BLOOMINGTON — A wooden curb sits about 68 feet from the shot put ring at the Bloomington North track and field complex, which coincidentally was about the distance of Indiana high school’s all-time state record.
The barrier wasn’t enough to contain Tucker Smith.
In Friday’s Conference Indiana meet, the Columbus North junior launched three of his six attempts over the curb, His best toss went 69 feet, 4 ½ inches to break the all-time state record set in 2008 by Lawrence North’s Brandon Pounds.
“It’s pretty cool,” Smith said. “I had kind of forgot about (the state record). I had been chasing 70 (feet) most of the year. That’s been a goal of mine for awhile.”
Smith’s wins in the shot and discus led the Bull Dogs to a runner-up team finish. Host and 12th-ranked Bloomington North outscored No. 6 Columbus North 156-98 to win the boys team title, and the 16th-ranked Bloomington North girls outscored the runner-up and No. 13 Bull Dogs 122-110 for the crown.
Each of Smith’s first five throws were over 65 feet. He fouled on another 69-foot-plus final throw.
“I dropped about eight or nine pounds in the past two-week period, and that helped quite a bit with speed,” Smith said. “Just speed-wise, I could tell it’s affecting it. I’m still aiming for 70, so I’m not really happy with it, but it’s definitely good to keep inching up on it.”
In the discus, Smith threw 167-9, a personal-best by about 14 feet, despite a strong crosswind.
“I just slowed it down at the front,” Smith said. “I had a real bad issue with sky-balling it, so I slowed it down at the front and just really hammered home throwing low. It got me the extra feet I usually lose when it’s in the air. The wind was helping out quite a bit.”
Meanwhile, Columbus North’s boys and girls dominated the distance events. Junior Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff set a meet record in the 800 meters with a 1-minute, 53.91-second clocking.
Matt Newell won the 1,600 in 4:22.36, and Austin Pulkowski took the 3,200 in 9:37.99. Kellen Hottell, Clayton Guthrie, Newell and Kilbarger-Stumpff captured the 4×800 relay in 7:56.83.
Also for the Bull Dogs, J. J. Montgomery finished second in the shot (51-10 1/2). David Sandusky took fourth in the discus (136-7), Marquis Mixon was fourth in the 100 (11.27) and Evan Carr came in fourth in the 1,600 (4:27.96).
“Our throwers did an amazing job,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “Tucker and J.J. threw great, and so did David. David had to battle the wind as a left-handed discus thrower, which was really tough tonight. Then on the distance side, our distance boys are what they are. They’re tough, and they scored a lot of points. I’m really proud of our boys team.”
On the girls side, senior Mackenzie Barnett was a double winner. She took the 1,600 (5:08.80) and 3,200 (11:07.57).
Aric Tong, Julie Klaus, Brianna Newell and Barnett won the 4×800 relay in 9:30.86.
“I thought our team did a really solid job today, and it was fun to be able to compete in three events,” Barnett said. “I’ve never done the 3,200 and the 1,600 in the same time, so I really enjoyed it. I was satisfied with it.”
Lily Baker won the 800 (2:19.72). Emily Herndon took the shot (42-8) and finished second in the discus (120-11).
“Mackenzie Barnett ran incredible,” Sluder said. “Emily Herndon did a fantastic job, and our sprinters, La’monica Smith scored in both sprints, and she wasn’t seeded to score, so I was really happy with that.”
La’monica Smith finished third in the 100 (12.74) and 200 (27.17), and Brianna Newell took third in the 1,600 (5:16.01) and 800 (2:21.64) and Kathrine Rumsey was third in the 3,200 (11:20.74). Fourth-place finishers were Sasha Goodlow in the high jump (4-10), Shae Scruggs in the shot (38-1) and Moana Steele in the discus (104-7).
“On the girls side, we had some really good performances, but we didn’t get the job done tonight,” Sluder said. “We had a chance to win this meet, and we had a dropped baton and a false start and some no-heights, and we really gave away a fantastic opportunity tonight to win this conference meet. So we’ll probably go home a little disappointed on the girls side.”
