Kokomo Tribune - Friday, April 22, 2011

BOYS TRACK - Western 73, Cass 59

The Panthers fared well in the sprints and field events, holding off Cass in a showdown of MIC rivals to improve to 3-1 on the year. Jacob Hopkins won the 110 hurdles in :16.4, the 300 hurdles in :43.0, and teamed with Garrett Welker, James Davis and Matt Riley in the 400 relay for a win in :45.0.

Riley won three events as well, blazing his way to a win in the 100 in :11.4, and leaping to victory in the long jump (18-9). Matt Grider paced the field in the 800 (2:11), while Chris Love won the 3,200 in 11:01. That duo then teamed with Austin Elliott and Ben Bradshaw for a win in the 3,200 relay in 8:59.

Brice Sheets took the high jump (6-2) and Jeff Stout rounded out Western's winners in the pole vault at 12-0.

"The weather wasn't really good with the day as windy as it was, but the kids came out and got the job done," Western coach Marvin Boswell said. "We didn't have any spectacular times, but we found a way to win. We put some different guys in different events. This is only fourth meet and we're still looking for our strong points of who to put where so we can be ready for bigger meets like the conference meet."

Cass, which fell to 3-2, was led by Jake Rouch, who swept the discus (151 -2) and the shot put (49-9), and Matt Eckelbarg-er, who took top honors in the 400 (:53.7) and 200 (:23.8).

Nathan Wilson claimed the 1,600 in 4:57, and the 1,600 relay team of Jared Crum, Nathan Wilson, Payton Young and Drew Shephard won in 3:49.

GIRLS TRACK - Western 46, Cass 79

The Panthers were able to squeeze out a win over the Kings in Russiaville in a battle of evenly matched teams.

Natylee Nation was a triple winner for Western, taking the 100 hurdles (: 18.0) and 300 hurdles (:50.5) before teaming with Allison Lindley, Taylor Young and Allison Everetts for a win in the 1,600 relay in 4:35.

Young was a triple winner as well, claiming top honors in the 200 (:28.9) and 400 (1:05).

Lindley added a victory in the 800 (2:40), and joined with Gina Jakubowicz, Krissy Durr, and Corianne Myer to take the 3,200 relay in 10:52

Durr added a personal best as a winner in the 1,600 (5:54), and Myer did the same, winning the 3,200 (12:40).

Bre Cable won the shot put with a heave of 33-0, and Corinna Cottingham was victorious in the pole vault at 9-6.

"We had to work really hard to win this meet," Western coach Joni McCracken said. "Our distance crew really stepped up, and I knew that would be important in a meet like this."

For Cass, Mariah Swartz was a triple winner and Emily Beckley was a double winner. Swartz won in the 100-meter dash (:13.59) and long jump (14-8). Beckley was tops in the high jump (5-2), and Alyssa Jones won the discus (103-9). Swartz and Beckley teamed up with Maddie Eurit and Kelsey Thieke in winning the 400 relay (:53.9).

"It was a tough night," Cass coach Grace Scott said. "We are battling injuries and illness. We hope to bounce back next week, and perform better in future meets."