After Columbus East came within two spots of qualifying for state in the 4×400 relay in 2019, Crase Bergman, Malachi Parks and Sean Ryan were hoping to get the Olympians there in that event last year.
The 2020 season never came to fruition because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with Bergman, Parks and Ryan returning for another year, that goal carried over to this season.
Last week the three seniors, along with sophomore Ethan Duncan qualified for state not only in the 4×400 relay, but in the 4×100 relay, as well. They will compete in the Boys Track and Field State Finals Friday at Ben Davis.
“That was our goal,” Ryan said. “We had trained to make it in both relays the whole year, so we just had to put in the work and get there. That’s what it came down to.”
With the top three at the regional qualifying for state, East just missed out on an automatic qualifying berth with a fourth-place finish in the 4×100 relay in 42.96 seconds. They came back with a third in the 4×400 in 3:26.94.
“It just goes to show that all the hard work has paid off,” Parks said. “We put in a lot of work our senior year to get there since we didn’t have a season last year.”
Shortly after all the regional meets were completed, the Olympians realized they had made it in the 4×100 as one of the three callbacks from around the state.
“It’s something that we thought we had potential in as year was going on,” East coach Scott Pherson said. “We’ve improved our time every single meet. We just have a unique blend of runners that can be in both relays, but also their strengths and how they can play on each other is a really awesome dynamic.”
The running order is different for the two relays. Parks leads off the 4×100, followed by Ryan, Bergman and Duncan. Ryan leads off the 4×400, followed by Bergman, Duncan and Parks.
Making it to state in the two relays was welcoming to Bergman, who has the state’s best leap in the long jump this season, but fouled on all three of his attempts in the sectional.
“It’s very nice,” Bergman said. “My coaches really pushed me throughout the season. They wanted to get as many people to state as we could and pack that bus up. It was really exciting to hear that we got called up for that 4×100.”
Despite being a callback, the Olympians actually are seeded 10th in the 4×100. The top nine earn spots on the medals stand.
“We’ve been putting in the hard work all season,” Duncan said. “We’ve been trying to peak toward state. That’s what our goal is to do, and I think we’re going to do it.”
East is seeded 16th in the 4×400. The goal, as with the 4×100, is to medal with a top-nine finish.
“That’s been our goal the whole year,” Pherson said. “We want to get on the podium for both. We just have to get (the baton) around and do what we do.”
“I feel pretty confident,” Parks added. “I know all of us perform well under pressure, being the underdog. So I think we’re going to go out there and do what we do and get on the podium.”
Parks, who quarterbacked the Olympians to a Hoosier Hills Conference football title, is headed to Hanover to play football. Ryan will attend Purdue as a student.
Bergman still is undecided on his destination while weighing offers for football and track.
“Preparation this week has been great,” Bergman said. “Hydration has been key, and we’ve just been focused on Friday.”
Friday’s meet begins at 3 p.m. The 4×100 relay will be at around 6:45 p.m., and the 4×400 relay will be the final event at around 8:30 p.m.
“We just want to go up there and show out and see what we can do,” Ryan said. “I think we have a good shot.”
Boys and Girls Track and Field State Finals
When: 3 p.m. Friday (boys) and 3 p.m. Saturday (girls)
Where: Ben Davis High School, 1200 N. Girls School Rd., Indianapolis
Admission: $12 each day. All tickets will be digital through mobile phones. Boys tickets may be purchased through GoFan.co using the following link: https://gofan.co/app/events/315775?schoolId=IHSAA and girls tickets may be purchased through GoFan.co at https://gofan.co/app/events/315777?schoolId=IHSAA
Fans can present their phone purchase at the gate for admission.
