Record breaker (05/09/07)

A few weeks ago the Jay County coaches got together with Amanda Johnson to decide when she should take her shot at the 400-meter dash school record. They chose Tuesday night, and Johnson did the rest.

The Patriot junior snapped the 16-year-old record in the JCHS girls track team's 67-56 loss to the Muncie Central Bearcats. The boys team also lost, 100-32.

"We're real happy with Amanda's progress," said Jay County coach Brian McEvoy of Johnson. "She's got the most raw ability of anybody on the team. She can go out and basically win any event at the conference meet on Friday that she wants to."

Johnson gave the Patriots something to remember in their final home meet of the season.

Chasing 2006 200-meter dash state runner-up Nikki Smith of Central, she crossed the finish line second but with an expectant look on her face. Johnson's look turned to a grin when she heard her time - 59.08 seconds - which solidly broke the school mark.

Smith, who was also fifth in the state in the 100-meter dash a year ago, won in 56.7, and Johnson said the Bearcat star was the reason she and her coaches targeted this particular meet.

"We knew if I was anywhere close to her then I would get it," said Johnson, who also holds the school's 800 run record. "I wasn't even really expecting to try to get it. But I had two weeks to prepare myself mentally. ...

"Before (the Blackford Invitational) Friday I had been running 1:03s. But then Friday when I ran a 60 that made me realize I was closer than I thought."

Johnson ran a determined race as she chased the record, which was previously held by Cindy Moser (1991) at 59.8.

Two seniors added wins in the final home meet of their careers.

Jessica Mosier led a Patriot sweep of the 800 run as she finished in 2-minutes, 46.1 seconds. She was ahead of fellow senior Allison Fullenkamp (2:47.2) and freshman Erica Butcher (2:49).

Sara Garringer eked out a win in the shot put by 31/2 inches at a distance of 28 feet, 31/2 inches.

Jay County picked up most of its points in the distance events, with sophomore Kylie Wellman adding a pair of victories to go along with Mosier's triumph in the 800. Wellman led another Patriot sweep in front of Fullenkamp and Butcher in the 1,600 run at 6:09, and took the top spot in the 3,200 run at 14:32 with Cassie Laux in second.

Erika Hunt took the 100 hurdles in 16.74, and Jay County was also first in the 4x800 relay in 11:07.

Lindsey Current also had a highlight with her second-place finish in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 4 inches for the first time in competition. A jump of 5-feet, 41/2 inches at the regional meet in two weeks would guarantee a state berth.

McEvoy said he feels good going into the tournament season, which begins with the Olympic Athletic Conference Tournament Friday night at Connersville.

"In the conference we should contend," he said. "On paper it looks like it'll be a pretty close meet. ... It's really up for grabs between us, Connersville and Anderson Highland."

The Patriot boys managed just two wins on the night, both by sophomores.

Brandon Reynard earned the top spot in a tight 100 dash, edging Marcus Humphrey of Central by just four hundredths of a second in 11.36. Dexter Shreve won the high jump at 6 feet even.[[In-content Ad]]