Kokomo Tribune - Thursday, April 22, 2010

EASTERN 69, WESTERN 63

The Comets' 1,600 relay team of Hansen Martin, Dylan Buck, Mitch Padfield and Brett Buck-master took first in 3:27.5 — re­setting their own school record — to clinch victory at Western.

"It was basically a head-to-head from last Saturday [at Hamilton Heights] and we knew that they had an outstanding per­son [Aaron VanAuken] who was not with them last Saturday," Eastern coach Paul Nicholson said. "He was very liable to make a difference and we felt we had to have all three relays to win.

"We lost the one narrowly [the 400 relay] but it seemed as if in the second half of the meet, our people stepped up. [Blake] Don-son goes over and throws a personal best 46 1/2   feet [to win shot put]. Our 4x400, they knew they had to win the meet because it was one point head­ing into that. That just charged our guys because they knew they had to find it when [in other meets] they're just running against the clock."

Eastern also got individual wins from: Kelly Kingseed in the long jump (19-0); Donson in the discus (144-3) and also the shot put (46-1/2); Buckmaster in the 400 (51.3); Kevin Jackson in the pole vault (15-6); Martin in the 400 (1:59.2); and Gale Roark in the 200 (23.29).
Sam Clark, Adam Schaaf, Padfield and Martin won the 3,200 relay for Eastern (8:46.1).

On the Western side, VanAuken won the 110 hurdles with a personal-best time of 15.8, and won the high jump (6-1). Indy Matthew won the 300 hurdles (41.2). Austin Young won the 1,600 (4:34) and the 3,200 (10:09). Western won the 400 relay as Matthew, James Davis, Garrett Welker and Matt Riley finished in 45.1.

"I was very pleased with our hurdle group there," Western coach Marvin Boswell said, not­ing the work of VanAuken, Matthew, Jacob Hopkins and James Davis. "I'm very pleased with the way our hurdles are coming along. They're making great strides. Austin Young is continuing to set the standard there. He's been very consistent for us, turning in excellent times in the 1,600 and 3,200."

EASTERN 77, WESTERN 55

The Comets set five school records in their win over the Panthers.

Eastern's 1,600 relay team Emily Wilcox, Bethany Neeley, Brittany Neeley and Zoey Wolfe set a new school record and all area record with a time of 4 minutes, 11 seconds.

Brittany Neeley set two new school records. She won in the 400-meter run with a school record time of 60.39, and she set a new school record in the 200 dash with a winning time of 27.38.

Bethany Neeley was tops in the 800 run with a new school record of 2:21. She also won the 100 hurdles (:16.4) and long jump (15-10).

Wolfe took first in the 300 hur­dles with a school record time of :48.5, and she was also first in the high jump (5-4).

Wilcox was first in the 1,600 run (6:14) and Sarah Wagner won the 3,200 run (13:12.30).  Wagner and Wilcox teamed up with Lindsey Reprogle and Joy Sommers in winning the 3,200 relay (10:44).

"It was an excellent perform­ance by Wilcox," Eastern coach Michael Goodspeed said. "It was hard work and she did a good job in running in four events. We also felt it was a team win with our second run­ners, running well for us. We are looking like we are going to be a good team during the season, and postseason."

Alleca Kerker won the 100 (13.2). Corinna Cottingham won the pole vault (9-6). Breanna Cable won the shot put (34-8 1/2) and discuss (92-4). Kerker, Taylor Young, Jennifer Dale and Allison Everetts teamed to win the 400 relay (52.6).

"I was very pleased with Breanna Cable being a double win­ner," Boswell said. "Her throws have really started to improve and it was a personal record for her in the discus. I'm pleased with the way she's coming along. I was also pleased with Alleca Kerker, she was a double winner there in the 100 as well as the 4x100 relay. The 4x100 relay, that's probably our best time we've had for a couple years here. I thought the four girls we put in there really came out very strong, had a good race and hopefully we can see some good things out of them here in the future.

"It was good to see Corinna Cottingham in the pole vault where she got back to the form she had last year. Being able to go 9-6, that was her best effort this year and that was her best effort last year also."