Warrior Track Team Moves Record To 3-0

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Jen Gibson, Times-Union Sports Writer-

COLUMBIA CITY -ÊThe Wawasee boys track team traveled to Columbia City Wednesday night and came home with a 77-55 victory that sends the Warriors into spring break with a perfect 3-0 record.

Wawasee took home first- place finishes in 10 of 16 events to send the Warriors to spring break on a high note.

"They gave us some pretty decent competition today," said Wawasee coach Kerry Murphy. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we saw some good performances."

Several Warriors recorded personal bests at the meet as Jeff Moerchen (1600 meter), Jamie Salazar (shot put) and Tom Bryan (discus) each passed their previous best performances.

Moerchen and Rob Chalfant battled for first and second place in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter races. Chalfant came out on top in the 1600 meter with a time of 4:46.8 to earn first place honors, while Moerchen ran a 4:47.2 race. Dustin Lytle placed third in the 1600 to complete the Warrior sweep of the race. The results were reversed in the 3200 meter competition as Moerchen ran a 10:49.9 race to edge out Chalfant, who crossed the line in 10:51.6 to place second.

"Our distance runners had a pretty decent performance today," said Murphy. "Rob Chalfant ran well, and Jeff Moerchen had a personal best in the 1600."

Moerchen was also the anchor for the first place 3200 meter relay team with Dustin Young, Jerid Stoffel and Travis Speicher. Stoffel earned first place honors in the 800 meter run as well.

Salazar and Bryan notched personal best performances in the shot put and discus, respectively, to surprise a Columbia City team that is known for its field event prowess. Salazar, in his first season of competiton in track, threw the shot put 47-2 to take first place while Bryan tossed the discus 130-5 to win the event. Salazar also placed second in the discus by throwing 121 feet.

"We had Salazar throw 47-2, and he is relatively new to throwing," said Murphy. "This season is his first time throwing, and this is only his second meet. It was rather surprising."

Wawasee swept the 110 meter hurdle competition as the Warriors won the top three spots in the race. Chris Lambert brought home a first place finish in the 110 meter high hurdles to remain undefeated on the season, while Chris Cline and Justin Mock placed second and thrid, respectively. However, Lambert pulled a muscle in the 100 meter dash and did not compete in any other events during the meet.

"Chris Lambert did a good job in the hurdles," said Murphy. "He pulled a quad in the 100, but I think he'll be OK. He plans to practice tomorrow, and we'll go from there."

Rustin Mikel led the Warriors in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.7, and he anchored the first place 1600 meter relay team along with Young, Stoffel nd Cline. Cline also placed first in the 300 meter run.

"Any time you can come home with a win is good," said Murphy. "I thought we made a lot of improvements in this meet. We didn't put the kids in all their events tonight so we could give some others a chance to see what they could do."

Wawasee 77, Columbia City 55

3200 M Relay -Ê1. Wawasee (Young, Stoffel, Speicher, Moerchen) 9:01.0, 2. Columbia City

110 Hurdles -Ê1. Lambert (W) 16.4, 2. Cline (W), 3. Mock (W)

100 M Dash -Ê1. Stemen (CC) 11.6, 2. Niece (CC), 3. Parker (CC)

High Jump -Ê1. Moore (CC) 5-10, 2. Hyndman (CC), 3. Pine (CC)

1600 M Run -Ê1. Chalfant (W) 4:46.8, 2. Moerchen (W), 3. Lytle (W)

Discus - 1. Bryan (W) 130-5, 2. Salazar (W), 3. Krause (CC)

400 M Relay -Ê1. Columbia City 46.7, 2. Wawasee

400 M Dash -Ê1. Mikel (W) 53.6, 2. Chapman (CC), 3. DeWitt (CC)

Pole Vault -Ê1. Henney (CC), 2. Pine (CC), 3. Olson (W)

Long Jump -Ê1. Parker (CC), 2. Moore (CC), 3. Klenke (W)

300 M Hurdles - 1. Cline (W) 43.6, 2. Mock (W), 3. Russel (CC)

800 M Run - 1. Stoffel (W) 2:07.5, 2. Young (W), 3. Bender (CC)

400 M Dash -Ê1. Stemen (CC) 24.2, 2. Klenke (W), 3. Mikel (W)

3200 M Run -Ê1. Moerchen (W) 10:49.9, 2. Chalfant (W), 3. Leininger (CC)

Shot Put - 1. Salazar (W) 47-2, 2. Smith (CC), 3. Elkins (CC)

1600 M Relay -Ê1. Wawasee (Young, Stoffel, Cline, Mikel) 3:49.6, 2. Columbia City [[In-content Ad]]

COLUMBIA CITY -ÊThe Wawasee boys track team traveled to Columbia City Wednesday night and came home with a 77-55 victory that sends the Warriors into spring break with a perfect 3-0 record.

Wawasee took home first- place finishes in 10 of 16 events to send the Warriors to spring break on a high note.

"They gave us some pretty decent competition today," said Wawasee coach Kerry Murphy. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we saw some good performances."

Several Warriors recorded personal bests at the meet as Jeff Moerchen (1600 meter), Jamie Salazar (shot put) and Tom Bryan (discus) each passed their previous best performances.

Moerchen and Rob Chalfant battled for first and second place in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter races. Chalfant came out on top in the 1600 meter with a time of 4:46.8 to earn first place honors, while Moerchen ran a 4:47.2 race. Dustin Lytle placed third in the 1600 to complete the Warrior sweep of the race. The results were reversed in the 3200 meter competition as Moerchen ran a 10:49.9 race to edge out Chalfant, who crossed the line in 10:51.6 to place second.

"Our distance runners had a pretty decent performance today," said Murphy. "Rob Chalfant ran well, and Jeff Moerchen had a personal best in the 1600."

Moerchen was also the anchor for the first place 3200 meter relay team with Dustin Young, Jerid Stoffel and Travis Speicher. Stoffel earned first place honors in the 800 meter run as well.

Salazar and Bryan notched personal best performances in the shot put and discus, respectively, to surprise a Columbia City team that is known for its field event prowess. Salazar, in his first season of competiton in track, threw the shot put 47-2 to take first place while Bryan tossed the discus 130-5 to win the event. Salazar also placed second in the discus by throwing 121 feet.

"We had Salazar throw 47-2, and he is relatively new to throwing," said Murphy. "This season is his first time throwing, and this is only his second meet. It was rather surprising."

Wawasee swept the 110 meter hurdle competition as the Warriors won the top three spots in the race. Chris Lambert brought home a first place finish in the 110 meter high hurdles to remain undefeated on the season, while Chris Cline and Justin Mock placed second and thrid, respectively. However, Lambert pulled a muscle in the 100 meter dash and did not compete in any other events during the meet.

"Chris Lambert did a good job in the hurdles," said Murphy. "He pulled a quad in the 100, but I think he'll be OK. He plans to practice tomorrow, and we'll go from there."

Rustin Mikel led the Warriors in the 400 meter dash with a time of 53.7, and he anchored the first place 1600 meter relay team along with Young, Stoffel nd Cline. Cline also placed first in the 300 meter run.

"Any time you can come home with a win is good," said Murphy. "I thought we made a lot of improvements in this meet. We didn't put the kids in all their events tonight so we could give some others a chance to see what they could do."

Wawasee 77, Columbia City 55

3200 M Relay -Ê1. Wawasee (Young, Stoffel, Speicher, Moerchen) 9:01.0, 2. Columbia City

110 Hurdles -Ê1. Lambert (W) 16.4, 2. Cline (W), 3. Mock (W)

100 M Dash -Ê1. Stemen (CC) 11.6, 2. Niece (CC), 3. Parker (CC)

High Jump -Ê1. Moore (CC) 5-10, 2. Hyndman (CC), 3. Pine (CC)

1600 M Run -Ê1. Chalfant (W) 4:46.8, 2. Moerchen (W), 3. Lytle (W)

Discus - 1. Bryan (W) 130-5, 2. Salazar (W), 3. Krause (CC)

400 M Relay -Ê1. Columbia City 46.7, 2. Wawasee

400 M Dash -Ê1. Mikel (W) 53.6, 2. Chapman (CC), 3. DeWitt (CC)

Pole Vault -Ê1. Henney (CC), 2. Pine (CC), 3. Olson (W)

Long Jump -Ê1. Parker (CC), 2. Moore (CC), 3. Klenke (W)

300 M Hurdles - 1. Cline (W) 43.6, 2. Mock (W), 3. Russel (CC)

800 M Run - 1. Stoffel (W) 2:07.5, 2. Young (W), 3. Bender (CC)

400 M Dash -Ê1. Stemen (CC) 24.2, 2. Klenke (W), 3. Mikel (W)

3200 M Run -Ê1. Moerchen (W) 10:49.9, 2. Chalfant (W), 3. Leininger (CC)

Shot Put - 1. Salazar (W) 47-2, 2. Smith (CC), 3. Elkins (CC)

1600 M Relay -Ê1. Wawasee (Young, Stoffel, Cline, Mikel) 3:49.6, 2. Columbia City [[In-content Ad]]

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