Kokomo Tribune - Saturday, April 25, 2009

Western won the co-ed relays, which paired two boys and two girls from each school in each event. Western finished first with 76 points, followed by Indian Creek (48), Shelbyville (42) and Trinity Lutheran (2). The Panthers won 10 of the 14 events.

Western won three of the field events. Buckalew, Buckalew, Russell Mueller, Caily Tanner and Kristin Tiedemann won the shot put (152.7). Bart Shepherd, Buckalew, Tiedemann and Tanner won the discus (454-.5). And Dean Shepherd, Chris Harter, Nikki McCraken and Allison Everetts won the pole vault (45-6). McCracken's individual vault of 10-6 broke her previous school record by 2.25 inches.

On the track, Western won seven relay events. Jake Askren, Cara Earlywine, Jerel Hall and Alleca Kerker won the 400 relay (46.88). Austin Young, Kody Harmon, Ashley Gaskins and Bre Nicholas won the 6,400 run (22:09). Taylor Ruch, Harter, McCracken and Indy Mathew won the shuttle hurdle relay (1: 12.95). Lacey Myer, Chris Love, Corianne Myer and Zac Martinez won the 3,200 relay (9:49.6). Kayla Gaskins, Daltton Head, Jenn Elliott and Austin Young won the distance medley relay (13:07.3). Danae Rittmann, Trent Lawlyes, Earlywine and Hall won the sprint medley relay (1:48.25). And Tanner, Mueller, Kiley Camp and Bart Shepherd won the throwers' 800 relay (1:57.8).

"It was just a fun time for our kids to pool the two teams together, come out and run some races that they've not run before and cheer on each other," Western coach Marvin Boswell said.