Columbus North’s Lydia Andrews competes in the long jump in a Unified track meet against Columbus East at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
The Republic file photo
After a couple of rainouts, the Columbus East and Columbus North Unified track and field teams finally are set to begin their seasons on Monday in a dual meet at East.
The Bull Dogs got started with a meet against Center Grove and Franklin on Wednesday, but that was called because of rain about halfway through. They also had a home meet against Seymour rained out.
“It’s been pretty difficult,” North coach Elizabeth Dwyer said after Wednesday’s partial-meet. “We’ve been more upset that we didn’t get to do a meet last week, and we really were hoping that the weather was going to turn around for us.”
In that meet, senior Gavin Bayne (13 feet, 8 3/4 inches) and junior Noah Marsh (13-11) went 1-2 in the long jump. Junior Luke Spurgeon took second in the 100 meters (12.8 seconds) and third in the shot put (27- 3/4), and Marsh was fourth in the 100 (13.09).
Senior Lydia Andrews and sophomore Noah Palmer also are among the top athletes for North, which practices for an hour after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.
“We have a lot of talent,” Dwyer said. “I really like this team. We all work together.”
Meanwhile, the Olympians were rained out of a meet at Franklin Central. They’ve been practicing Monday through Thursday for a few weeks now.
“They’ve been training hard,” East coach Peggy Myers said. “This has been our best year, as far as their dedication to training and really giving it their all. What we have are quality. It’s fewer than what we’ve had in the past, but it just means people will have more opportunities to compete.”
Columbus East’s Jerik Hamilton competes in the long jump in a Unified track meet against Columbus North at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Senior Kenzie Bailey in the long jump, shot put and 100; juniors Addison Emery in the 100 and shot and Jerik Hamilton in the shot and 4×100 relay and senior Giselle Landero Gonzalez in the 400 are among the Olympians’ top athletes.
“Kenzie Bailey is very skilled at both field events and the 100,” Myers said. “We look for her to excel, especially in the 100. We have some newcomers that are really doing great. We have a young team.
“We want to win (Hoosier Hills) conference,” she added. “I think a big thing with all of our athletes is that they are all striving very hard to improve individually, and that will make our team improve tenfold.”
Unified track and field consists of five events — the long jump, shot put, 100, 400 and 4×100 relay. A 4×200 relay has been added this year, but will not be scored.
Monday’s meet will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be Young Champions and Future Unified Athletes Night. Future Unified athletes from Northside and Central middle schools and those in social skills and peer support groups have been invited to attend.
“We’re very excited about that,” Myers said. “The Young Champions is a great program.”
