Jennings County is in only its second year with a Unified track and field team, but already, the Panthers have become a formidable program.
Wednesday night, the Panthers racked up 195 points to win a quad meet at Columbus North. The host Bull Dogs finished second with 178, followed by Seymour with 127 and Columbus East with 77.
"The student body is buying in and supporting the kids," Jennings coach Roxanne Norton said. "It’s an overwhelming feeling. It’s really a humbling feeling with the kids and everything because a lot of these things that you incorporate into the work ethic, not only in sports, but with jobs and teamwork and rooting for one another."
The Panthers had several wins in their respective flights and heats on Wednesday. Michael Ferguson won Flight 3 of the long jump (11 feet, 9 inches), and Peyton Seeley took Flight 3 of the shot put (24-6).
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In the running events, Brandon Harris won Heat 2 of the 100 meters (13.1 seconds), and Brandon Lee took Heat 3 of the 100 (12.8). Joey Moran captured Heat 2 of the 400 (1:00.4), and Rusty Vaughn won Heat 3 of the 400 (1:05.2). Jennings also took the boys 4×100 relay (55.3).
"I think they did awesome," Norton said. "We just came out here and had a lot of fun and had a lot of kids participate. That was our main goal, and however we finished, that was just part of it."
North also had several flight and heat winners. Zach Friend led the Bull Dogs with victories in Flight 1 of the long jump (17-1) and Heat 1 of the 100 (11.5).
Other first-place finishers for North were Will King in Flight 2 of the long jump (16-2), Noah Algee in Flight 1 of the shot (43-7 1/2), Matt Ruehman in Flight 2 of the shot (42-2) and Max Wilson in Heat 1 of the 400 (58.9). The Bull Dogs also won the girls 4×100 relay.
"It was just a lot of fun bringing four local teams together," North coach Nathan VanDeventer said. "Most of these kids know each other, so it was really cool having 150 to 200 kids out here. The rain didn’t stop anyone from having a good time. All the kids enjoyed it, and it was really fun being out here tonight."
The top finish for the Olympians was a third from Matt Romig in Flight 1 of the shot (42-0).
"I think the kids all did great," East coach Peggy Myers said. "We had a great run from Meredith Bean and Stella Arnholt and Matthew Wilson, and Douglas Jones in the 800 did great. Our distance runners are really showing their stuff. We’re really excited to have kids running in that."
The Olympians and Panthers will compete in the Hoosier Hills Conference meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at East. The Bull Dogs will be in the Conference Indiana meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at Bloomington North.
