BOYS TRACK SECTIONAL PREVIEW: Eyeing the crown

Kokomo Tribune - Thursday, May 19, 2016

A heavily favored Kokomo squad quite literally ran away with the 2015 boys track and field sectional crown at Walter Cross Field, taking first in seven events on the way to a 53-point margin of victory.

And while the Wildkats are the team to beat when today’s sectional gets underway at 5 p.m., the deck doesn’t seem quite as stacked this time around, with a couple other schools knocking on the door to dethrone the hosts.

“They’re the defending champs until someone knocks them off,” Western coach Gary Jewell said. “I think it could actually be close between us and Kokomo and Logansport. Each of us are strong in certain areas and each of us are weak in certain areas. And Peru is right there as well. It’s an interesting year.“

The Panthers and Berries seem to be the consensus picks for the best shot at knocking off the Kats.

“I think the strength, when you look at the performance list and the numbers, and usually they’re pretty accurate, Kokomo is the most well-rounded team,” Eastern coach Tom Everett said. “I think Logansport and Western look pretty strong as well, so that’s kind of how I see it. There’s also going to be some individual standouts from some schools. I’m really looking forward to seeing Owen Munson from Northwestern.”

Cass, Eastern,Taylor, Northwestern, Tipton, Maconaquah, Madison-Grant, Tri-Central, and Pioneer round out the 13-team field, with the top three individuals in each event advancing to next Thursday’s Warsaw Regional.

The Kats have the best preliminary seedings, with the top time in two relays and three individual events.

Junior Andrecus Eddington has a top seed in the 100-meter dash at :11.01. In last year’s sectional. Eddington won the 100 (:11.21) and 200 (:23.18) as well as helping the Kats to first-place finishes in a pair of relays.

Rolando Tyler is tops in the 110 hurdles at :15.35, while Kendale Harris has the top prelim shot put throw at 49-1.5.

Kokomo also holds the top spot in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

“I think one of our advantages is that we should be able to score points in every event if we bring our best effort,” Kats coach Tom Byrnes said. “We’re always excited about the sectionals. We take a lot of pride in hosting it and hope to bring our A game. We also understand that seeds don’t mean a lot and you’ve got to bring your best performance.”

The 200 and 400 dashes have the makings of a nice county clash between Northwestern’s Munson and Kokomo’s Eddington. Munson has the top seed in the 200 (:22.33) and 400 (:49.25). Eddington is second in the 200 (:22.68) and 400 (:50.02).

“The two most entertaining races of the night will be the 200 and 400,” Jewell said.

Munson took first in last year’s 400 at :51.06 and was second behind Eddington in the 200.

“He’s looking at both of those events again,” Northwestern coach Dave Stevens said. “He’s also looking at helping his teammates in the 4x400. As a team, we’re just looking forward to hopefully all of our hard work paying off. So many teams have guys who can score points. The sectional is a weird thing sometimes.”

Another interesting battle will likely unfold in the 300 hurdles, where Tipton’s Chase Bess and Western’s Cameron Dessing renew acquaintances.

“Both of those guys have made it to the state finals and both want to make it back,” Jewell said.

Bess won last season’s South Bend St. Joe Regional with a time of :40.41, while Dessing was third at :40.71. Bess has the top preliminary sectional time with a :39.50 and Dessing is second at :39.62.

Also for the Panthers, Tyler Gilbert has the top preliminary discus throw at 143-9. Josh Everetts is second in the 1,600 (4:37.24) and 3,200 (10:30) behind Logan’s Jacob Graf in each of those events. Everetts is also third in the 800 (2:03.50).

Peru’s Nathan Cole is first in the 800 (2:03.08) while Maconaquah’s Isaac Shaffer also has a 2:03.08.

Graf has the top seed in the 1,600 (4:25.30) and the 3,200 (10:09.79).

The Berries’ Kevin Gonzalez, along with Eastern’s Andrew Doak, each have the top pole vault jump at 12-6, while the Comets’ Ben Cole is third at 12-0. Doak went to regionals in the pole vault last season after a second-place sectional jump of 11-10.

“If he’s on, he has a great shot at making it to regionals again,” Everett said. “Ben Cole has a legitimate shot, too. As a team, I see us falling somewhere in the middle of the pack, but hopefully there’s some individual kids who get out and get to regionals.”

Eastern has the top time in the 4x400 relay at :44.40, and freshman Dontae Nolder is third in the 200 with a :23.01. The Comets’ Braden Evans is listed at third in the long jump (20-3.5) after making it to regionals in the event with a second-place sectional finish of 21-3.75 last year.

Maconanquah’s Eric Knight has the top seed in the long jump at 22-5, while Peru’s Jonah Lester is second (21-3).

Lester is the top seed in the high jump at 6-4 while Northwestern’s Joe Mast is second at 6-1.

Taylor’s Tyler DeLon is seeded second in the shot put with a prelim of 49-0.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD SECTIONAL

WHEN: 5 p.m. today

WHERE: Walter Cross Field, Kokomo HS

TOP SEED TIMES AND MARKS

4x800 relay: Kokomo, 8:31.14

100 dash: Andrecus Eddington (Kokomo), :11.01

110 hurdles: Rolando Tyler (Kokomo), :15.35

200 dash: Owen Munson (Northwestern), :22.33

1,600 run: Jacob Graf (Logansport), 4:25.30

4x100 relay: Eastern, :44.40

400 dash: Munson (Northwestern), :49.25

300 hurdles: Chase Bess (Tipton), :39.50

800 run: Nathan Cole (Peru), 2:03.00

3,200 run: Graf (Logansport), 10:09.79

4x400 relay: Kokomo, 3:32.05

Long jump: Eric Knight (Mac), 22-5

High jump: Jonah Lester (Peru), 6-4

Discus: Tyler Gilbert (Western), 143-9

Pole vault: Kevin Gonzalez (Logan), 12-6; Andrew Doak (Eastern), 12-6

Shot put: Kendale Harris (Kokomo), 49-1.