After finishing seventh in the 3,200 meters in last week’s Franklin Sectional, Kira Singer’s high school athletics career had come to an end.
Because it was raining at the time, finish line officials allowed the competitors to leave the track once they were finished. But the Columbus East senior stayed behind.
Two runners — Lauren Taylor of Southwestern (Shelby) and Madison Hankins of Waldron — had been lapped twice and were still on the track. Singer wanted to be there to cheer them on and congratulate them when they finished.
“I guess I just figured that if I was in that position and I had crossed the line and there was no one there, that it would be kind of discouraging,” Singer said. “So I just thought it would be nice to encourage them because obviously, they’re still running, and it’s raining. I try to be supportive because I understand that running is a hard sport.”
Pam Shively, an official working the meet, reported Singer’s act of sportsmanship to the IHSAA for commendation. The next day, IHSAA assistant commissioner Sandra Walter sent an Exemplary Sportsmanship Report about Singer to East principal Mark Newell and athletics director Pete Huse.
“This is one of the most inspiring displays of sportsmanship I have seen during my career as an official,” Shively said.
Although Singer’s high school career ended at the sectional, her competitive running career isn’t over. She will run cross-country and track at DePauw.
Ready for regional
Columbus North junior Mitchell Burton is the top seed in the long jump going into tonight’s boys track Franklin Regional.
Columbus East senior Rhett Myers is seeded second in both the shot put and discus. Also for the Olympians, senior Steven O’Neal is fifth in the 200 meters, senior Aaron Kruchten is fifth in the shot and ninth in the discus, junior T.C. O’Neal is tied for fifth in the high jump. East is sixth in the 4×100 and 4×400 relays and ninth in the 4×800 relay.
North senior Bryce Ables is seeded second in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 110 hurdles, and senior Alex Algee is third in the long jump. The Bull Dogs are third in the 4×800 relay, fourth in the 4×100 relay and seventh in the 4×400 relay.
Also for North, junior Triston Perry is fourth in the 110 hurdles and 15th in the 300 hurdles, senior Coleman Tennyson is fourth in the shot and senior Drew Schoeberl is fourth in the discus. Burton is fifth in the 100, juniors Eli Fischer and Alec Embry are fifth and ninth in the 1,600, senior Ben Rankin and junior Elijah Brooks are sixth and ninth in the 3,200, sophomores Grant Fehribach and Brigham Kleinhenz are tied for sixth in the pole vault, junior Harley Huser is tied for ninth in the high jump, junior Robert Pflueger is 12th in the 400, senior Chandler Steward is 13th in the 800 and Algee is tied for 15th in the 200.
East junior gets offer
Columbus East junior wide receiver Cam Wilson received a scholarship offer last week from Air Force.
Wilson led the Olympians with 30 receptions for 703 yards and seven touchdown catches in the fall. He helped East to an 11-1 record and a Hoosier Hills Conference title.
Former teammate Myers, a tight end/defensive end, is headed to Air Force on a football scholarship this fall.
North awards honors
Burton and senior Sierra Lax have been selected MVPs of Columbus North’s boys and girls track teams.
Algee and senior Katrina May won the Bull Dog Awards. Ables, Rankin and Steward were recognized as boys captains; and Lax, May and senior Nina Bouthier were recognized as girls captains.
Senior named East MVP
Steven O’Neal has been named MVP of the Columbus East boys track team. Myers was named the Olympians’ top field event performer. Steven O’Neal was named top sprinter and junior Paul Bean was named top distance runner.
