Central, Warsaw Picked To Vie For Sectional Title
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Though girls track coaches Kirt Hunsberger of NorthWood and Kevin Gilbert of Wawasee don't claim to be fortune tellers, but when asked who were the frontrunners to win tonight's Warsaw sectional, they both said the same thing.
"It's gonna be Warsaw and Elkhart Central," Hunsberger said. "It'll be real tight between them, but they could walk away from everyone else. There's a lot of talent in those two squads."
Said Gilbert: "Obviously Warsaw and Elkhart Central are two strong teams."
How strong are the Tigers?
Warsaw ran through the Northern Lakes Conference portion of its schedule with a 6-0 record and also won the conference meet, the first time it won the title since 1992. Warsaw's Paul Boyd was named NLC coach of the year.
Also on the Tigers' resume this year is a 10-1 overall record, a second-place finish at the Kokomo Relays and a team title at the Turtle Town Relays in Churubusco.
Tonight's sectional will kick off with field events starting at 5:30 p.m. Finals for the 3200 relay will begin at 5:40 p.m. Running trials and finals will begin at 6 and 7 p.m., respectively.
The 12-team field includes Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Howe Military, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Warsaw and Wawasee.
A year ago Northridge won the sectional title, with Warsaw and Elkhart Central tied for second.
"I think they're a good solid third or second," said Boyd when asked where the defending champion might fit into the scenario. "They'll be a factor."
Boyd listed the 3200 relay, 1600 relay, 800 and 3200 as Warsaw's strong events. He said his discus and shot put competitors are now throwing consistently.
"I'm real excited about Hillary Barlow," Boyd said of his two-miler. "She was not healthy this time last year. She's healthy now and her history shows what she can do."
Her history shows that she's lost to just one girl this year that will be involved in tonight's contest - Northridge's Natalie Ewing.
"Every time those two run against each other they set personal records," Boyd said. "They bring out the best in each other, and they're both juniors."
Boyd's daughter, senior Summer Boyd, advanced to the state finals a year ago in the 800. The elder Boyd expects the same this year.
"Summer has a very good chance," Paul Boyd said. "Renee Slabaugh is the No. 1 seed. She's basically a sprinter. Summer is more of an endurance sprinter. It'll be a matchup of wills."
The top four teams or individuals in each event will advance to the regional round of the state tournament.
NorthWood enters tonight's Warsaw sectional with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the NLC, a tie for third with Plymouth.
Grace Bonewitz, now graduated, advanced to state in the hurdles for NorthWood a year ago. Shelly Stichter, a senior, advanced in the high jump.
"She (Stichter) is our second jumper right now," Hunsberger said. "Carol Duncan is about a 1/4 inch higher. It's a pretty tough regional, so we'll take it one step at a time."
Duncan, a junior, won the shot put event at the conference championships.
"We'll be strong in the high jump and shot put," Hunsberger said. "Carol Duncan won the conference. Natalie Nunemaker, who had been our No. 1 shot putter, was second. Both are throwing 38 feet consistently. That'll definately be our strongest event."
For Wawasee, Staci Weisser advanced to the state finals in the high jump last year, finishing third with a jump of 5'5".
"We'd like to get Staci to move on in the high jump and long jump," Gilbert said, "Ericka Auker in the 100 and 300 hurdles and get the 4x4 relay team to move on."
Tippecanoe Valley will host a sectional tonight, with field events and the 3200 relay beginning at 5:30 p.m. Running trials will start at 6 p.m., with the finals slated to start at 7 p.m.
The field of teams includes Caston, Culver, CMA, Manchester, Northfield, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth, Rochester, Triton, Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
When: Today. Field events start at 5:30 p.m. Finals for the 3200 relay begin at 5:40 p.m. Running trials start at 6 p.m. Running finals begin at 7 p.m.
Where: Lakeview Middle School
Who: Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Howe Military, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Warsaw, Wawasee
TIPPECANOE VALLEY SECTIONAL
When: May 16. Field events and 3200 relay finals start at 5:30 p.m. Running trials start at 6 p.m. Running finals start at 7 p.m.
Where: Tippecanoe Valley High School
Who: Caston, Culver, CMA, Manchester, Northfield, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth, Rochester, Triton, Whitko, Tippecanoe Valley [[In-content Ad]]
Though girls track coaches Kirt Hunsberger of NorthWood and Kevin Gilbert of Wawasee don't claim to be fortune tellers, but when asked who were the frontrunners to win tonight's Warsaw sectional, they both said the same thing.
