Tigers take 4th, win 4×8 – Four medals for NHS – HSE’s Sydnor is long jump runner-up
By RICHIE HALL
INDIANAPOLIS – As of Friday night, the Carmel boys track and field team has won five state championships.
The fifth one may be the sweetest of them all.
The Greyhounds were the favorite coming into the meet, and they performed like it, getting stronger as the meet went on to claim the state title, which was awarded at the conclusion of Friday’s meet at Ben Davis. Carmel scored 68 points, which ties the highest number of points the ‘Hounds have scored at the state meet. Carmel also totaled 68 points in 2017, the year it last won the state title.
“I couldn’t be happier for the way these kids performed,” said Greyhounds coach Ken Browner. “I got to thank (Commissioner) Paul Neidig and the IHSAA, because last year we didn’t get to have this. And you can tell by the pure emotion of these guys that this really means something, being back here on this stage and having an opportunity to compete for a state title.”
In addition to the team championship, Carmel also claimed two individual events. Owen Schafer was part of two of them. First, the senior won the 400 dash, finishing that race in a time of 48.36 seconds.
Later, Schafer joined Andrew Willman, Thomas Maurer and Colton Parker in the final race of the day, the 4×400 relay. The Carmel team placed first in 3 minutes, 18.90 seconds. Schafer, Maurer, Parker and Anthony Iskander had earlier run in the 4×100 relay, which finished third.
“We got third in that and we expected to win, but I think at the end of the day, that motivated us and me to win the 400 and our team to win the 4×4,” said Schafer.
The Greyhounds began the meet with a runner-up result in the 4×800 relay, which William Anderson, Shammah Dosunmu, Kole Mathison and Bingham Hudson ran in 7:44.83. Parker placed second in the 300 hurdles, clocking in at 38.53 seconds.
In the 3200 run, Mathison was the runner-up with a time of 9:01.55. He was followed by teammate Jacob Fisher, who placed third in the race. That 2-3 finish scored 15 team points and helped Carmel to clinch the team title.
“He PRed two weeks in a row,” said Browner of Fisher’s performance.
Zachary Cox placed third in the 110 hurdles and seventh in the 300 hurdles, scoring 10 team points for the Greyhounds.
Carmel finished 28 points ahead of runner-up Brownsburg, which scored 40 points. It was the Bulldogs’ highest-ever finish at the state meet, besting their third-place performance in 2019, the last time the big meet took place. Center Grove took third with 38 points.
Fishers finished in fourth place with 32 points, matching its best-ever finish at state. The Tigers also finished fourth in 2008.
Fishers began the meet with a victory in the 4×800 relay. The team of William Clark, Keefer Soehngen, Alec Foster and Jaylen Castillo sailed home in a time of 7:42.46.
It was a productive meet for Castillo, the Indiana University-bound senior. He followed that up with a third-place finish in the 800, with a time of 1:54.18.
“I was pretty happy with the 4×8,” said Castillo. “I split at like a 1:53, low. I came back in the open 8. I wanted to win, but I still got third, so I’m not mad about that.”
Castillo teamed up with Tyler Tarter, Soehngen and Robert Seay to take third in the 4×400 relay.
“I can’t complain about getting three medals,” said Castillo.
Soehngen also got three medals, as he was the runner-up in the 400 dash.
Noblesville tied for 15th place by scoring 13 points. The Millers picked up four medals, including two fifth-place finishes in the longer distances.
Senior Andrew Anderson placed fifth in the 800 run, while Travis Hickner finished fifth in the 3200 run. Both have also committed to Indiana University; Anderson was a recent commit for the Hoosiers.
“I think I did pretty good,” said Anderson. He said while he usually starts his closing kick with around 300 meters left, he backed off this time “and saved a little bit more for the last 150, 200 to really get that kick at the end and I think that’s what helped me.”
Another Noblesville senior Mac Smith, finished with two medals. He was part of the Millers’ eighth-place 4×100 relay team, joining Brayden Colon, Christ Degni and Tanner Gibson. Later, Smith finished ninth in the 200 dash.
