SHELBYVILLE — For Beyoncey Coleman-Turner, Adrienne Salemme and Olivia Morlok, Tuesday night’s Shelbyville girls track regional was all about redemption.
Coleman-Turner, a Columbus East senior, and Morlok, a Columbus North junior, qualified for state for the first time their freshman years. Salemme, a North junior, earned a state bid in the pole vault after missing the opening height in last year’s regional.
The meet was delayed about a half-hour at the start because of heavy rain that blew through the area late in the afternoon. When it began, Coleman-Turner went to work in the discus.
Coleman-Turner, who has the state’s farthest throw this year at 149 feet, 4 inches, was a little shot of that Tuesday, but still claimed the title. Her 127-6 effort was three inches better than Greenwood’s Emily Bonser.
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“It’s really cool to go back to state,” Coleman-Turner said. “I wasn’t throwing as good as I could, which I think everybody was doing that since the ring was kind of wet. But I seemed to pull it together a little bit. I know I can throw 140s.”
Morlok finished third in the 3,200 meters in a season-best 11 minutes, 19.78 seconds. She won the regional as a freshman, but finished fourth last year, one spot away from qualifying.
“It’s exciting to make it back because I haven’t been there in the 3,200 since freshman year, so I’m excited for another chance to be running it with the best girls in the state,” Morlok said. “Not making it last year, that’s kind of been my motivation this whole year. I just wanted to get back and race there again.”
Salemme equaled her personal best in the pole vault, finishing second at 11-6. That came after no-heighting last season.
“I’m really excited,” Salemme said. “I just wanted to place in the top three and make it on to state, but placing second is big. With the weather conditions, I was really happy with the way I did.”
The Bull Dogs will have to hope for possible call-backs in a couple other events. Emily Herndon finished fourth in the shot put (38-9), and Mackenzie Barnett took fourth in the 1,600 (5:21.63). Aric Tong, Kennedy Kerber, Barnett and Morlok were fifth in the 4×800 relay (9:34.79).
North’s Erin Rawlins finished sixth in the 400 (1:03.06), and Carley Finke, Kylah Lawson, Helena Ho and La’Monica Smith placed sixth in the 4×100 relay (51.52). Sydney Geckler finished seventh in the 3,200 (12:01.75), Kerber took eighth in the 1,600 (5:37.92) and Lawson was eighth in the 200 (27.38).
Those place-winners gave the Bull Dogs a seventh-place team finish with 38 points. Warren Central won with 107.
East’s Elena Stoughton, a state qualifier last season, finished sixth in the high jump at 5-0. Koryn Greiwe, Liz Hagan, Gabi Schuetz and Sydney Wilson took eighth in the 4×100 relay (52.38).
Hauser also had a pair of place-winners. Marnie Schwarzkopf finished seventh in the 800 (2:27.64), and Mel Hasler was eighth in the 300 hurdles (48.46).
The Girls Track and Field State Finals is June 1 at Indiana University.
