Kokomo Tribune - Friday, April 24, 2009

BOYS TRACK - Western 87, Cass 45

The Panthers faced their second Mid-Indiana Conference foe in as many nights and never lost a step Thursday in taking 12 of the 16 events over the Kings.

Lucas Luckey, Jake Askren, Kody Harmon, John Capps, Chris Harter and Bart Shepherd were double winners for Western. Luckey won in the 100-meter dash (12.2), Askren was tops in the 200 dash (23.8), Harmon took first in the 1,600 (4:55), Capps won the 3,200 (11:33), Harter was first in pole vault (130) and Shepherd won discus {139-9).

Capps and Harmon teamed with Austin Young and Chris Love in winning the 4x800 relay (9:30), and Askren, Shepherd, Harter and Luckey all joined together in winning the 4x100 relay (46.3).

Other winners for Western were Aaron Van AuKen (110 hurdles, 17.2), Indy Mathew (300 hurdles, 43.0), Jerel Hall (400 meters, 53.0) and Zac Martinez (800 run, 2:08).

Western coach Marvin Boswell took a different approach to the meet.

"We spread some of the kids out to run different events," he said. "We scored a lot of second- and third-place finishes, and I really thought our kids came through. We had a meet Wednesday, Thursday, and one [tonight]."

Derrick Worden was a double winner for Cass. Worden won high jump (6-1) and he teamed with Matt Eckelbarger, Jared Crum and Jeff Plank to win the 4x400 relay (3:48). The Kings' Josh Knutson won the long jump (18-6), and Justin Hicks took first in the shot put (43-5.5).

"We did pretty well in field events," said Cass coach Don Watkins on his team taking three of the five field events. "It was a personal best for Worden in the high jump. We also went first, second in the high jump, long jump and shot put. Field event guys are doing pretty well, but we are very thin in the distance events, so we are working on some guys!'

GIRLS TRACK - Western 76, Cass 56

The Panthers' depth put them over the top against the Kings as both teams took home eight blue ribbons.

"It was the team depth that allowed us to win there," Western coach Marvin Boswell said. "We rested some of the girls in some events, and we ran some girls in different events to get ready for the relays [tonight]."

Taylor Ruch, Jenn Elliott and Kayla Gaskins,were double winners for the Panthers. Ruch won in the 100-meter hurdles (19.0) and 300 hurdles (54.2). Elliott was tops in the 1,600 run (5:57), and Gaskins took first in the 800 (2:44). Gaskins and Elliott teamed with Lacey Myer and Corianne Myer to win the 4x800 relay (11:15).

Allison Everetts and Caily Tanner rounded out Western individual wins. Everetts won pole vault (8-6), and Tanner was tops in discus (101 -2). The Panthers' 4x100 relay team of Denae Rittmann, Taylor Young, Nikki McCracken and Alleca. Kerker crossed the finish line first in 53.3 seconds.

"I thought Ruch ran well in the hurdle race," Boswell added. "She also placed third in the high jump (4-8). It was pretty good performance by her. Tanner did well, and it was her first time that she has been over 100 feet. Elliott ran a good time Thursday in the 1,600."