JCHS takes second

MUNCIE - It was an evening of mixed emotions.

The Patriots could celebrate their individual sectional titles, won by five different individuals. And they could boast about their 13 regional qualifiers.

However, the quest for their first sectional title in more than a decade fell agonizingly short.

Jay County High School scored 120 points, finishing as the runner-up at the girls sectional track meet at Muncie Southside by just 0.2 points to the champion Muncie Central Bearcats.

The odd margin of victory came as the Bearcats' Anne Tinder was one of five athletes to tie for eighth place in the high jump, splitting the single point for an eighth-place finish into two tenths apiece.

Defending champion Delta was third with 93.2 points. Central and Delta have won every sectional crown since the Patriots last picked up a title in 1997.

"This team did absolutely everything that was asked of them," said JCHS coach Brian McEvoy, whose team went 37-5 despite losing its top two scorers from last season to graduation. "They all responded. For these girls to step up and have this kind of seasons says a lot about them. They did everything they could."

Sophomore Jordan McMillan led the group of 13 Patriots who finished in the top four of an event and will compete in the regional meet at Ben Davis Tuesday at 6 p.m.

After missing the 2008 sectional with an injury, McMillan was impressive in her victory Tuesday. She was at the front of the pack midway through the 100-meter dash and scored a convincing victory by more than a half-second in 12.49 seconds.

"I was scared. I was nervous, because I wasn't supposed to get first," said McMillan, who was seeded second in the race. "I thought I was going to lose it ... until right at the end. I was happy."

The only person able to keep McMillan from winning a second sectional crown in the long jump was three-team defending state champion Erynn Young, who earned one of Central's six titles Tuesday. McMillan was the runner-up by just over five inches with a jump of 15 feet, 10 inches.

She was also second in the 200 dash in 27 seconds flat.

"Jordan has had a tremendous season for us. She's worked really hard at it," said McEvoy. "She just keeps getting better and better. ... She's just naturally quick and pretty determined."

Leah Wellman turned in a tremendous race in the 1,600 run, despite running fifth and sixth for most of the first two laps. She moved up to third place at the close of the third lap before exploding to the lead on the back stretch and leaving the field in her wake.

The sophomore's winning time of 5:42.37 was more than seven seconds faster than runner-up Whitney Wiist of Winchester.

Wellman said cross country was on her mind as she made her run to the front.

"I finally got back to how I run my races when I just kick it in at the end," she said. "I finally did that. I just wanted it really bad."

Leah Wellman also teamed with her senior sister Kylie, Liz Lennartz and Katie Butcher for second in the 4x800 relay in 10:34.37.

Jay County's other three wins all came in field events.

Lindsey Current picked up the win in the high jump, clearing the bar easily on her first attempt at 5 feet, 2 inches. Kelsi Fullenkamp of Delta missed all three tries at the height to give the JCHS senior the title.

Kelsey Wood added a fourth-place effort at 5 feet even.

McEvoy said he was especially impressed with Current, who has been battling a leg injury most of the season.

"She's fought through it and made the best of a tough situation," he said. "She was mentally tough tonight."

Sophomore Cara Garringer surpassed her previous career-best toss of 34 feet, 11 ½ inches on each of her first two throws. Already in the lead, she launched her third an impressive 36 feet, 5 inches to solidify her championship.

"I was pretty excited," said Garringer. "When I saw the 36, I didn't even care about the inches ... It was pretty cool ...

Maria Murphy, a freshman, sent her toss 102 feet, 4 inches, which earned her a sectional crown. She finished seven inches ahead of Union's Marie Lumpkin.

"I felt pretty ecstatic," said Murphy. "I couldn't believe it. I was just so happy."

Brianne Wellman qualified for the regional by placing second in the 300 hurdles in 51.44 and third in the 100 hurdles in 17.92.

Katie Butcher was third in the 800 run with a time of 2:34.7. She joined Macey Gerber, Kari Hemmelgarn and Liz Lennartz for fourth in the 4x400 relay in 4:26.69.

The Patriots ran without freshman Katie Simmons, who injured her ankle Friday. The freshman attempted to compete in the 1,600-meter run, but was in pain throughout and finished 10th.

She was then scratched from the 3,200 run. She was the No. 1 seed in both events.[[In-content Ad]]