Panthers retain girls county crown
Thursday, May 03, 2007

By CHRIS GARNER

— RUSSIAVILLE — Western’s girls proved once again that depth rules the Howard County Girls Track and Field Meet by winning only two individual titles on the track but coming up with enough to capture their second championship in a row.

The Panthers racked up 95 points, topping runner-up Northwestern with 71, Taylor 67 and Eastern 11.

Sophomore Jenn Elliott was a double winner for Western. She claimed victories in the 1,600 (5:49.3) and the 3,200 (12:47). In addition to Elliott, classmate Kiley Camp was second in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600.

"The girls have done a great job of doing what we’ve asked them to do and to stay focused,” said Panthers coach Heather Yentez. "I was impressed with Kiley Camp because she had PRs in her races. She went out there and did a great job. She broke six minutes [in the 1,600] for the first time ever. Jenn and Kiley both did a good job.”

Lizi Chandler also garnered two wins for Western. She captured the discus and the shot put. Nikki McCracken won pole vault and Cara Earlywine returned to the track to anchor the winning 400-meter relay team.

"It really helped us in the sprints that Cara Earlywine was back and did a good job and Jennifer Dale did a nice job,” Yentez said.

Taylor senior Sharayah Head was the meet’s outstanding female athlete. She won the 100 (:12.98) and 200 (:27.26) dashes and helped both the 400 and 1,600 relay teams finish second.

Head runs with a soft cast on her wrist after breaking it in December while snowboarding.

"I have to have surgery in June,” she said. "It wasn’t very smart.” As for the next couple of weeks when the Mid-Indiana Conference and sectional meets roll around, "I hope to get faster, maybe get my time down to 12.7 by sectional,” Head said.

"Sharayah did great,” according to coach Alan Tunmer. "She knows now that in the 100, she has to dig deep that last 10 meters.”

The Titans also got winning performances by Lindsay Corbitt, who won both hurdles events, and Courtney Dunlap, who won the 800 meters. The county champion two years ago, Taylor just didn’t have the horses to run with the leaders.

One encouraging note for the Titans — senior Denae Beavers finally got back on the track following offseason knee surgery. She was fourth in the 200.

"We didn’t score in the mile or two mile, so Western did a good job there,” said Tunmer. "Overall I was pleased. We did well. We just have to improve here and there.”

The Tigers had a strong showing under first-year coach Mary Clem. Northwestern won two of the three relays, the 3,200 and the 1,600, and got wins from Lindsey Sewell in the 400 and Megan Schubert in the high jump.

Freshman Kara DeFabritis won the long jump at 15 feet, 7 inches, was second in the 100 and led off the winning 1,600 relay team as Sewell ran the anchor.

"We had some good times and broke a lot of personal records,” Clem said. "Kara DeFabritis was just outstanding again. It is just so exciting to see the girls improving each meet.

"The young girls are just phenomenal and I have great senior leadership. I’m very pleased. Every meet we run with Western we just keep getting closer and closer. We’re letting them know that we’re there.”