"It's gonna be Warsaw and Elkhart Central," Hunsberger said. "It'll be real tight between them, but they could walk away from everyone else. There's a lot of talent in those two squads."
Said Gilbert: "Obviously Warsaw and Elkhart Central are two strong teams."
How strong are the Tigers?
Warsaw ran through the Northern Lakes Conference portion of its schedule with a 6-0 record and also won the conference meet, the first time it won the title since 1992. Warsaw's Paul Boyd was named NLC coach of the year.
Also on the Tigers' resume this year is a 10-1 overall record, a second-place finish at the Kokomo Relays and a team title at the Turtle Town Relays in Churubusco.
Tonight's sectional will kick off with field events starting at 5:30 p.m. Finals for the 3200 relay will begin at 5:40 p.m. Running trials and finals will begin at 6 and 7 p.m., respectively.
The 12-team field includes Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Howe Military, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Warsaw and Wawasee.
A year ago Northridge won the sectional title, with Warsaw and Elkhart Central tied for second.
"I think they're a good solid third or second," said Boyd when asked where the defending champion might fit into the scenario. "They'll be a factor."
Boyd listed the 3200 relay, 1600 relay, 800 and 3200 as Warsaw's strong events. He said his discus and shot put competitors are now throwing consistently.
"I'm real excited about Hillary Barlow," Boyd said of his two-miler. "She was not healthy this time last year. She's healthy now and her history shows what she can do."
Her history shows that she's lost to just one girl this year that will be involved in tonight's contest - Northridge's Natalie Ewing.
"Every time those two run against each other they set personal records," Boyd said. "They bring out the best in each other, and they're both juniors."
Boyd's daughter, senior Summer Boyd, advanced to the state finals a year ago in the 800. The elder Boyd expects the same this year.
"Summer has a very good chance," Paul Boyd said. "Renee Slabaugh is the No. 1 seed. She's basically a sprinter. Summer is more of an endurance sprinter. It'll be a matchup of wills."
The top four teams or individuals in each event will advance to the regional round of the state tournament.
NorthWood enters tonight's Warsaw sectional with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in the NLC, a tie for third with Plymouth.
Grace Bonewitz, now graduated, advanced to state in the hurdles for NorthWood a year ago. Shelly Stichter, a senior, advanced in the high jump.
"She (Stichter) is our second jumper right now," Hunsberger said. "Carol Duncan is about a 1/4 inch higher. It's a pretty tough regional, so we'll take it one step at a time."
Duncan, a junior, won the shot put event at the conference championships.
"We'll be strong in the high jump and shot put," Hunsberger said. "Carol Duncan won the conference. Natalie Nunemaker, who had been our No. 1 shot putter, was second. Both are throwing 38 feet consistently. That'll definately be our strongest event."
For Wawasee, Staci Weisser advanced to the state finals in the high jump last year, finishing third with a jump of 5'5".
"We'd like to get Staci to move on in the high jump and long jump," Gilbert said, "Ericka Auker in the 100 and 300 hurdles and get the 4x4 relay team to move on."
Tippecanoe Valley will host a sectional tonight, with field events and the 3200 relay beginning at 5:30 p.m. Running trials will start at 6 p.m., with the finals slated to start at 7 p.m.
The field of teams includes Caston, Culver, CMA, Manchester, Northfield, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth, Rochester, Triton, Whitko and Tippecanoe Valley.
WARSAW SECTIONAL
When: Today. Field events start at 5:30 p.m. Finals for the 3200 relay begin at 5:40 p.m. Running trials start at 6 p.m. Running finals begin at 7 p.m.
Where: Lakeview Middle School
Who: Bethany Christian, Concord, Elkhart Central, Elkhart Memorial, Fairfield, Goshen, Howe Military, Jimtown, Northridge, NorthWood, Warsaw, Wawasee
TIPPECANOE VALLEY SECTIONAL
When: May 16. Field events and 3200 relay finals start at 5:30 p.m. Running trials start at 6 p.m. Running finals start at 7 p.m.
Where: Tippecanoe Valley High School
Who: Caston, Culver, CMA, Manchester, Northfield, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth, Rochester, Triton, Whitko, Tippecanoe Valley [[In-content Ad]]