Patriot track teams top Starfires (04/30/03)

Everything is starting to fall into place for coach Shane Hill and the Jay County boys track team. Michael Mosser hopes his Starfire teams get their acts together soon.

Coming off a second-place finish at the Muncie Relays Saturday, the Patriot boys picked up their first win of the season Monday, defeating South Adams 70-53. Jay County’s girls team also defeated the Starfires, 92.5-30.5.

Paul Imel led the victory for Jay County with three individual wins. He nearly added a fourth win in the closing 1600-meter relay as he rallied from a huge deficit on his anchor leg only to fall just short at the finish line.

Imel did win all three of the evening’s dashes, taking first in the 100-meter dash in 11.19, the 200-meter dash in 23.53 and the 400-meter dash in 54.34.

Adam Grile added a pair of individual wins of his own, taking first in the 110-meter hurdles in 16.9, and winning the high jump at 5 feet, six inches. He also teamed with Steven Castillo, Alex Loucks and Lucas McBride in winning the 400-meter relay in 47.88.

David Stith took first in the shot put at 43 feet, one-half inch in front of teammate Ryan Wenger. He also placed second behind teammate Steven Castillo, who had a winning throw of 127 feet in the discus.

Lucas McBride took the other individual victory for the Patriots in the long jump at 18 feet, five inches.

“Imel had a great meet, and Stith did very well in the field events,” said Hill. “Lucas McBride stepped up pretty big tonight.

“Those are the people that stand out, and those guys are pretty consistent. Now we just have to have the rest of the guys follow their lead.”

Mosser said he was impressed with Tim Conrad, who won the 800- and 1600-meter runs, and Josh Sprunger, who was first in the 3200-meter run. Darius Martens had the only other South Adams win in the 300-meter hurdles.

Other than those efforts, Mosser was far from thrilled.

“Poor,” he said of the team’s effort. “I’m just not happy. Don’t get me wrong we had some kids who stepped up and competed. But, team-wise I’m disappointed.”

Mosser pointed to Kristen Whitehurst as a leader in the girls events as she gave South Adams one of its three victories by winning the 3200-meter run. Jenny Lehman took the 100-meter hurdles and Laura Meshberger won the long jump.

Jamie Bruggeman accounted for four Patriot wins against the Starfires, taking individual victories in the 100-meter dash (13.51) and the 200-meter dash (28.57). She teamed with Danielle Michael, Lindsay Friddle and Jessica Heitkamp to win the 1600-meter relay (4:39.8) and joined Michael, Friddle and Siegrist to take first in the 400-meter relay (54.74).

Nicole Van Skyock added two individual wins, finishing first in the 1600-meter run (5:41) and the 800-meter run (2:37). She teamed with Megan Franks, Amber Golden and Jill Roughia to win the 3200-meter relay (11:22).

Kristina Link was first in the shot put (34 feet, 11 inches), Jessica Heitkamp won the 400-meter dash (1:07.24), Lindsay Friddle was first in the 300-meter hurdles (53.10) and Heather Manor took the discus (95 feet, eight inches).

“I guess with the prom the weekend before they really came through,” said Jay County girls coach Tyler Caldwell. “They ran hard. I felt like the focus and the intensity was there.”[[In-content Ad]]