Jay girls coast past Heritage, boys fall

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With little rest and missing pieces, the host boys battled until the end.

Fresh bodies aided in the girls coasting to a win.

Jay County High School’s track teams split with Allen County Athletic Conference rival Heritage Patriots on Tuesday for senior night.

The Jay County girls won 83-40, and the boys, who competed in the Muncie Central Relays on Monday night, dropped a 63-60 score.

“I was proud of the boys who competed,” JCHS boys coach Joe Imel said. “We just had a really big meet last night. It was a late night for us and to come back with no rest and compete again at a relatively high level I was really proud of them.”

Moments after the 4x400-meter relay — the last running event of the meet was completed, Jay County senior Gavin Randall and Heritage’s Cameron Mitchell were the final two remaining in high jump. Mitchell, who had just anchored the Heritage relay team, had three tries to match Randall’s jump of 6 feet, 2 inches. He failed all three, perhaps on tired legs.

With the victory already in the bag, Randall attempted to match is career-best of 6-3. As both Jay County and Heritage teams watched the JCHS senior was unable to clear the height.

“I think it worked to our advantage,” Imel said of Randall’s win given the fact Mitchell had just did his best to close a 20-meter gap in the 4x400. Randall is normally a part of that relay but was replaced by Isaac Haffner, who earned his spot by competing well the night before.

Caleb Webster, who won the 100 dash, and Randall crossed the finish line at precisely the same time to tie in the 200 dash.

Isaac Robbins took the top spot in the 110 hurdles, and Jacob Hart won discus for Jay County.

Trey Castillo, Nathanael Day, Randall and Webster grabbed first place in the 4x100 relay as well.

“I think we’re coming along at the right time,” Imel said of his sprinting group. “We’re continuing to (decrease) our times and better the times that we’re marking.

“I really do think, unless someone had a surprise, I really do think we’ll get the 4x1 out of the sectional.”

Sophomores Sophia Fugiett and Grace Saxman had strong showings for the JCHS girls. Fugiett ran away with victories in the 800 run and 1,600 run, while Saxman won both the 100 and 300 hurdle events.

“Sophia in the distance races has been really great for us,” Brian McEvoy, the JCHS girls coach, said. “She’s been running great at the right time of the year … We’re going to see some really great performances from her down the stretch.”

Lindy Wood won the 3,200 run and joined Raven Weaver, Ashlyn Dow and Cheyenne Liette for a meet-opening win in the 4x800 relay.

“Lindy Wood has been rock solid for us,” McEvoy said. “She’s done everything we’ve asked her.”

Saxman teamed with Kinsey Shannon, Halle Hill and Renee Omstead for a 4x400 relay victory, while Shea Bailey, Calli Stigleman, Karlie Bullard and Omstead ran away with first place in the 4x100 relay.

Shannon (100 dash), Stigleman (200 dash) and Hill (400 dash) each won a single event as well. Jay County swept the top three spots in both the 200 and 400 dash races.