The runners at Thursday’s Lafayette Jefferson boys track and field regional were already off to a super fast start during the first event of what was supposed to be an exciting night of competition.
But the weather took over the track. Rain, lightning and nearby tornado warnings forced the meet to pause a couple times, then to finally be postponed once a solid line of storms moved in. The track regional at Lafayette Jeff will resume at 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Two events were completed before the meet was halted. The first was the 4×800 relay, which was an outrageously fast event. The top seven teams all finished under the state standard of 7 minutes, 58.67 seconds, which means all seven teams qualify for the state finals, which take place June 4 at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Fishers won the 4×800, with the team of Matthew Kim, Colin Simons, Alec Foster and Keefer Soehngen, clocking in at 7:48.70. Zionsville was the runner-up at 7:51.15, while Noblesville’s squad of Noah Bushong, Alec Moor, Luke Shinneman and Jack Strong took third in 7:51.70.
Normally only the top three teams advance from regional to state, but this was not a normal race. Fourth-place Hamilton Southeastern’s team of Nolan Satterfield, Ian Ross, Noah Anderson and Bennett DuBois finished in 7:53.06, over five seconds ahead of the standard. The Carmel group of Charlie Leedke, Drew Grogan, Thomas Biltimier and Connor Heagy was fifth in 7:53.50, easily besting the standard as well. Brownsburg took sixth in 7:54.08, while Avon was seventh, finishing in 7:57.30.
Westfield’s 4×800 team of Josh Barnett, Sam Hinds, Owen Flynn and Charles Naas placed ninth in 8:02.74.
The other event run to completion was the discus. Carmel’s Nolan Ring placed third with a best toss of 159 feet, 7 inches, qualifying him for state.
Hamilton Heights’ Colin Wilson was fourth (158-0), followed by Southeastern’s Jackson Constantine in sixth place (155-0). The Royals’ Spencer Lotz placed 14th (137-11).
Meanwhile, the three running events to have time trials all got those preliminary events completed. Carmel’s James Philpott and Southeastern’s Mason Alexander qualified for the final of the 100 dash. Philpott also reached the final in the 200 dash, along with Fishers’ Dawson Scally. Three county athletes made the final of the 110 hurdles: Fishers’ Tyler Tarter, Southeastern’s Will Gerig and Carmel’s Adom Quist.
Three more county athletes are in the finals of the long jump. Southeastern’s Lamine Sall is the leader so far, and has already qualified for state: His best jump of 22 feet, 5.75 inches beat the state standard by three inches. The Royals’ Michael Griffith and Carmel’s Christian Peterson also reached the finals.
CALLBACKS FOR GIRLS STATE
As expected, a number of Hamilton County girls track and field athletes received callbacks to the state meet, which will take place next Friday, June 3 at IU-Bloomington.
Hamilton Southeastern’s Jocelyn Davis got a callback in the 200 dash, as did Elizabeth Butler in the 1600 run and Regan Wans in the 400 dash.
Carmel’s Olivia Mundt and Jamie Klavon both got callbacks in the 1600, with Jasmine Klopstad receiving one in the 800 run. Westfield’s Liz Smith got a callback in the 3200 run, as did Noblesville’s Brooke Lahee.
The Shamrocks’ Princess Campbell received a callback in the 100 dash. The Millers’ 4×400 team earned a callback as well. Southeastern’s Ella Wilhelm and Noblesville’s Laina Lillge both received callbacks in the pole vault.
Here is a complete list of state qualifiers from Hamilton County.
4×800 relay: Carmel, Noblesville, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern.
100 hurdles: Ally Elsbury (HSE), Kiana Siefert (N).
100 dash: Ella Scally (F), Princess Campbell (Westfield).
1600 run: Bridget Gallgher (Guerin Catholic), Paige Hazelrigg (N), Olivia Mundt (C), Jamie Klavon (C), Elizabeth Butler (HSE).
4×100 relay: Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel.
400 dash: Olivia Cebalo (C), Cambell Wamsley (C), Regan Wans (HSE).
300 hurdles: Siefert (N), Elia Blackmore (HSE), Elsbury (HSE).
800 run: Summer Rempe (N), Vera Schafer (F), Brinkley Cooper (HSE), Jasmine Klopstad (C).
200 dash: Scally (F), Jocelyn Davis (HSE).
3200 run: Gallagher (GC), Alivia Romaniuk (C), Maggie Powers (HSE), Liz Smith (W), Brooke Lahee (N).
4×400 relay: Carmel, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville.
High jump: Malina Miller (N), Kelsey Smith (Hamilton Heights), Rylee Hassan (N).
Long jump: Scally (F), Siefert (N), Elsbury (HSE).
Discus: Taylor Reagor (C), Hannah Alexander (N), Rosiebella Fiabema (HSE).
Shot put: Alexander (N).
Pole vault: Ella Wilhelm (HSE), Laina Lillge (N).