BOYS TRACK: Western's Gilbert repeats as state discus champ

Northwestern's Parker takes 5th in Long Jump

By Tribune Sports Staff
Kokomo Tribune June 02, 2018

BLOOMINGTON — The defending champ saved his best throw for last.

Western senior Tyler Gilbert repeated as state discus champion Saturday at the IHSAA Boys State Track and Field Championships at IU's Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, hurling a 177-foot, 3-inch toss on his final attempt to take the top spot.

"I wasn't getting too nervous, just a little bit of pressure obviously, but I knew I could throw it hard enough to win it," Gilbert said. "I just try not to get too worked up. I knew I had to get a good one in."

Gilbert was in second place before his final throw. That final throw bettered North Central junior Ethan Alyea by 6 inches to earn him back-to-back state championships. He is the first two-time state champ at Western in any sport.

"It definitely feels better than the last one, just to defend it," Gilbert said.

Alyea opened with a 176-9 on his first throw, which turned out to be the top mark ahead of Gillbert's final throw.

"That guy, that's the build of a guy who is going to be an elite discus kid," Western coach Gary Jewell said. "His first throw led until Tyler's last throw."

Gilbert let loose a 176-foot toss on his second-to-last throw, his top throw up to that point on the day, setting the stage for his strong finish as he was the only thrower to improve in the finals while also improving on each of his three throws in the finals.

"He saved the best one for last," Jewell said. "His first throw in the finals was better than his best preliminary throw. And each throw in the finals was better. He got into it on that last one and it was just enough. We knew we weren't going to get PR type of conditions.

Gilbert threw a 177-10 to take the regional title. His top throw of the year was 185-9 at the Kokomo Sectional on May 17, which set a new personal, school, sectional and area record. He first started throwing discus as a freshman, and has made the trip to state each of the past three seasons. He took the discus title by an inch last year with a throw of 173-10.

"It's kind of crazy to think about," Gilbert said. "I had no clue I'd get where I am now. And I had a lot of fun doing it."

Northwestern sophomore Tayson Parker earned a fifth-place podium finish in the long jump competition in his first appearance at state. His first jump of 22-9.75 ended up his best of the night, good enough for a medal in his inaugural track season with the Tigers.

Parker unloaded a 23-10.5 jump to win the Kokomo Sectional before placing third with a 22-4 jump at the Warsaw Regional.

Kokomo junior Steven Edwards finished 12th in the 100 meter dash preliminaries at 11.07, finishing just three spots shy of making the finals. And Kokomo sophomore Quincy Armstrong fell one spot shy of a podium finish, taking 10th in the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.10.

"I thought both of the guys competed and raced really well," Kokomo coach Jordan Ousley said. "You're looking at about 27 kids in each of those events out of hundreds from around the state, and to be in the top 10 or 12 positions in your first year at state, that's a pretty good statement."

Armstrong started off strong in the fast heat of the 300 before falling to fifth in the home stretch.

"Quincy ran a great race until the final hurdle, he just kind of stutter stepped," Ousley said. "He was ready to roll. It just didn't happen for him [Saturday]. He's disappointed but he's got two more years and a lot of the guys that beat him were seniors.

"Overall, both Steven and Quincy had a great year," Ousley added. "We have a good chunk of guys coming back and we're hoping to get some more guys down here in the years to come."