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Local Warsaw Track and Field athletes represented the community well this past weekend at the Nike Indoor Nationals Track and Field meet. The group of six WR2 runners along with Nike Elite’s Jordan Randall competed in 10 events over the four days in New York City.
Taking place at the historic Armory Track and Field Center, these athletes gained tremendous experience as well as exposure to what T&F truly is at a national level.
Freshmen Gracie Boren, Finley Hummitch, and Dani Rastrelli kicked things off for the group competing in the Freshmen divisions of the 400m, 60m, and Mile events. Hummitch ran an 8.45, Boren 1:01.94, and Rastrelli a 5:23.08 true mile. While these were not all personal bests, they were solid times for early March competition, especially after a long day of traveling and the first-race nerves that come with running at this level of an event.
Day 2 of the meet included these and the other three upperclassmen in a variety of relays. Dani Rastrelli was joined by sister Sammi Rastrell, Eden Metz, and Savannah Purdy for the 4xMile. Despite it being Friday the 13th, the distance runners ensured they were in control of their results, and did not let any “bad luck” occur.
Clocking in a 21:34.41 finish resulted in a 5th place podium finish and recognition as All-Americans. Boren and Hummitch joined Purdy and Sammi Rastrelli to conclude the day with a 15th place Sprint Medley finish. Day 3 included another relay for the robust group of WR2 runners. Hummitch, Boren, Dani Rastrelli, and Metz took to the line the 4x400M relay and a 15th place finish. Metz doubled on Saturday, also competing in the Championship 800m race with a 2:18.8 finish.
The highly-anticipated Championship High Jump competition also occurred on Saturday. Warsaw’s Jordan Randall was part of the elite field of athletes comprised of three of the top five high jumpers in the nation.
Randall passed on several heights, the last to enter the competition at 6-08.75 feet, easily clearing the bar. The field was reduced to eight as the bar was raised another two inches. After missing his first attempt, Randall would go on to clear the next two bars on his first attempt.
Down to just two jumpers after the 7-00.25 height, Randall locked in his second consecutive Indoor National Championship when he cleared 7-01.25 on his first attempt and his only remaining competitor missed his three attempts. With the championship locked up, Randall would attempt 7-03.75, narrowly missing on his attempts.
Randall is one of only five athletes in the history of the meet to be a back to back champion in this event. Randall has been ranked #1 in the nation throughout the Indoor Season and is looking to break the Indiana indoor state record and be the first three-time winner at next week’s Hoosier State Relays in Indianapolis. Randall has held the top seed in each of his four years of high school.
Purdy, Metz, and the Rastrelli sisters stepped back onto the track on Sunday, competing in the 4x800m championship relay. The group had goals of earning another All-American finish and setting the WCHS school record for this event.
Despite being challenged with significant congestion, bumping, shoe malfunction, and being boxed in numerous times during the race, the group ran a 9:48.0 race resulting in a 16th place finish and earned Second-team All-American recognition. With this being the third or fourth event for these athletes, the group quickly turned to the excitement around what they can accomplish with “fresh” legs at next week’s HSR meet, where they will be competing for a podium finish and setting the school record.
With no rest after this race, Purdy and the Rastrelli’s were asked to compete in the state-based DMR event. The Warsaw athletes were paired with Bloomington South’s Lexi Kollbaum. Exhausted, but energized by this opportunity, the group ran an impressive final relay, finishing 7th.
