Columbus North’s Carys Glyn-Jones crosses the finish line just ahead of Whiteland’s Tori Jackson and Center Grove’s Hallie Mimbela in the 800 meters in Tuesday’s Shelbyville Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
SHELBYVILLE — Carys Glyn-Jones thought she had missed out on an opportunity to advance to state in the 1,600 meters, so she wanted to make the most of her chance in the 800 in Tuesday’s Shelbyville Regional.
The Columbus North junior left nothing to chance. She ran 2 minutes, 14.98 seconds to win the 800 and secure a spot in the May 31 Girls Track and Field State Finals.
“I will be honest, I was a little nervous,” Glyn-Jones said. “But I think it was good. It’s good to be kept on your toes. I was reminded why I really want this. It just really encouraged me to push even more.”
As it turned out, Glyn-Jones also ended up making it in the 1,600. Normally, only the top three in each event qualify, and she finished fourth. But Indian Creek’s Libby Dowty, who came back to win the 3,200, scratched out of the 1,600 for state, opening a spot in that event for Glyn-Jones.
“I was feeling definitely very tired from the 1,600, and I think I could have pushed more, and I had more to give,” Glyn-Jones said. “So was really excited to have another race after where I could really push it and show what I could do.”
Even if Dowty would not have scratched, Glyn-Jones’ 1,600 time of 5:04.80 would have earned her one of the three call-back spots to the state meet. The top four in the 1,600 broke the regional record that former Bull Dog Mackenzie Barnett set in 2021.
“Considering the weather, I’m very happy with the time,” Glyn-Jones said.
Glyn-Jones was the only local athlete to qualify for state.
“Obviously, Carys had a great night,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “Now, we have her moving on, so that makes you feel a little better to get somebody to the state meet every year.”
Freshman Avery Johnson came close, finishing fifth in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 1 inch. She narrowly missed her third attempt at 5-2, a mark that may have put her in the mix for a call-back spot.
“I’m proud of myself,” Johnson said. “I think if I keep it up throughout my years of high school, hopefully, I’ll do better and better.”
The Bull Dogs had a little misfortune on a couple of relays. In the opening 4×800 relay, third runner Maggie Russell had run a 1:03.97 first 400 to close the gap on the third-place team. But Russell began cramping in the final 100 meters, and although she made it to the exchange zone, North eventually finished sixth in 10:31.46.
The Bull Dogs’ 4×100 relay team also appeared to have finished sixth, but were disqualified for a baton pass out of the exchange zone. North finished 11th in the 4×400 relay in 4:14.94.
Also scoring for the Bull Dogs were Emerson Chambers with a seventh-place finish in the 100 hurdles (15.38) and Macy Eaton with an eighth in the 3,200 (12:14.26).
Kyleigh Wolf finished ninth in the 1,600 (5:42.39), and Lily Miller (48.95) and Natalie Rohm (49.91) took ninth and 12th in the 300 hurdles. Sierra Newell tied for 12th in the pole vault (9-0), Tristan Works finished 13th in the 800 (2:31.71) and Ava Collier was 14th in the 400 (1:05.45).
“Really, our team ran well tonight,” Sluder said. “We scored some points in several events. Our freshmen and sophomores had a great night. Our 4×100 ran well, but got out of the zone. Avery Johnson in the high jump, and our hurdlers ran well. Our 4×800 really was running well, and Maggie Russell really gave it her all. She went down, and that happens sometimes when you push your body to the limit. She went really hard for it, and I’m really proud of her. Macy in the 3,200 scored for us. So we had a good night. It was really fun to watch a big, young group of girls come here and run well and score points. I’m really proud of them.”
North finished 10th in the team standings with 25 points.
Columbus East scored two points on a seventh-place finish from Sophie Glick, Claire Behnke, Carsyn Schlehuser and Gabbie Meier in the 4×100 relay (50.83). Glick, Meier, Schlehuser and Jenna Guse took ninth in the 4×400 relay (4:13.02).
The other local entrant, South Decatur’s Madisyn Danforth, fouled on all three of her attempts in the long jump. She had been seeded fourth coming into the meet based on her sectional effort.
