It was a big day for the Columbus North throwers and distance runners and a somewhat heartbreaking day for one Columbus East senior.
The fifth-ranked Bull Dogs went 1-2 in both the shot put and discus, and Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff won the 1,600 and 800 meters and anchored the winning 4×800 relay team to lead North to a runner-up team finish in its own sectional. No. 2 Center Grove won the title with 194 points to 138 for the Bull Dogs.
“I thought we had a good night,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “It maybe wasn’t our best night, but it was a strong night for us.”
Kilbarger-Stumpff outkicked Whiteland standout Will Jefferson to win the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 13.59 seconds. Kilbarger-Stumpff came back later to take the 800 in 1:57.10.
Clayton Guthrie, who finished fourth in the 800 in 1:59.27, likely will earn a callback. The top three in each event automatically qualify for Thursday’s Warren Central Regional, and beyond that, the next-best four performances in each event from the four feeder sectionals to that regional earn callbacks.
“I had a couple plans going in, and we executed it,” Kilbarger-Stumpff said. “We got Clayton through in the 800, which was perfect. That was kind of my whole job — win and then get Clayton through. Sub-2 was a big day for him. In the (1,600), I was going to try to experiment with different paces, but then Will J took it, and I just decided to follow him.”
North’s Kellen Hottell, Will Russell, Guthrie and Kilbarger-Stumpff won the 4×800 relay in 8:22.61.
Tucker Smith won the shot put with a throw of 68 feet, 5 1/2 inches, while J.J. Montgomery took second at 52-5. Sandusky outthrew Smith 160-1 to 155-10 to win the discus.
“I’ve just been focusing on my form,” Sandusky said. “I’ve been working with a coach that’s been helping me get my form together. I just kind of brought it together and threw my PR out there. This is only my second time in the sectional, and it feels good to win.”
Also for the Bull Dogs, Liam Phillips finished second in the pole vault (11-6), and Austin Pulkowski took second in the 3,200 (9:37.55). Matt Newell was third in the 1,600 (4:28.81).
“We ran as well on the track as I thought we could have,” Sluder said. “We had a couple down spots. I think some kids didn’t handle the heat as well, but our distance ran well again. Our throws were phenomenal. David Sandusky threw really well in the discus, and Tucker threw right near his best, and J.J did, as well. Reese had a great night. Matthew Newell ran sick and got some important for us, and then we had some guys like Liam Phillips who was runner-up in the pole vault, which was not expected. We jumped well.”
Meanwhile, East’s Crase Bergman, who came in with the best long jump in the state by nearly a foot, fouled on all three of his attempts in the trials.
“It’s tough,” East coach Scott Pherson said. “But he’s moving on in some other events. He’ll probably get called up in the 200, as well. He’s done great for us all year, and he’s going to keep doing great.”
Bergman teamed with Malachi Parks, Sean Ryan and Ethan Duncan to finish second in both the 4×100 relay (43.24) and 4×400 relay (3:27.29). Also for the Olympians, Anthony Lloyd (6-0) and Elliot Koopman (5-10) took second and third in the high jump, and Charlie Russell was third in the 110 hurdles (16.30).
East finished fourth as a team with 58 points.
“We’re not going to be taking a busload of kids, but we have some kids going to regional, and that was our goal,” Pherson said. “That’s pretty cool. The relays did what we thought we could do. We extended the season for these kids that lost a season last year, so I’m just happy that everybody was out here to go out and have an awesome meet.”
Hauser finished ninth with five points. Aleck Lopez placed sixth in the 400 in 53.07.
