Starfires first in opener

MONROE — If the first meet of the year was any indication, the defending conference champions are on their way to another title.
South Adams High School’s girls track team, which was the Allen County Athletic Conference champions a year ago, opened its season with two wins Tuesday against Jay County and host Adams Central.
The Starfires won seven events, scoring 58 points to edge Jay County by three. Adams Central was third with 43.
The host Jets won the boys meet, totaling 70 points, 0.5 ahead of South Adams. Jay County was third with 16.5 points.
Addie Wanner, Caroline Kloepper and Olivia Von Gunten each won a pair of individual events for the SAHS girls (3-0).
Wanner was first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.3 seconds. She also cleared an even 5 feet to win the high jump.
Kloepper won the sprinting events, finishing the 100 dash in an even 13 seconds and crossing the finish line in 27.2 seconds to win the 200 dash. Von Gunten won the 1,600 run in 5 minutes, 44 seconds, and claiming the 800 run in 2:33.
Kylie Grabau was the only other SAHS winner, tossing the discus 91 feet, 2 inches.
For Jay County (3-1), Erika Kunkler won the 400 in 1:04 and joined Kendra Muhenkamp, cousin Gabby Kunkler and Megan Wellman to finish with a time of 10:44 for a victory in the 4x800 relay. She also teamed with Emma Laux, Britlyn Dues and Muhlenkamp to win the 4x400 relay in 4:24.
Wellman (3,200 run – 13:20) and Dues (300 hurdles – 49.7) also earned individual wins for the Patriots.
South Adams senior Drew LeFever won three events — the 100 dash (11.7), shot put (48 feet, 2 inches) and discus (144 feet, 7 inches). Bailey McIntire was the fastest distance runner, winning the 1,600 in 4:43 and the 3,200 in 10:33.
Paul Neuenschwander (400 – 54.6) and Lars In’t Groen (high jump – 5 feet, 8 inches) also won events for the Starfires.
Jay County senior Nathan Heitkamp had the only first-place finish for the Patriots, leaping to a distance of 19 feet, 6.5 inches, in the long jump.