Kokomo Tribune - Tuesday, April 22, 2008

BOYS TRACK - Western 103, Peru 29

The home-standing Panthers (5-0) won 14 of 16 events, including two personal-bests in pole vault, where Dean Shepherd won with a jump of 14 feet, 6 inches and Chris Harter was second at 14-1.

“We had some really good performances, probably the most outstanding was the pole vault,” said Western coach Marvin Boswell. “Dean was able to jump a personal-best in the wind, and right behind him was Chris. They just focused in on what needed to be done and had excellent results.”

Indy Mathew won three individual events, the 110-meter high hurdles (17.3), the 300 intermediate hurdles (44.4) and the long jump (19-1 1/2). He also teamed with Jake Askren, Trent Lawlyes and Jerel Hall to win the 4x100 relay in 45.0 seconds.

Hall won the 100 (11.7) and 200 (23.7) meters and ran with Zac Martinez, Lucas Luckey and Askren to capture the 4x400 relay in 3:43. Luckey won the 400 meters in 54.7 seconds and Martinez partnered with Cody Harmon, John Capps and Chris Love to win the 4x800 relay in 8:56.

Austin Young was a double winner, capturing the 1,600 (4:39) and 3,200 (10:48) meters. Trevor Buckalew doubled his fun, winning shot put (42-9) and discus (130-11).

GIRLS TRACK - Western 98, Peru 33

The Panthers won all three relays to distance themselves from the Tigers.

Cara Earlywine won the 100-meter dash in 13.6 seconds and served on two winning relays. She helped Danae Rittmann, Taylor Young and Alleca Kerker win the 4x100 relay in 54.4 seconds and Kim Grider, Allison Everetts and Young win the 4x400 in 4:30.5.

Jenn Elliott won the 1,600 (6:01) and 3,200 (13:11) meters and teamed with Corianne Myer, Lacey Myer and Kayla Gaskins to capture the 4x800 relay in 11:05.

Gaskins won the 800-meter run in 2:44 and Rittmann, in the short time she has been long jumping, captured the event at 16 feet, 1 3/4 inches.

“What I thought was a phenomenal effort was Danae,” Boswell said. “This is just the third meet she has long jumped and now she’s out to 16 feet.”

Nikki McCracken won pole vault (9-6) and tied Peru’s Tiffany Raber for first place in the 100-meter hurdles (17.1). Taylor Ruch won the 300 hurdles (54.4) for Western and Caily Tanner (33-8) and Kristin Tiedeman (90-6) took the shot put and discus, respectively.