GIRLS TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
By Colin Altevogt
Girls Coordinator
In the state finals in track & field in Indiana, the top nine individuals or teams in any given event receive medals. Trust me, I once finished tenth. Having explained that, here are the top nine questions (in no particular order) heading into this year’s tournament. And to the tenth best? Better luck next year.
What will Logan Hayes do?
The Warren Central junior can do it all, if only the IHSAA would let her. Hayes has posted the state’s best time in the 400, an event she won her state championship in last year by knocking off three-time defending champion Hannah Farley of Park Tudor. In her first 800 ever, Hayes took Hannah’s sister and defending state champion in the event, down to the line in running 2:13. Hayes has also posted the third-best time in the 100 and fourth-best in the 200 in races she won handily over her own teammates. Not only is she a potential champion in for events, but Hayes would also be an integral part of Warren’s 4x100 (currently third in Indiana) and 4x400 (fourth in the state).
Is this the year for Waverly Neer?
Neer is using her tried-and-true strategy of putting down some fast times indoors, lying low until the Flashes Showcase and then saving up her best for the tournament. She was sub five indoors before demolishing the field in 5:00 at Franklin Central a month ago. Her best 3200 time reported was in February, but that is an event in which she has finished second at the state finals in each of the past two seasons. In fact, Neer has finished runner-up three different times in her first two seasons. Is 2010 the year she finishes on top?
What will Maddie Webster run?
After leading her Brownsburg team to its first cross country state meet appearance ever, Webster has posted a second-best mark in the 1600 and third-best in the 3200 during an indoor race at the HSR Finals. Brownsburg also has the second best time in the 4x800, and the best outdoor performance so the Bulldogs could be eyeing a title in the relay as well. This should lead to some decisions about which events to pursue.
Will anyone beat hurdler Ashley Spencer?
Spencer looks to be the runaway favorite in each hurdle race, with a four-tenths cushion in the 100s and over a second in the 300s. Spencer was second last year in the 300s, and it appears that a stumble would be the only thing preventing her from grabbing her first two individual titles. Her efforts throughout the tournament will be huge if Lawrence North is to repeat as team champions.
Is the 4x8 anyone’s race?
Typically, the top teams in the state won’t put together a very fast relay until well into May so the results that we’ve seen so far are pretty inconclusive. Carmel’s 9:30 at the HSR Finals is still the best time thus far, with Brownsburg a couple seconds back at 9:32. A spattering of other teams has broken 9:40. Recent history tells us that the winner will be somewhere between 9:10 and 9:15. What will Carmel and Brownsburg have in store for us in the tournament? What about cross country big dogs like Franklin Central, Noblesville, Carroll and Columbus North?
Can Ellie Tidman win again?
The Batesville senior has won each of the past three years, and often does not have the best jumps heading into the tournament. This season she does, already having cleared 5’10. Can Tidman succeed where Hannah Farley and Muncie Central’s Erynn Young came up short last year and make it four-for-four? Will she challenge the six foot mark?
Ellie McCardwell or Margo Tucker in the vault?
Each has a state championship to her name, and each has cleared 13 feet this season. In their senior seasons, who will come out on top? McCardwell owns the state record of 13’6.25, a mark which is in serious jeopardy this season. Tucker will have the added boost of the team competition as Lawrence Central looks to be a top contender for the overall championship.
Who is Indiana’s best long jumper?
Rebecca Neville of Merrillville prevented Erynn Young from making it a clean sweep in high school last year, but both have graduated. Lawrence Central senior Lauren Cowden’s 18’8 effort is the state’s best by over nine inches, but the long jump can be such a sporadic event. It is all about being the best in one jump on one day. After Cowden, the next ten jumpers are all within six inches of each other on the leaderboard. In a potentially tight team race that will assuredly involve field events, the long jump could decide the meet.
Warren track or Lawrence Central field?
With great sprinters and relays, Warren hopes to bring home a load of points in the shorter events, relying heavily on Logan Hayes and LaTisha Martin. Warren is looking to make it four championships in five years. The most likely challenger to the Warriors is Lawrence Central, who at one time this year has boasted the best marks in four of the five field events. Scoring the current leaderboards, Warren easily defeats LC, 63-52, but that is with one athlete scoring in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 while running on the 4x1 and 4x4. Clearly, that is not a possibility. Can Warren ride its horses to yet another state title or will LC be able to steal the meet where no one is looking?
BONUS QUESTIONS from BigThrows
Shot Put: a two-way shoot out?
It is no secret that Tori Bliss (Jr. Portage) is looking to repeat. She has been very thrown very consistent in the high 40s and is looking to hit near the 50 foot mark. It will not be an easy road though. Cassie Wertman (Soph. Southridge) 2009’s 6th place medalist has thrown 47’2.5 and is looking land near the 50 mark as well. The rest of the field is 4 feet behind Bliss and 3 behind Wertman. This could very well be a 2 way shootout.
Predictions
1. Tori Bliss – Portage
2. Cassie Wertman – Southridge
3. M.J Doan – Penn
4. Morgan Ford – Plainfield
5. Emily Deidrich – Castle
6. Nariah Taylor – North Central
7. Nakel McClinton - Merrillville
8. Sidra Sherrill – Fort Wayne Northrop
9. Katelynne Hartman – Hamilton Southeastern
Discus: who will it be?
Women’s discus is up for grabs this year. The leaderboard was moved back and forth several times between the top competitors. Taja Moore (Sr. Lawrence Central) and Izzy May (Sr. Noblesville) have the top throws at the moment at 143’9.5 and 142’2 and the rest of the field is right there with them. There are multiple returning state competitors and medalists. Avon’s Carlynn Carter was last year’s runner-up and is looking to also to throw her name in the hat. With 8 girls all over 130 feet it really is anyone’s game.
Predictions
1. Taja Moore – Lawernce Central
2. TeTe Hill – Franklin Central
3. Izzy May - Noblesville
4. Carlynn Carter - Avon
5. Tori Bliss - Portage
6. Morgan Ford - Plainfield
7. Stephanie Negrete - Griffith
8. Alana Rivera – Michigan City
9. Jenna Engleberth – Hamilton Southeastern