Hamilton Southeastern junior Stephen Sydnor placed second in the long jump, accounting for all eight of the Royals’ points.
“I think I could’ve done better,” said Sydnor. “I had a lingering injury, so that prevented me from doing a lot more than I should’ve. But second place is always okay.”
Westfield scored seven team points and had two medalist performances. The 4×800 team of Kai Connor Jacob Beene, Colin Lakomek and Joshua Springborn finished fourth, while Christiaan Huisden took ninth in the 300 hurdles.
Team scores (Top 10 and all county): 1. Carmel 68, 2. Brownsburg 40, 3. Center Grove 38, 4. Fishers 32, T5. Harrison 24; Warren Central 24, T7. Boonville 18; Plainfield 18; Columbus North 18, 10. Hobart 17, T15. Noblesville 13, T32. Hamilton Southeastern 8, T38. Westfield 7.
4×800 relay: 1. Fishers (Wiliam Clark, Keefer Soehngen, Alec Foster, Jaylen Castillo) 7:42.46, 2. Carmel (William Anderson, Shammah Dosunmu, Kole Mathison, Bingham Hudson) 7:44.83, 4. Westfield (Kai Connor, Jacob Beene, Colin Lakomek, Joshua Springborn) 7:50.17.
110 hurdles: 1. John Colquit (Brownsburg) 14.53, 3. Zachary Cox (C) 14.72.
100 dash: 1. Ezra Lewellen (Pioneer) 10.67. Prelims – 18. Mac Smith (N) 11.30.
1600 run: 1. Camden Marshall (Corydon Central) 4:07.31, 10. Joel Mumaw (N) 4:22.55, 13. Garrett Hicks (HSE) 4:23.68, 14. Hudson Alden (C) 4:24.40, 15. Charlie Schuman (C) 4:24.80, 20. Asher Propst (N) 4:29.04, 21. Nolan Satterfield (HSE) 4:29.69.
4×100 relay: 1. Warren Central 41.70, 3. Carmel (Anthony Iskander, Thomas Maurer, Colton Parker, Owen Schafer) 41.81, 8. Noblesville (Smith, Brayden Colon, Christ Degni, Tanner Gibson) 42.55.
400 dash: 1. Schafer (C) 48.36, 2. Soehngen (F) 48.55, 19. Andrew Willman (C) 50.40.
300 hurdles: 1. Colquitt (Brownsburg) 37.84, 2. Parker (C) 38.53, 7. Cox (C) 39.35, 9. Christiaan Huisden (W) 39.57.
800 run: 1. William Neubauer (South Bend Adams) 1:53.91, 3. Castillo (F) 1:54.18, 5. Andrew Anderson (N) 1:54.56, 18. Bennett Dubois (HSE) 1:58.28.
200 dash: 1. Connor Czajkowski (Harrison) 21.55, 9. Smith (N) 22.36.
3200 run: 1. Will Jefferson (Whiteland) 8:54.05, 2. Mathison (C) 9:01.55, 3. Jacob Fisher (C) 9:11.46, 5. Travis Hickner (N) 9:14.15, 11. Cole Kimmel (N) 9:29.12.
4×400 relay: 1. Carmel (Schafer, Willman, Maurer, Parker) 3:18.90, 3. Fishers (Tyler Tarter, Soehngen, Castillo, Robert Seay) 3:20.04
Long jump: 1. Devin Mockobee (Boonville) 23-3.75, 2. Stephen Sydnor (HSE) 23-2.75, 24. Lamine Sall (HSE) 20-0.75.
Discus: 1. Keon Perkin-Sullivan (Warren Central) 179-9, 23. Caleb Gates (F) 137-0.
Shot put: 1. Tucker Smith (Columbus North) 67-11.25.
High jump: 1. Kamyren Garrett (Lawrence Central) 7-0.
Pole vault: 1. Riley Johnston (Hobart) 16-6, 10. Seth Hutchison (C) 14-0, 1. Xan Cluff (HSE) 14-0.