Wildcats Host Four-Team Meet In Soggy ConditionsSOUTH WHITLEY — The Whitko girls track and field team looks to be a contender for its second-straight Three Rivers Conference title, but the Whitko boys’ grip on the conference may be slipping. Winners of the last five TRC championships, the Whitko boys track and field team’s 80 points defeated Northfield’s 65 Tuesday night in South Whitley, but not Manchester’s 85. “We had a good night, but there were places we could have done better,” Whitko boys coach Ron Cherry said. “We’ll just have to learn from it.” Cherry admitted his numbers are down this season, but he still has the fastest runner in the TRC. In a rain, Whitko senior Connor Stouder, who’ll be running for the University of Indianapolis next year, won the 100 (11.35), 200 (23.02) and 400 (53.63), while also making up nearly 50 meters as the anchor leg of the winning 1600 relay (3:42.3). “I hate to say it, but he should probably be the favorite in the 100 and 200,” Cherry said, referring to the TRC Meet. “We’ve wanted to run him in the (1600) relay, and this turned out to be a good one to do it in. He did a great job.” Despite Stouder’s performance, as well as Kuyler Bailey (800, 2:07), Brady Herendeen (long jump, 19-6.5) and Jacob Helton (pole vault, 8-6) also getting wins, it was Manchester’s depth that prevailed. Brodi Carter took first place in the 110 hurdles (15.85) and 300 hurdles (45.25), as well as the high jump (5-8), while Cole Sellers took the top spot in the shot put (43-6) and discus (125-9.5), helping the Squires get the victory. In the girls meet, the Lady Wildcats took first place in six of the 16 events, and seemed to take coach Gary Sims a little off guard with the victory. Leading his team to the win Tuesday was Josie Sparks and Miranda Terrill, who each won two individual events. “Miranda’s been real solid this season,” Sims said of the junior who took first in the 400 (1:05) and high jump (5-0). “She’s hoping to break the high jump record again. It’s 5-3 here at Whitko, which she did as a freshman. She’s working on her technique and its coming around.” Sparks was the top sprinter at the meet, finishing first in the 100 (13.77) and 200 (28.05). “Josie Sparks is injured, so we kind of went light on her, but she’s one to watch,” Sim said. “I hope to take her pretty far in the 400.” Terrill was also a member of the winning 1600 relay (4:33), along with Taylor Zwick, Brigit Nemitz and Holly Frantz, with the Lady Wildcats’ other first-place finish being Elizabeth Hardesty’s clearance of 7-6 at pole vault. After winning Saturday’s Black Division of the Turtle Town Classic in Churubusco, the Whitko girls appear to be hitting a stride, but Sims is cautious. “Having a meet like that was kind of a surprise,” he said about the weekend relays. “I don’t like to count points. I hate to count points, but halfway through, they started announcing it and I began to think about. Things just came together Saturday.” And things may continue to come together, as the TRC Meet isn’t that far off, taking place May 9 at Southwood. “It’s still early for us and in two weeks, we’re done,” Sims said after his team’s third competition of the season. “It’s been really difficult to keep the girls focused.” The boys will join the girls at the conference meet, and in-between now and then, Cherry hopes to get some more time outside. “Like all teams, we’re struggling with the weather and getting meets and practices in,” he said. “We’ve struggled a little bit. We’re dealing with it and moving forward.”
