Kokomo Tribune - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Western’s track and field teams kicked off their seasons Monday with victories over visiting Taylor. The Panthers took a 104-28 win in the boys meet and a 111-24 win in the girls meet.

In the boys meet, Austin Elliott won a pair of individual events, the 1,600 run (5:17.8) and 3,200 run (11:06), to help the Panthers roll past the Titans.

Western had six other individuals win one event apiece — Robert Harless (100 dash, :11.8), Devin Vent (200 dash, :24.7), Jake Bradshaw (400 dash, :57.3), George Conwell (high jump, 5-5), Nick Braden (long jump, 18-7.5) and Grant Harbaugh (pole vault, 9-6).

The Panthers also swept the relay events. Riley Carter, Cesar Terron, Abel Barrera and Bradshaw won the 4x800 in 9:43. Braden, Brandon Silvers, Braedon Cannon and Harless won the 4x100 in :48.2. And, Bradshaw, Auston Davenport, Isaac Pressgrove and Barrera won the 4x400 in 4:09.

“It was good to get out and have a little competition,” Western coach Marvin Boswell said. “It was a beautiful night. We had a chance to run a lot of athletes and everyone stepped up and did a good job.”

Taylor had three winners, including a pair of double winners. Jay-Shon Jones swept the hurdles events, winning the 110 highs in :16.0 and the 300 intermediates in :43.9. Kalob Bitner won the discus (126-4) and shot put (44-4) competitions and Stefon Wallace was tops in the 800 run (2:18).

In the girls meet, Caily Tanner, Taylor Young, Lexi Everhart and Nicole Hampshire won two individual events apiece to lead the Panthers past the Titans.

Tanner swept the throws, winning the discus with a throw of 99-9 and the shot with a put of 36-2. Young won the 200 dash (:27.9) and 400 dash (1:05). Everhart was tops in the 100 high hurdles (:17.9) and long jump (14-3.25). And, Hampshire won the 1,600 (6:21.5) and 3,200 (16.15) runs.

Also picking up individual wins for the Panthers were Emma Nixon (800 run, 2:43.7), Miranda Pressgrove (high jump, 4-4) and Corinna Cottingham (pole vault, 9-0).

And the Panthers won a pair of relay events. Hampshire, Nixon, Katie Singer and Riley Beall won the 4x800 in 12:24 and Nixon, Everhart, Young and Pressgrove won the 4x400 in 4:58.

“The girls did great,” Western coach Joni McCracken said. “We have so many brand new runners — for many of the girls, they were just figuring out how a meet works. They did a great job of being where they were supposed to be. They ran their race plans, which was a big thing. We were also trying to figure out where they are at this point of the season. We had some surprise performances.”

McCracken noted her veterans looked sharp as well.

Taylor won three events. Andria Eddington won the 100 dash (:13.3), Kim Seal won the 300 low hurdles (:57.6) and Seal, Sydney Smiley, Jania Eddington and Andria Eddington won the 4x100 relay (:56.6).

Taylor coach Nick Weicht also noted the efforts of freshman Ashley Nguyen, who recorded third-place finishes in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs.