Warsaw Track Team Takes Key NLC Meet
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
DUNLAP -ÊTrack meets are never boring when three Northern Lakes Conference teams face off. Monday night was no different as Warsaw, Concord and Northridge met for a crucial NLC contest.
After Northridge went 6-0 and won the NLC outright last year, the Raiders have been considered one of the teams to beat this season. And Warsaw accomplished that feat Monday night at Concord.
The Tigers won the three-way meet, scoring 60.5 points to Concord's 50 and Northridge's 45.5.
Although Warsaw won the meet by 10.5 points, the meet was a dogfight until the end. After six events, Warsaw held a slim 25.5-22 lead over Concord, and Northridge was bringing up the rear with 15.5 points, but that changed quickly after the 1,600.
Northridge, a team known for its prowess in distance events, had runners in first and second place going into the final turn of the last lap of the 1,600. However, on the last straightaway of the race, Warsaw's Rachel Rondeau made her move. She passed Northridge's Monica Spangle to take second place in the event.
"Rachel came on and busted them up, kept them from placing first and second," said Warsaw coach Paul Boyd. "They (Northridge) got seven points instead of eight, and every point counts when you get down to it."
That race closed the gap between the teams to just six points all around. After seven events, Warsaw led with 28.5 points, while Concord and Northridge were close behind with 23 and 22.5 points respectively.
Things took another turn after the 300 hurdles and the shot put results were tallied. Concord earned first and third places in each of those events to take the lead from the Tigers, 42-39.5, while Northridge trailed with 33.5.
However, that Concord lead was short-lived. Warsaw's Summer Boyd and Kim Kurosky placed first and second in the 800 to take the lead once again.
"We're pretty deep to the 400," said Paul Boyd. "We were down (after the 300 hurdles and the shot put), but we get to the strong point of our batting order later. Our heavy hitters come up at the end, so I felt pretty confident that we could come back."
The Tigers never gave up the lead after that point. Warsaw earned four points in the 200, four points in the 3200, and five points in the 1600 relay to secure the 60.5 points that earned the Tigers the win. Concord finished with 50 points and Northridge ended with 45.5
In all, Warsaw earned five first-place finishes, including all three relays, seven second-place finishes and five third-place wins.
"As a whole the team did very well," said Boyd. "That's what makes track interesting. People compete in individual events, but they are competing as a team as well.
"We have good numbers and good team depth. We're talented. I don't want to sound cocky, but there's no other way to say it, we have a lot of talent on our team this year."
Warsaw will travel to Goshen for another NLC matchup with NorthWood and Goshen Thursday at 5 p.m.
WARSAW 60.5, CONCORD 50,
NORTHRIDGE 45.5
Long Jump -Ê1. Courtney Carr (C) 14-10 3/4; 2. Chelsea Boyd (W); 3. Claire Beckett (W); 4. Mellisa Johnson (W)
High Jump -Ê1. Kim Kurosky (W) 4-10; 2. (tie) Gayle DeWilde (NR) and Erin Cook (W); 4. Sarah Hanan (C)
100 Hurdles -Ê1. Crystal Key (C) 16.79; 2. Farrah Fleischman (NR); 3. Liz Wiggins (W); 4. Ashley Pharis (C); 5. Kelly Hale (C); 6. MacKenzie Scheetz (W)
Discus -Ê1. Jen Hale (C) 100-7; 2. Melanie Chupp (NR); 3. Janna Knisley (W); 4. Ginny Gardonio (W)
100 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 12.5; 2. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 3. Jartu Schulterbrandt (W); 4. Gayle DeWilde (NR); 5. Courtney Case (C); 6. Claire Bultmeier (C); 7. Claire Beckett (W); 8. Erin Cook (W); 9. Amie Long (NR)
1,600 M -Ê1. Natalie Ewing (NR) 5:26.31; 2. Rachel Rondeau (W); 3. Monica Spangle (NR); 4. Catherine Bowen (C)
400 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 1:00.50; 2. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 3. Chelsea Boyd (W); 4. Brittney Raber (W); 5. Rachel Snyder (NR); 6. Jill Wehrley (W); 7. Erica Kepp (C); 8. Katie Yoder (C); 9. Kristen O'Dell
300 Hurdles -Ê1. Crystal Key (C) 49.2; 2. Farrah Fleischman (NR); 3. Nikki Tweet (C); 4. Jennifer Purviance (NR)
800 M -Ê1. Summer Boyd (W) 2:32.70; 2. Kim Kurosky (W); 3. Tiffany Brenneman (NR); 4. Betsy App (NR)
200 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 26.86; 2. Amy Robertson (W); 3. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 4. Claire Beckett (W); 5. Heather O'Dell (NR); 6. Brittney Raber (W); 7. Courtney Carr (C); 8. Connie Long (NR); 9. Claire Bultmeier (C)
3,200 M -Ê1. Natalie Ewing (NR) 11:40.78; 2. Hillary Barlow (W); 3. Monica Spangle (NR); 4. Rachel Rondeau (W)
Shot Put -Ê1. Jen Hale (C) 37-1 1/2; 2. Ginny Gardonio (W); 3. Dynista Jones (C); 4. Pam Guilliams (NR)
3,200 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Hillary Bralow, Rachel Rondeau, Kim Kurosky, Summer Boyd) 10:15.17; 2. Northridge; 3. Concord
