay.
Logan, who was a state qualifier in the 400 a year ago, is hopeful that he’ll have a few teammates make that trip with him this time.
"That’s what I want for my guys, to move on and hopefully experience that state feeling," he said, "because when I felt it that first time it was amazing. I want to give the opportunity for the same."
Other local winners were Whiteland’s Will Jefferson in the 3,200 meters (9:33.23) and Franklin’s Matt Frazier in the pole vault (13 feet, 8 inches).
In addition to Jefferson, Whiteland advanced long jumper Dalton DeBaun (second) and pole vaulter Jacob Brown (third) as well as a pair of relay teams. The Warriors were second in the 4×100 and third in the 4×800.
Frazier established a new personal best in the pole vault for the Grizzly Cubs, who also advanced their 4×800 relay team.
Nate Decker moved on for Indian Creek, placing third in the 800 meters.
