Tigers’ Hayden, Millers’ Barnes get runner-up finishes

By RICHIE HALL

INDIANAPOLIS – The weather caused a couple false starts at the IHSAA boys track & field state meet Saturday, June 6 at North Central.

The meet was twice delayed because of inclement weather. While the storms made it all the way to North Central, they came just close enough to put the events on hold.

One person who didn’t mind was Konrad Hayden. The Fishers senior rose above the delayed and became one of two Hamilton County athletes to earn a second-place finish in his event.

Hayden cleared 7 feet in the high jump to take the silver. He dueled with the defending champion, Warsaw’s Jordan Randall, all the way to the end until Randall cleared 7 feet, 2 inches to win the event again.

“I like inclement weather,” said Hayden. “Most of my [personal best] jumps have been when it was real hot and rainy and then cleared up again, so I don’t mind it at all. I think it’s fun.”

Hayden made it over 7 feet on his third and final attempt, which clinched a top-two finish for the Marian University commit.

“It was definitely some pressure,” said Hayden. “Knowing it’s my senior season – go big or go home – I just had to clear my mind and just jump. And I did it.”

Another Fishers athlete, Rocky Duplessis, put together a strong performance. Duplessis placed third in the 400 dash in a time of 48.07 seconds.

Noblesville’s Banner Barnes (right) finished second in the
1600 run and seventh in the 800 run at the state meet. Pictured at left is the Millers’ Isaiah Vohs, who placed ninth in the 1600. (Richie Hall)

Two medals for Barnes

Noblesville’s Banner Barnes also kept pace with a defending champion during the meet.

The junior finished second in the 1600 run, clocking in at 4 minutes, 4.89 seconds. Barnes was staying a step behind Westview’s Noah Bontrager, the Notre Dame commit that won the 1600 last year in a state record time of 4:02.60. Barnes kept up until the final 150 meters, when Bontrager pulled away to win the race in 4:01.83, lowering his own state record.

Barnes raced Bontrager at the Flashes Showcase and stayed with them for three laps, which gave the Noblesville runner some confidence for state.

“Today with more training under my belt, I knew I could have a shot to compete with him and go for the win, so I decided to go out and do that and just gave it my best.”

Barnes also competed in the 800 run, where he admitted he was “pretty tired” from the previous race, “but the 800 is just two laps, so you just got to go and gut it out.” He finished seventh in a time of 1:52.30, picking up a second medal.

Noblesville’s Isaiah Vohs also reached the podium in the 1600 run, placing ninth in 4:13.59.

Carmel had three podium finishes. The Greyhounds’ 4×800 relay team of Cooper Szotek, Lucas Bartlett, Mitchell Ford and Dean Semski placed third in a time of 7:43.14. Bartlett later picked up a second medal by taking seventh in the 3200 run (7:43.14).

Carmel sophomore Alim Broadnax earned a medal in the long jump. He placed seventh with a best jump of 23 feet, 1 inch.

“It was a crazy atmosphere,” said Broadnax. “A lot more people than I expected. I gave it my all, did my best, but it didn’t turn out how I wanted, but glad I got the opportunity.”

Hamilton Heights’ Will Duncan finished fifth in both throwing events. He reached the top five in the discus with a best throw of 177 feet, 8 inches, then did the same in the shot put with a best throw of 59 feet, 3.5 inches.

Westfield’s 4×100 relay team of Caleb Terril, Logan Tuck, Olumide Fapetu and Cayden Gearhart placed fourth, finishing in a time of 41.09 seconds.

Hamilton Southeastern’s Liam Powers earned a medal in the 3200 run with a time of 9:04.81.

Bloomington North won the team championship, scoring 39 points. The Cougars held off Franklin Central, the team runner-up with 33 points.