BOYS TRACK: Big stage awaits

Kokomo Tribune - Saturday, June 4, 2016

Three new faces and one veteran are ready to represent Howard County at today's IHSAA boys track and field state championships.

Kokomo junior Andrecus Eddington, Northwestern senior Owen Munson and Western sophomore Tyler Gilbert will make their first trip to to the state finals while Western senior Cameron Dessing is returning for a second straight year as the state's elite athletes converge on Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex at Indiana University in Bloomington with field events slated to begin at 3 p.m.

"I love the track there. It's a fast track," said Dessing, who took 22nd in the 300-meter hurdles at state as a junior last year with a time of 41.31 seconds. "I was really nervous last year. There's a lot more fans there. Being there kind of gave me a confidence boost heading into this season. I'm more comfortable this year. I feel like I know what the competition should be like."

Dessing is back in the 300 hurdles after a call back following the Warsaw Regional. Eddington will race in the 100 dash, Munson is set to run the 400, and Gilbert will compete in the discus.

A pair of Peru athletes join the Howard County contingent in the fold. Junior Jonah Lester is set to compete in the high jump following a 6-4 second-place regional jump. Senior Nathan Cole will run in the 800, where he placed third in the regional with a time of 1:58.03.

Eddington is excited for his first shot on the big stage.

"Going for my first time, it's going to be a big experience," said Eddington, who punched his ticket to state with a lightning fast :11.15 win in the 100 at the Warsaw Regional despite a lingering hamstring issue.

"I was pretty surprised, I didn't expect to run that good," Eddington said.

The Kats' speedster ran to an :11.34 first-place finish in the Kokomo Sectional. He sits at 17th on the performance list headed into the event.

"Even with the injury, I'm going to go in there and do my best," Eddington said. "I've been focusing on getting the hamstring stronger. I'd love to make it through the trials and get to the finals."

Munson has the highest local seed time after breaking Northwestern's school record in the 400 with a blazing :49.13 regional win after posting a :49.56 first-place sectional time."

It means a lot because I was supposed to make it last year," said Munson, a senior who missed out on an appearance at state last year following a timing malfunction in the regional. "I expect a lot out of myself. I was happy to be regional champ but not satisfied."

Munson has a specific goal in mind for the finals, and it's a realistic one based on him being fourth on the performance list ahead of the meet.

"I would like top-three in sub-:49," Munson said.

Dessing's return to state was via the call-back route after a fourth-place regional finish of :39.18 in the 300 hurdles following a :40.77 sectional win. The regional finish in the 300 set a school record, as did Dessing's :15.00 regional time in the 110 high hurdles, which was .02 seconds off a call back for state.

Kelly Lafferty Gerber | Kokomo Tribune
STATE VETERAN: Western senior Cameron Dessing competes in the 300 hurdles during the Kokomo Sectional.Dessing is state-bound in the event for the second straight seasons.

"It was really disappointing to finish fourth, but when I got the call back that night, that's when I got really excited," Dessing said. "I broke both of the hurdle records, so I feel like I've left my mark on the Western track team."

Dessing's time in the 300 has him sitting in 17th on the performance list.

Only a sophomore, Gilbert had a 145-2 discus throw to take first at the sectional, following that up with a 144-6 throw for a second-place regional finish. He sits in 25th ahead of the event.

Lester is listed 14th in the high jump performance list, while Cole is at 21st in the 800.

Regardless of the outcome, Dessing knows the appearance at state is the icing on a great high school career.

"My goal heading into the season was top-nine finish at state, and now it seems more realistic," Dessing said. "I wouldn't be back here again without my teammates, coach [Gary] Jewell, [hurdles] coach Mike Smith and [sprints] coach Jarod Shelton."

Munson is proud to represent his school, knowing it's not often that Northwestern makes it to the state's biggest stage.

"It feels great because not many of us go," Munson said. "It means a lot to have my name in the record books."