Johnson is No. 6 seed (05/21/07)

INDIANAPOLIS - It'll be a difficult task, but not an impossible one. Amanda Johnson proved that a year ago.

Of the Jay County's girls track team's 11 athletes who earned regional berths, Johnson holds the highest seed - sixth - going into Tuesday's meet at Lawrence North.

Only the top three competitors at the regional competition, or those meeting the "three-participant standard", will earn spots in the state meet. However, Johnson was also a distant No. 6 seed in the 800-meter run a year ago when she destroyed the JCHS record and finished third.

Johnson, a junior, again holds the top seed - based on sectional times - for the Patriots at No. 6 in the 800 run. Her time of 2-minutes, 23.9 seconds puts her less than two seconds behind the No. 3 seed.

She is also seeded 13th in the 400 dash at 1:02.65.

The only other Jay County athlete who earned a single-digit seed was sophomore Lindsey Current in the high jump. She cleared the bar 5 feet, 1 inch, and based on sectional numbers it would take at least a leap of 5 feet, 2 inches to reach the top three.

State standards in the 800 run and high jump are 2:16.46 and 5 feet, 4 inches respectively.

Junior Erika Hunt is the No. 11 seed in both the 100 hurdles (17.51) and 300 hurdles (50.36). Freshman Kari Hemmelgarn (50.49) is seeded 13th in the 300 hurdles, senior Sara Garringer (95 feet, 11 inches) is 12th in the discus and freshman Kelsey Wood (4 feet, 11 inches) is 14th in the high jump.

All three Patriot relays also earned spots in the regional meet with the 4x800 team of Johnson, Jessica Mosier, Allison Fullenkamp and Tina Gingrasso seeded 10th at 10:39.25. Fullenkamp will not be able to run at Lawrence North after breaking her foot at the sectional meet.

The 4x100 relay team of Current, Wood, Nicole Pfeifer and Janel Chittum is seeded 15th at 54.51.

Johnson, Hemmelgarn, Mosier and Gingrasso is seeded 16th in the 4x400 relay with a time of 4:29.40.[[In-content Ad]]