BLOOMINGTON — A strong offseason of work put Adrienne Salemme in position to make a big showing this track and field season.
Saturday morning, the Columbus North junior got that season off to a good start by tying fourth in the girls pole vault in the big-school division of the Hoosier State Relays, Indiana’s unofficial state indoor track and field meet at IU’s Gladstein Fieldhouse.
“I vaulted all summer with a club, Pole Vault Elite, and then transferring back over to (North pole vault coach Dale) Stelting, it was an easy transfer, and that has helped a lot,” Salemme said.
Salemme cleared 11 feet, a personal-best by 6 inches. She made 10-0, 10-6, 10-9 and 11-0 all on her first attempts before missing her allotted three tries at 11-3.
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“I was super excited about it,” Salemme said. “It was a long time coming to PR, so I was happy to get it, especially at that meet. I’m really looking forward to the outdoor season now, seeing if I can get 11-6 or better.”
Jennings County senior Kayla Truesdell was the top seed in the girls shot put heading into the Hoosier State Relays. Truesdell, who has committed to throw at Miami (Ohio), did not have the finish that she wanted, but still finished third with a throw of 40-6.
Truesdell mentioned one of her goals this season was to break her own school records in the discus and shot. She said that she is now ready to start the outdoor track season.
“It’s more or a less chaotic environment now,” Truesdell said. “It will be much quieter.”
North freshman Tucker Smith finished sixth in the boys shot with a throw of 52-11.
Smith has a personal best of 56 feet, and he hopes to get to 57 feet this year. He says that the strong competition doesn’t make him nervous at all.
“It’s already familiar with me battling against guys like this and going up against people my size,” Smith said.
North sophomore Preston Terrell finished 10th in the boys high jump at 6-0. Bull Dog freshman Kylah Lawson took 14th in the girls long jump with a leap of 16-2 1/2.
In the small school division, Brown County senior Marino Dolph finished 23rd in the 3,200 meters in 10 minutes, 39.52 seconds. Sophomore Aidan Burt and seniors Dolph, Jackson McPheeters and Jason Stratton took 24th in the 4×400 relay in 3:56.52.
Hauser junior John Bragg no-heighted in the boys high jump.
Brown County freshman Christy Sebastian finished 23rd in the girls 60 meters in 8.43.
