The Columbus East boys and girls track teams had a solid day competing on their home track against Shelbyville Tuesday.
The East boys had three double-event winners in a 76-47 win, while the girls team had two double-event winners in its 84-38 victory.
Cortney VanLiew led the sprints for the girls, winning 400 meters in 1 minute, 3.9 seconds and the 200 in 27.4. She also anchored East’s 4×400 relay team that won in 4:29.3, joining with Sydney Wilson, Natalie Glaid and Allison Mack.
“It felt pretty good to get some good times and really see what we can all do as a team,” VanLiew said. “Especially in that 4×4 because that’s just a long relay. It takes the whole team and the whole relay. I was really glad that the girls were able to stay right with it so I was able to do my job and finish the race for them.”
East won three field events with Elena Stoughtonin the high jump (5-0), Beyoncey Coleman-Turner in the shot put (33 feet, 1 inch), Seena Greiwe in the discus (113-10) and .
Olivia Williams swept the hurdle races, finishing the 100 hurdles in 17.4 and the 300 hurdles in 53.8. Kayla Gastineau won the 100 (13.4), and Lizzy Frazier took the 800 (2:39.8). Frazier also started the meet by anchoring the 4×800 relay team, with Yami Diaz, Kristen Lyons and Emma Mensendiek.
Many East girls had season personal bests in Saturday’s Columbus North Invitational, so girls coach Glen Brown did not expect times to go down against Shelbville, but said he was happy with the consistency.
“I thought all of our runners gave great effort,” Brown said. “Times were consistent. Emma Mesendiek did drop her time in the 3,200, but we came out to compete, and that’s what we were looking for.”
Boys coach David Miller was also pleased with the way his athletes competed. T.C. O’Neal’s 21-4 1/2 leap earned him a first-place finish in long jump before winning the 400 in 51.9 seconds. Kolby Mitchell won the 100 (11.4) and 200 (23.8).
The boys also swept the throws, with Zach Clark throwing the shot 46-1 and the discus 124-7.
Paul Bean started the racing events by anchoring the 4×800 relay with Caleb Pettit, Michael Zieleniuk and Issac VanCuren to win in 8:57.9. Bean also won the 1600 in 4:40.7, while Vancuren won the 800 in 2:10.0. The other first-place finisher was Jared Baker in the 110 hurdles (18.0).
“Our philosophy is, ‘Team first,’ and our best kids do multiple events,” Miller said. “For those kids to come out and compete in all four or three events that’s great. …It was a little cold, but the kids did a great job of warming up and competing, so it was a good meet.”
