By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The Noblesville girls track and field team helped to open a new chapter in the Millers’ athletic program Thursday evening.
Noblesville hosted Harrison for a dual meet at the Millers’ big, beautiful and brand-new Beaver Stadium, with Noblesville winning 68-64. The facility has a brand new turf football field, along with two full-size practice fields, three concession stands and a two-level press box with plenty of parking close by the school.
The stadium will certainly impress football fans this fall, but in the spring it will be used for track and field.
“The stadium is absolutely incredible,” said Millers coach Jim Pearce. “I’m just grateful that the community is able to put together this kind of place, and we had a chance to be able to compete in here.”
The meet was a competitive one, and Noblesville pulled it out, thanks to the strength of its field-event performances. The Millers swept all five events, including a double win for Hannah Alexander in the shot put and discus. The sophomore threw a personal best 130 feet even in the discus. Pearce pointed out that Alexander’s Thursday result was better than her best at last year’s state meet.
Kiana Siefert also won two events, taking the long jump and the 100 hurdles. Rylee Hassan was first in the high jump and Laina Lillge won the pole vault.
On the track, the Noblesville 4×800 relay team of Nadia Perez, Paige Hazelrigg, Kennedy Applegate and Summer Rempe won that race, becoming the first Millers athletes to win on the new track. Maddie Coates won the 100 dash, Ella Wirkner was first in the 1600 run and Brielle Siefert took the 300 hurdles.
Noblesville will have runners compete tonight at the annual Franklin Central Flashes Showcase.
Team score: Noblesville 68, Harrison 64.
4×800 relay: 1. Noblesville (Nadia Perez, Paige Hazelrigg, Kennedy Applegate, Summer Rempe) 10:56.
100 hurdles: 1. Kiana Siefert 15.10.
100 dash: 1. Maddie Coates 12.76.
1600 run: 1. Ella Wirkner 5:44, 3. Zoe Dinius 5:48.
400 dash: 2. Jaydi Jones 1:05.37.
300 hurdles: 1. Brielle Siefert 47.30.
800 run: 2. Isabella Lingenfelter 2:42.74, 3. Ella Sochocki 2:46.88.
200 dash: 2. Coates 27.70, 3. Kate Rollins 28.10.
3200 run: 3. Megan Meinerding 13:06.25.
Shot put: 1. Hannah Alexander 36-8.25.
Discus: 1. Alexander 130-0.
Long jump: 1. K. Siefert 17-3.5, 3. Mya Baker 15-7.5.
High jump: 1. Rylee Hassan 5-0.
Pole vault: 1. Laina Lillge 11-0, 2. Delaney Teachnor 9-6, 3. Linley Burman 9-6.
Westfield’s girls track team competed in a dual meet Tuesday at Zionsville.
The Eagles won the dual 85-42. The Shamrocks won two events: Madison Clary took first in the 100 hurdles and Kendall Pagington won the shot put. Westfield had several runner-up finishes, from Clary in the 300 hurdles, Princess Campbell in the 100 and 200, Clara Cameron in the 400, Robyn Schemel in the 1600, Samantha Taylor in the 3200, Pagington in the discus, and Amiyah Ballard in the long jump. Liz Smith and Maya Francisco both had good runs in the 800.
Westfield will compete in two showcases tonight, at the Lafayette Jefferson Sprinters Showcase and the Franklin Central Flashes Showcase.