Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Columbus East and Columbus North boys clear the first hurdle in the 110-meter hurdles Thursday at Columbus North High School.
The Columbus East girls track team came into Columbus North Thursday hoping to knock off the Bull Dogs for the first time in several years.
The Olympians won nine events to the Bull Dogs’ seven, but North had a little more depth and was able to pull out a 76-56 victory.
“We told them on Tuesday after the Bloomington North meet that it was going to be a close meet,” East girls coach Glen Brown said. “We just had to come and do the best we could and compete, and we did. We competed with them. North is a good team. They have really good runners, but our girls came up and showed that they’re pretty good, too.”
The Bull Dogs competed without top boys distance runners Will Russell and Mateo Mendez and top girls distance runners Julia Kiesler, Lily Baker and Julie Klaus, all of which are running in tonight’s Carmel Distance Showcase. In their place Kellen Hottell and Kyleigh Wolf came through with double wins in distance events.
Wolf won the girls 1,600 meters (5 minutes, 49.59 seconds) and 3,200 (12:34.83).
“I think it was very nice,” Wolf said. “It was enjoyable to get out there and race a couple of races that I haven’t been able to race yet this season, and it was enjoyable to bring my teammates along with me.”
North’s Moana Steele won the shot put (39 feet, 3 1/2 inches) and discus (110-8). Sierra Newell took the pole vault (9-0), and Lana Wisler captured the 800 (2:32.35). The Bull Dogs also won the 4×800 relay (10:50.00).
“We were missing some people due to injury and unexpected sickness,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “But we came through. We fought. We battled and came back after a few disappointments. East has a really good girls team, so we’re really excited to come out with that win.”
Emma Gray won the 100 hurdles (17.31) and 300 hurdles (50.70), and Taylor Scott took the 100 (13.43) and 200 (28.12) to lead the Olympians. Jenna Guse won the high jump (4-10), Kira VanValkenburg took the long jump (14-10 3/4) and Sophie Glick won the 400 (1:04.63). East also took the 4×100 (51.73) and 4×400 (4:16.70) relays.
Hottell won the 1,600 (4:43.90) and 800 (2:05.24) to lead the Bull Dog boys to a 105-27 win.
“It’s just an awesome atmosphere,” Hottell said. “I really enjoy racing with these guys. With some of the guys racing tomorrow, I just really had to step up and enjoy what I was doing and put it all out there. I was just trying to get a strong time in and boost confidence going into Saturday’s meet (at Pike).”
Other individual winners for North were Liam Phillips in the pole vault (13-6), Jason Knapp in the high jump (5-10), Cole Finney in the long jump (19-0), Drew Schiefer in the shot put (47-6), Liam Milne in the 110 hurdles (16.38), Foster Long in the 400 (53.78), Nathan Sparks in the 200 (23.83) and Jonny Klaus in the 3,200 (10:20.00). The Bull Dogs swept the 4×800 (9:32.68), 4×100 (44.36) and 4×400 (3:32.60) relays.
“The guys ran fantastic,” Sluder said. “We had a lot of great performances. In all phases, we did well. Our hurdlers ran outstanding. Our sprints ran outstanding on the boys side. Distance scored every point they could. I’m just really impressed with our guys team.”
The Olympians’ Jacob Guse won the discus (146-6), Ethan Duncan took the 100 (11.66) and Henrique Carvalho captured the 300 hurdles (41.96).
“We got quite a few PRs from some new guys,” East boys coach Jerone Wood said. “We’re just looking at keeping advancing and doing well as the year goes on.”
