Center Grove boys track and field claims another sectional crown

COLUMBUS

As an assistant coach, Brad Timmons played a behind-the-scenes role in most of Center Grove’s first 18 sectional championships.

The program’s 19th proved to be a different animal.

Ranked seventh in the state, the Trojans racked up 185 points to win the Columbus North Sectional for a fifth consecutive year dating back to the 2019 meet (no spring sports took place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The host Bull Dogs, ranked 11th, were second with 116 points, while No. 14 Greenwood rode three first-place finishes from junior sprinter Will Riley to secure the third spot with 102 points.

Timmons, in his first season as CG’s head coach, appreciated the way his athletes performed.

“The fact that our kids came out tonight having not run a meet where we had trials and finals,” Timmons said. “Sprinters were able to step up and basically run two 100s, two 200s, and be able to bounce back and then run great times in the finals.

“No complaints. Just being gritty kids who want to get the most out of their time on the track. They gave you everything they’ve got. They’ve done it all year. They’re reaping the benefits of their hard work.”

Center Grove’s surplus of outstanding performances included — and was perhaps highlighted by — Kyle Montgomery’s no-nonsense dominance of the 1,600-meter run.

The University of Iowa recruit immediately jumped to the front of the pack, refused to lose momentum and won in a time of 4 minutes, 20.62 seconds. Sam Grimes of Greenwood placed second in 4:25.43, and Whiteland sophomore Nolan Edens was third in 4:25.69.

“I definitely wanted my first 400 to be really fast, so then I’m used to the faster pace,” Montgomery said. “It’s preparing for future races like the state meet, which is going to get out really fast in the first 200.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Montgomery returned after some much-needed rest to place second in the 3,200 in 9:31.76, trailing only teammate Gavin Rockwell (9:26.78).

Other CG sectional champions were senior pole vaulter Carter Pheifer, whose 14-foot best topped Franklin senior Carson Sommers (13-6) and Greenwood junior Brayden Hafen (13-0). Trojan soph Levi Jones won the discus with a top throw of 154 feet, 8 inches, while junior Dallas Johnson prevailed in the 110-meter high hurdles.

Also for Center Grove, junior Brevin Holubar ran a time of 49.14 to edge Whiteland senior Matthew Wray in the 400. Holubar later ran the second leg of the victorious 4×400 relay that included three more juniors in Ben Tapak, Daxon Sauer and Austin Hennessy.

The meet got under way with the 4×800 relay, won by Columbus North. However, Center Grove finished second and Greenwood third in respective times of 7:52.75 and 7:52.83.

Johnson claimed the 110-meter hurdles in 14.63 seconds with Franklin senior J.D. Sever, a medalist at last year’s state meet, taking second in 15.01. Sever returned to win the 300 hurdles in 38.53 seconds.

“I don’t think it was my best,” Johnson said. “I’m dealing with a stress fracture in my (left) fibula. I haven’t been able to practice much. I just wanted to get out, really. It feels great. I’m just ready to compete.”

Riley’s dominance in the sprints began with him winning the 100 in 10.79 seconds, continued with him teaming with Brett Odgers, Ben Hommell and Amare Middleton to capture the 4×100 relay (42.35) and was finalized with Riley winning the 200-meter dash in 22.11 seconds.

In the field events, Indian Creek sophomore Braxton Freeman, all 6-foot-7 of him, won the high jump with a best effort of 6 feet, 4 inches. The Trojans’ Peyton Coffey was second, while Whiteland junior Jackson Cope finished third.

“It feels pretty good, but I’ve cleared 6-8 this year, and it’s kind of disappointing, too,” Freeman said. “Last year, I believe I only cleared 5-10 here. Honestly, it’s just getting stronger, I think, and with my five-step approach, I believe it doesn’t leave a lot of room for overthinking.

“The long step approach, even though you get more speed, there’s a lot more room for error. I start very close up compared to all the other jumpers. I would really like to clear 6-6 (at regional), and at state I would like to clear 6-8.”

Whiteland’s Benian Walls, Edinburgh’s Jackson Hartwell and Greenwood’s Jeremiah Carter went 1-2-3 in the long jump.