INDIANAPOLIS
There are rallies in every sport. Track and field refuses to be the exception.
Whiteland’s girls supplied proof during the Mid-State Conference meet at Decatur Central on Tuesday, emerging late to overtake county rival Franklin.
The Warriors defended their league supremacy by scoring 152.5 points compared to the Grizzly Cubs’ 140. Plainfield was third with 123 points.
“A lot of the field events didn’t come in until late, and we’re strong in a lot of those,” Whiteland coach Brandon Bangel said. “I’m really, really proud of the girls. We had to focus on the things we could control.”
Whiteland’s 4×100 relay quartet of Sydney Rodgers, Emma Gill, Marissa Kratowicz and freshman anchor Elnora Stevenson won in 50.21 seconds.
“That time is real close to their season best,” Bangel said. “They’ve had a good year so far. Obviously, they won the county, and they’re knocking on the door of our school record. A couple of cleaner handoffs, and we probably would have had it.”
Also for Whiteland, junior Tori Jackson claimed the 3,200-meter run in a time of 11:31.43, while senior Brooklyn Taylor won discus with her top effort of 129 feet, 9 inches.
Franklin sophomore Aubrey Runyon and senior Brooke Coffman, a 1-2 punch in the truest form, was on display once again in the 100 hurdles with Runyon winning in 15.81 seconds, followed by Coffman (16.47).
“It’s about motivating each other because we know we’re going to get 1-2,” Runyon said. “It’s good knowing we have that relief. Well, I don’t have to go out and win because she can go out and win.
“In practice, (Coffman) helps a lot with what I need to work on, and stuff like that. You can tell she has down the technique. I’m still working on it.”
Runyon, meanwhile, was just getting started. She won the 100-meter dash in her first try in that event (12.74) and took first in the 300 hurdles in 47.72 seconds.
In the field events, Greenwood sophomore Emma Gardner won the shot put, establishing a new personal best of 40 feet, 4¼ inches. A state finalist last season in discus, Gardner has worked to bring her shot putting skills to the same level.
“That’s my PR by two feet. It just felt good today,” Gardner said. “I wanted to even them out a little. It was upsetting me that one was a lot better than the other.
“I felt a lot better this year. I knew everybody, and it wasn’t as stressful.”
Senior Morgan Sandrock of Franklin won the high jump with a top effort of 5-4, ousting Coffman, who cleared 5-3.
Defending state champion Plainfield won the boys meet handily, posting 179 points. Mooresville (110) was second, followed by Whiteland (93).
Scott Parrish, the Warriors’ senior pole vaulter, won with a best of 14 feet.
