Kokomo Tribune - Sunday, April 27, 2008

It’s too bad there’s usually never a prize awarded in track and field for overall consistency for boys and girls combined. Western’s Panthers would have walked away with that Saturday during the 84th running of the Kokomo Relays at Walter Cross Field.

Western’s teams both finished second in the meet. The Marion Giants won the boys side with 105 points and Warsaw won the girls meet with 143. No matter, though. Marvin Boswell, who happens to coach both Panther squads, knows the real payoff should come in the coming weeks.

That’s when the Panthers will have their shots at Howard County (Wednesday), Mid-Indiana Conference (May 8) and sectional (May 13 & 15) titles.

“I was very pleased with the effort [Saturday]. It kind of tells us things we need to get ready for the sectionals,” Boswell said. “Now we can go to work and see if we can win some championships coming up.”

Western’s boys (96) edged defending champion Crown Point (94) for second place. Richmond (72) was fourth, Kokomo (68) fifth, Columbus East (41) sixth, Peru (34) seventh and Maconaquah (29) eighth.

The Panthers won three events, including the only area school — boys or girls — to win a relay as Alex Sigler, Kyle Young, Kyle Brown and Zac Martinez captured the middle distance relay in 5:57.37.

Western also picked up second-place finishes in the shuttle hurdles relay and the sprint medley relay. That foursome included Jerel Hall as well as Brown, Young and Sigler.

Brown was fifth in the 100-meter dash and third in long jump, Sigler was seventh in long jump and sixth in high jump, while Young was seventh in high jump.

“Those four kids [Brown, Hall, Young and Sigler] just have been outstanding for us,” said Boswell. “Kyle Young had an outstanding day. In the middle distance relay he ran a personal-best 2:05 for his 800 split. All those kids running in that 100, 200, 400, 800 range are all strong for us.”

The Panthers are also strong in the field, where Chris Harter (13 feet) and Dean Shepherd (12-0) finished 1-3 in pole vault. Bart Shepherd won discus with a toss of 130 feet, 7 inches.

Boswell said the team is looking forward to the return of Corey Scott in the distance events and for Martinez to be full strength soon.

“When we get a couple healthy bodies back, we’ll be in good position,” he said.

The Kats’ only win was Cliff Burns, who captured the shot with a put of 47 feet, 6 inches. Jerell Johnson was second at 47-21/4. Ian Holtson (2:31.57) was third in the 1000-yard run, as was Doran Slater (112-11) in the discus.

“I thought a lot of our young kids stepped up [Saturday] and I’m pretty proud of them,” said Kokomo coach Tom Byrnes. “We just feel like we have a group of younger kids that we’re going to keep coaching the heck out of and keep them positive.

“We’re going to be a good track team again, but it’s going to be a year or two down the road.”

Winner of the boys Walter Cross Award was Randy Hudi of Crown Point. He won the 100 meters and the long jump as well as leading off the winning sprint medley relay team.

Warsaw wins third straight

The Lady Tigers are starting to make this look too easy. Although not quite as impressive as last year’s 161-point total, Warsaw captured its third consecutive title and fourth overall, now the most by any girls team.

Western’s first-time presence in the girls event may have helped keep the Tigers from another massive total. In finishing second with 99 1/2 points, the Panthers won or finished second in eight of 14 events.

Kokomo came in third with 86 points, with Columbus East (69.5) fourth, Richmond (67) fifth, Marion (45) sixth and Peru (24) seventh.

“That was the No. 1 thing we wanted to see was some competition. We definitely got to see it here,” said Boswell. “I thought our girls did a good job overall. We had several times where they came through and did pretty well.”

Nikki McCracken led the Panthers with a meet-record jump of 9 feet in pole vault. She was second in the 100-meter hurdles and helped Megan Legan, Katie Tyler and Taylor Ruch finish second in the shuttle hurdles relay.

Western’s Ashley Gaskins finished second in the 3,200-meter run and Sable Staller was second in high jump while Lizi Chandler was third in shot put and fourth in discus.

Alleca Kerker placed second in the 100-meter dash for the Panthers, getting past defending Madison-Grant Sectional champ Shelby Ransbottom of Kokomo. That matchup was indicative of what is to come when Western tries to deny the Kats a third straight sectional title in 17 days.

“We got to see what [Kokomo’s] like and I’m sure they wanted to see what we were like,” Boswell said. “We got a pretty good idea of some things we need to do to be competitive. Hopefully when the time comes we’ll be right there vying for the championship.”

Kokomo coach Dave Barnes said the relays, which are touted as “the oldest continuous high school track meet in the United States,” are more about fun and not a forecast of the future.

“We’re just looking to improve,” he said. “When we get after the [North Central] Conference, when we get after the sectional, that’s when we want to run our best races.”

Ashley DeWitt had a record-setting day for Kokomo. She won the shot put with a meet-record distance of 38 feet, 8 inches and was second in discus. Rachel Pace was second to McCracken in pole vault, tying the old meet record of 8 feet, 6 inches, and also placed fifth in long jump.

“Ashley DeWitt just came to compete. I love the way she competes,” said Barnes. “This is a couple meets in a row now she’s won the event on her last throw. And every time has been a personal best. That’s outstanding.”

Richmond’s Janae Taylor was the girls Walter Cross Award winner. She captured firsts in the high jump, 100 meters and 400 relay and was third in the sprint medley relay.