Unless you count last season’s defeat at the hands of a pandemic, Center Grove came into Monday’s Johnson County track meet not having lost one this century.
As was annually the case in the past, the Trojans used their superior depth to complete another sweep this time around.
Center Grove’s boys dominated, scoring 205 points to outdistance host Whiteland by 104, while the girls pulled away and outpointed the Warriors 184-131.
"We’re able to win the meet because we have two people in every event," Center Grove girls coach Wes Dodson said. "We’re scoring twice every single event; the depth is what makes us pretty good."
Senior Makensie Kramer established a pair of county records on the day for the Trojan girls, setting new standards in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles (14.96 and 46.26 seconds, respectively).
"I’m very excited because I PR’d in both my events, and I’m dropping time," Kramer said. "I was hoping for a little lower, but I was at a 15.2 (in the 100) before, so dropping that much time is really awesome."
The Trojans also got a county record from Bella Hodges in the 800 (2:19.48) as well as wins from Kate Henselmeier in the 400 (1:01.92), Kristen Lavergne in the long jump (16-4), Taylor Jarosinski in the pole vault (11 feet) and the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.
The Trojan boys were in control from start to finish, winning all three relays convincingly and the majority of the individual events as well. Connor Delp earned athlete of the meet honors on the boys side after taking first in the long jump (21-10) and 300-meter hurdles (39.60) and also running on the victorious 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Brandon Wheat also doubled up individually, taking the 100 (11.11) and 200 (22.08).
"It was a lot of fun," Delp said. "Coming out here after not having a season and being able to go first in all the events and the relays .. it was just good to see everybody do well after not getting a county meet last year."
Also winning for Center Grove on the boys side were James Schott in the 110 hurdles (15.41), Zach Greller in the 400 (50.74), Jarrett Rockwell in the 800 (2:02.77), Amar Singh in the pole vault (14 feet) and Jackson Schott in the high jump (6 feet).
Whiteland’s girls were paced by a pair of double winners. Senior Gabi Allen was the girls athlete of the meet after finishing first in both the 100 (12.62) and 200 (25.55) and also finished second in the 100 hurdles (15.04). Junior Drew Mallory threw the discus 145 feet, 5 inches to break the county record by 20 feet and also took first in the shot put (41-1 1/2).
"I was just really excited for the competition," Mallory said. "In discus, I honestly got really angry because I thought my throws weren’t that good at first, but I was really excited for the outcome."
Bella Jackson set a county standard of her own in the high jump (5-7 1/4), while Claire Overfelt was a winner in the 3,200 meters (11:44.82).
For Whiteland’s boys, Will Jefferson broke up Center Grove’s running monopoly with comfortable victories in the 1,600 (4:31.45) and 3,200 (9:40.95).
Franklin’s girls finished third as a team with 121 points. Freshman Lauren Klem was the Grizzly Cubs’ lone individual winner, claiming the 1,600 meters in 5:18.93.
Indian Creek’s Aidan Neathery won the boys discus with a heave of 169 feet even, while Greenwood’s Gabe Long took the shot put (52-11 1/4). The Woodmen boys finished with 68 points to place third, one point ahead of Franklin.
As for the victorious Trojans, they’re hoping to use Monday’s performances as a springboard for the big meets ahead, starting with the MIC championships on Friday.
"We had to show up and run on one day rest, like everybody else probably did too, and it just shows we can do it," Center Grove boys coach Eric Moore said. "We’re really starting to show our team depth."
