It was a solid field day for the Columbus East boys and girls track teams against Bloomington North on Tuesday, but the Cougars took most of the points on the track.
The East boys swept the high jump and also won the long jump and shot put in the 96-36 loss. The girls won the pole vault, high jump and long jump in their 97-35 defeat.
Luke Poindexter led the high jumpers with a 5-foot-10 jump in front of second-place teammate Zarrien Johnson-Bey (5-8) and third-place Olympian Will Bruin (5-6). Crase Bergman’s 20-1/2 leap was good enough take the long jump, followed by Mark McDonald’s 18-11 second-place performance.
Zach Clark set a personal record to win the shot put with a 49-2 1/2 throw. Harrison McNeely also contributed to the throws with a second-place finish in the discus (128-10).
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“That was a really good toss for him,” East boys coach Scott Pherson said of Clark. “As far as throwers go, he’s been leading it all year … Our throwers have been carrying us (this season).”
Pherson also was impressed with his 4×100-meter relay team that had been struggling heading into Tuesday, he said. Lance Griewe, Mark McDonald, Cody Horner and Jonhnson-Bey clocked a 45.3-second finish to win the only racing event for East.
Horner also placed second in the 100 in 11.2, while Owen Rupp earned another second place by running 43.1 in the 300 hurdles. Jared Baker ran 17.6 in the 100 hurdles to place third.
“Obviously, (we didn’t do) as well as we wanted to,” Pherson said. “We were able to get some points here or there. All 100 percent credit to a school that takes two buses to get here. They’ve got an incredible track program and a lot of kids, which is pretty good for them. We were able to compete in some things. I think we did well in our field stuff, and we were able to sneak in some sprints.”
The Olympian girls took the top two places in the long jump with Adi Minor jumping 15-3 1/2 and Lynna Hendershot finishing behind her at 13-9 1/2. Elena Stoughton came through with a 4-10 high jump to take first, while McKenna Downey won the pole vault with an 8-6 leap.
Whitney Poe placed third in the high jump at 4-8, and Caitlyn Lucas earned a second-place finish by throwing the discus 97-7.
“Our high jumpers did well, our long jumpers did well and our pole vaulters did really well,” East girls coach Glen Brown said. “… We’ve still got to get our throwers. Our throwers are doing well. Lucas improved, but the girl from Bloomington North who won, Elaina Wells, has been to state three times and is probably going back. You have a freshman throwing against her.”
Emily Stiles had East’s only first-place finish on the track with a 12.4 time in the 100 hurdles. She also placed second in the 300 hurdles with a 51.0 finish.
Sydney Wilson placed second in the 100 (12.7) and third in the 200 (27.8). Olivia Williams’ 18.5 time in the 100 hurdles was good enough for third.
“Having this young team, we’re giving good effort,” Brown said. “It’s all going to catch up with us eventually, and we’re going to have some really good times and things like that. I also have to say that Syndey Wilson had a really good time. That was the first time she was in the 12s in the 100. That’s a great effort for her.”
