Kokomo Tribune - Tuesday, March 30, 2010

BOYS TRACK - Western 99, Taylor 33

Western won 13 of the 15 events in the season opener for both teams.

Quadruple winner Garrett Welker, triple winner Austin Young and double winners Indy Mathew, Ben Bradshaw, Andrew Rodgers and Lucas Luckey led the Panthers.

Welker was tops in the 100-meter dash (:11.7), 200 dash (:24.1) and pole vault (12-0). Young took first in the 1,600 run (4:43) and 3,200 run (10:09).

"Welker is new to the school. He transferred in from Rensselaer and for him tefstep in and win was huge," Western coach Marvin Boswell said. "Young ran well in both the 1,600 and 3,200."

Also for Western, Mathew won the long jump with a leap of 18-11 1/2, Rodgers won the 400 dash (:55), Bradshaw led the way in the 800 run (2:08), Trevor Buckalew was tops in the shot put (47-9 1/2 and Aaron VanAuken won the high jump (6-0).

"Mathew has stepped his game up in the long jump," Boswell said, adding that Mathew was also in the race of the night in the 300 hurdles. "[Taylor's Austen] Conwell and Mathew were neck and neck to the last hurdle, but Mathew tripped and fell. Conwell went on to win."

Conwell swept the hurdles events, winning the 100 high hurdles in :15.1 and the 300 hurdles in :39.3.

Western swept the relays. Luckey, Rodgers, Welker and Jacob Hopkins teamed to win the 1,600 relay (3:45). James Davis, Mathew, Hudson Feath-erstone and Luckey won the 400 relay (:47.1). And Chris Love, Young, Kyle Starich and Bradshaw won the 3,200 relay (9:06).

WESTERN 111, TAYLOR 20

Western won all 15 events in the season opener for both teams.

Quadruple winner Natylee Nation led the way for Western. Jennifer Dale was a triple winner and Bre Nicholas, Alleca Kerker, Allison Everetts, Corianne Myer, Casey Herr, Erin Weber and Taylor Young were all double winners.

Nation won the high jump (4-10), 100 hurdles (:19.1) and 300 hurdles (:53.4). Dale was tops in the long jump (14-11) and 200 dash (:28.1), and Nicholas swept the 1,600 run (6:23) and 3,200 run (14:05).

"I thought that was really, really special for Nation in winning four events," Western coach Marvin Boswell said. "Dale had good [showings] in long jump and 200 dash and she also had good leadership."

Western also received winning performances from Breanna Cable (shot put, 32-0), Kerker (100 dash, :13.5), Everetts (400 dash, 1:03), Myer (800 dash, 2:41) and Herr (pole vault, 8-0).

In the relays, Herr, Nation, Young and Kerker combined to win the 4-by-100 (:55.7); Gina Jakubowicz, Weber, Krissy Durr and Myer won the 4-by-800 (11:15); and Dale, Weber, Young and Everetts won the 4-by-400 (4:54).