Published: May 17, 2008 01:08 am            

CORYDON TRACK SECTIONAL: Floyd wins sixth consecutive sectional crown

CORYDON — The New Albany boys’ track team put up a good fight on Friday night at the Corydon Sectional.

Still, the Bulldogs could not prevent archrival Floyd Central from capturing another sectional title.

The Highlanders scored 122 points to win their sixth sectional title in a row, edging the Bulldogs by eight points. Despite only two first-place finishes, Floyd had regional qualifiers in 11 events. The top four finishers advanced to next Thursday’s Bloomington North Regional.

“I thought it was going to be a very even meet going in,” Highlanders’ head coach Lane Oxley said. “The kids did a good job.”

Floyd’s victories came in the 3,200 relay (8:21.05), which happened on Thursday before the meet was suspended due to rain, and in the shot put, which junior Corey Reece won with a toss of 50 feet, 1 inch.

The Highlanders had six second-place finishes. They were Logan Eberle in the 200-meter dash, Justin Hodge in the 3,200, Brock Slavens in the 110 hurdles, Mitch Moutoux in the pole vault and the 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

Oxley thought his distance runners played a big role in winning the sectional crown and credited assistant coach Tim Korte for getting them ready. Along with Hodge’s runner-up finish in the 3,200, he finished fourth in the 1,600 and teammate Will Naville was third. Floyd’s Mason Kimmel was third in the 800 and Cox placed fourth in the 3,200.

“Tim Korte’s kids did great. I was real pleased there,” Oxley said. “They are the backbone of our team. Our 4x800 team has got to be our strongest event right now.”

The Bulldogs prevailed in five events, with three wins coming from sprinter Melvin Posey. The junior took first in the 100 (11.38 seconds) and 200 dashes (23.22) and ran the anchor for the victorious 400 relay team (45.39). Senior Adam Lutz claimed the 800 (2:00.55), and freshman Brett Wehmiller won the high jump (6-2). The Dogs’ 3,200 relay team finished second.

“I thought we would either be second or third,” New Albany head coach Dennis Scott said. “When I looked at the seeding, Floyd was the clear-cut winner. I just thought we had a good meet. We did well in the relays.”

Scott was happy with the way some of his troops persevered to score points. For instance, two of his runners — Wehmiller in the 300 hurdles and Will Young in the 400 — each were seeded eighth and finished fourth in their respective events. He also lauded senior Kyle Ratliff for his third-place finish in the shot put.

“That’s another event we didn’t expect to score much,” Scott said about the 300 hurdles. “We scored in the 400. Our best runner in that event (Young) has been hurt and he finished fourth.”

Oxley was impressed with the way New Albany was scoring points. After 12 events, the Bulldogs were leading 95-87 over the Highlanders.

“When I heard that score, I said, ‘New Albany is hanging in there,’” Oxley said. “New Albany surprised me today. They just kept scoring.”

Clarksville finished fifth with 63 points, followed by Providence in sixth (53) and Borden in seventh (39). Christian Academy of Indiana was 11th with eight points.

The Generals’ highest finisher was sophomore Brent Lewellen in the 300 hurdles, placing second. Placing third for Clarksville were Billy Wink in the 3,200, Timmy Herchenrader in the pole vault and the 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

The Pioneers’ Eean Huffman won the discus with a throw of 149-5 and placed second in the shot. Teammate Bradley Starck was second in the 800, and Providence’s Oliver Book was runner-up in the 1,600.

Borden’s lone sectional champion was Kyle Boling in the pole vault (13 feet). The junior also placed second in the long jump. CAI’s only regional qualifier was junior Austin Hammer, who placed fourth in the high jump.



CORYDON SECTIONAL

(Top four finishers advance to next Thursday’s Bloomington North Regional)

Team scores — Floyd Central 122, New Albany 114, Corydon 94, North Harrison 81, Clarksville 63, Providence 53, Borden 39, Crawford County 14, South Central 12, Lanesville 10, Christian Academy of Indiana 8.

100 — 1. Posey (NA) 11.38, 2. Isaac (NH), 3. Steele (Co), 4. Wilson (Cl).

200 — 1. Posey (NA) 23.22, 2. Eberle (F), 3. Southers (NA), 4. Wilson (Cl).

400 — 1. Ettinger (Co) 52.07, 2. Priddy (Co) 3. Spencer (F), 4. Young (NA).

800 — 1. Lutz (NA) 2:00.55, 2. Starck (P), 3. Kimmel (F), 4. Schocke (NA).

1,600 — 1. Byrne (NH) 4:27.07, 2. Book (P), 3. Naville (F), 4. Hodge (F).

3,200 — 1. Byrne (NH) 9:55.10, 2. Hodge (F), 3. Wink (Cl), 4. Cox (F).

110 hurdles — 1. Eichmiller (Co) 15.81, 2. Slavens (F), 3. Richards (NH), 4. Wagner (F).

300 hurdles — 1. Eichmiller (Co) 42.58, 2. Lewellen (Cl), 3. Richards (NH), 4. Wehmiller (NA).

400 relay — 1. New Albany 45.39, 2. Floyd, 3. Clarksville, 4. Crawford County.

1,600 relay — 1. Corydon 3:33.92, 2. Floyd, 3. Clarksville, 4. North Harrison.

3,200 relay — 1. Floyd 8:21.05, 2. New Albany, 3. Providence, 4. North Harrison.

High jump — 1. Wehmiller (NA) 6-2, 2. Conrad (Co), 3. Salomon (Co), 4. Hammer (CAI).

Pole vault — 1. Boling (B) 13-0, 2. Moutoux (F), 3. Herchenrader (Cl), 4. Bursac (F).

Long jump — 1. Ettinger (Co) 20-5 3/4, 2. Boling (B), 3. Bruderle (NH), 4. Beauchamp (Co).

Shot put — 1. Reece (F) 50-1, 2. Huffman (P), 3. Ratliff (NA), 4. Reeves (Cl).

Discus — 1. Huffman (P) 149-5, 2. Austin (NH), 3. Pursell (L), 4. Short (NA).

        

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