INDIANAPOLIS
Eight days and a drive across town are the difference from being a regional qualifier in boys track and one bound for state.
Those participating in Thursday night’s regional at Warren Central had their goals aimed west. Some were realized; others weren’t.
Center Grove once again demonstrated why it’s capable of bringing home its second state team title on June 4 at Ben Davis, piling up 142 points to dominate the regional. The host Warriors took second with 96.
“We had a little bit of adversity tonight coming over here with a slow trip in traffic. We didn’t have much time to warm up, and the kids still got out and just performed to the level of our expectations,” Trojans coach Eric Moore said.
“Everybody just did what we needed them to do to compete for a championship.”
Senior Jackson Schott set the tone for his team’s dominance, soaring a career-best 22 feet, 5 inches on his first long jump attempt. The distance stood the test of time as he finished first by an inch over Franklin County’s Jacob Schatzle.
“I was pretty excited because the farthest I had gone was before that was 21-3, so just to get that on the first one felt real good,” said Schott, who also took fourth in the high jump with a best of 6-4.
“Coming in, I didn’t even think I would have much of a chance to qualify, but after that jump I was feeling pretty good.”
Other winners for the Trojans were junior James Schott in the 110 hurdles (15.15 seconds), junior Brandon Wheat in the 200 (22.37), senior Connor Delp in the 300 hurdles (39.48), the 4×100 relay of Delp, Micah Coyle, Drew Wheat and Brandon Wheat (42.08) and the 4×400 relay of Zach Greller, Delp, Tayven Jackson and Drew Wheat (3:25.58).
Runner-up finishes were produced by Coyle in the 200, Greller in the 400 and senior pole vaulter Amar Singh. Finishing third in the 1,600 was Center Grove’s Griffin Hennessy, while Parker Mimbela qualified in the 3,200 with a third of his own.
The finish of the 110s touched off a celebration just beyond the finish line when James Schott and sophomore teammate Parker Doyle realized they had placed first and third, respectively.
“I’m way more excited that Parker’s going with me. At this point, I don’t have to go alone,” Schott said, laughing. “We’ve become great friends since track season started.”
Whiteland senior Will Jefferson led most of the 1,600, but Columbus North junior Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff used a late kick over the final 20 meters to win in a time of 4:10.36 to Jefferson’s 4:10.57.
It turned out to be the final 1,600 of Jefferson’s high school career. He’s elected to focus on the 3,200 at state, an event he won at regional in 9:42.33.
“The goal is to try and win a state championship, and I think the 3,200 is my best option,” Jefferson said. “I’m more comfortable in the two-mile than the mile. In the grand scheme of things, it would be better to have a higher finish in that than two normal podium finishes.”
In the 800, Franklin senior Ethan Pheifer extended his season by placing third in a time of 1:56.91.