400 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Jartu Schulterbrandt, Amy Robertson, Erin Cook, Claire Beckett) 52.86; 2. Northridge; 3. Concord
1,600 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Amy Robertson, Summer Boyd, Brittney Raber, Chelsea Boyd) 4:16.03; 2. Concord; 3. Northridge
JV -ÊWARSAW 64, CONCORD 55, NORTHRIDGE 22
Long Jump -ÊClaire Bultmeier (C) 13-91/4; 2. Krista Kararski (C); 3. Gayle DeWilde (NR); 4. Heather Ollett (NR)
High Jump -Ê1. Kelly Hale (C) 4-4; 2. Janice Firestra (NR); 3. Chelsea Kararski (C)
100 Hurdles -Ê1. Nikki Tweet (C) 17.98; 2. Jennifer Purviance (NR); 3. Rachel Thinas (C)
Discus -Ê1. Heather Walenga (W) 93-11 1/2; 2. Amy Elliott (W); 3. Jessie Yoder (C); 4. Tess Goff (W)
100 M -Ê1. Kim Mohr (NR) 13.65; 2. Katie Yoder (C); 3. Kara France (C); 4. Kristin DeGeeter (W); 5. Amy Ridley (W); 6. Sarah Haman (C)
1600 M -Ê1. Melonie Albert (W) 6:22.90; 2. Kristen Brown (W); 3. Jessica Wehrly (W); 4. Jamie Finn (C)
400 M - 1. Megan Staley (C) 1:10.94; 2. Julie Kennedy (W); 3. Maria Till (W)
300 Hurdles -ÊRachel Thimlar (C) 58.14
800 M -Ê1. Melonie Albert (W) 2:54.15; 2. Kristen Brown (W); 3. Mirah Garcia (NR); 4. Brittany Cripe (C)
200 M -Ê1. Jartu Schulterbrandt (W) 28.01; 2. Kim Mohr (NR); 3. Megan Staley (C); 4. Katy Yoder (C); 5. Kristen DeGeeter
Shot Put -Ê1. Janna Knisley (W) 30-3 1/4; 2. Melanie Chupp (NR); 3. Tarah Russell (C); 4. Heather Walenga (W)
3200 M -Ê1. Jennifer Finch (W) 12:56.79; 2. Catherine Bowen (C)
3200 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (J. Wehrly, K. Brown, M. Albert, J. Finch) 11:16.10; 2. Concord
400 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (M. Johnston, A. Ridley, M. Scheetz, K. DeGeeter) 57.55
1600 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (M. Johnston, J. Wehrly, M. Scheetz, L. Wiggins) 4:37.0; 2. Concord [[In-content Ad]]
DUNLAP -ÊTrack meets are never boring when three Northern Lakes Conference teams face off. Monday night was no different as Warsaw, Concord and Northridge met for a crucial NLC contest.
After Northridge went 6-0 and won the NLC outright last year, the Raiders have been considered one of the teams to beat this season. And Warsaw accomplished that feat Monday night at Concord.
The Tigers won the three-way meet, scoring 60.5 points to Concord's 50 and Northridge's 45.5.
Although Warsaw won the meet by 10.5 points, the meet was a dogfight until the end. After six events, Warsaw held a slim 25.5-22 lead over Concord, and Northridge was bringing up the rear with 15.5 points, but that changed quickly after the 1,600.
Northridge, a team known for its prowess in distance events, had runners in first and second place going into the final turn of the last lap of the 1,600. However, on the last straightaway of the race, Warsaw's Rachel Rondeau made her move. She passed Northridge's Monica Spangle to take second place in the event.
"Rachel came on and busted them up, kept them from placing first and second," said Warsaw coach Paul Boyd. "They (Northridge) got seven points instead of eight, and every point counts when you get down to it."
That race closed the gap between the teams to just six points all around. After seven events, Warsaw led with 28.5 points, while Concord and Northridge were close behind with 23 and 22.5 points respectively.
Things took another turn after the 300 hurdles and the shot put results were tallied. Concord earned first and third places in each of those events to take the lead from the Tigers, 42-39.5, while Northridge trailed with 33.5.
However, that Concord lead was short-lived. Warsaw's Summer Boyd and Kim Kurosky placed first and second in the 800 to take the lead once again.
"We're pretty deep to the 400," said Paul Boyd. "We were down (after the 300 hurdles and the shot put), but we get to the strong point of our batting order later. Our heavy hitters come up at the end, so I felt pretty confident that we could come back."
The Tigers never gave up the lead after that point. Warsaw earned four points in the 200, four points in the 3200, and five points in the 1600 relay to secure the 60.5 points that earned the Tigers the win. Concord finished with 50 points and Northridge ended with 45.5
In all, Warsaw earned five first-place finishes, including all three relays, seven second-place finishes and five third-place wins.
"As a whole the team did very well," said Boyd. "That's what makes track interesting. People compete in individual events, but they are competing as a team as well.
"We have good numbers and good team depth. We're talented. I don't want to sound cocky, but there's no other way to say it, we have a lot of talent on our team this year."
Warsaw will travel to Goshen for another NLC matchup with NorthWood and Goshen Thursday at 5 p.m.
WARSAW 60.5, CONCORD 50,
NORTHRIDGE 45.5
Long Jump -Ê1. Courtney Carr (C) 14-10 3/4; 2. Chelsea Boyd (W); 3. Claire Beckett (W); 4. Mellisa Johnson (W)
High Jump -Ê1. Kim Kurosky (W) 4-10; 2. (tie) Gayle DeWilde (NR) and Erin Cook (W); 4. Sarah Hanan (C)
100 Hurdles -Ê1. Crystal Key (C) 16.79; 2. Farrah Fleischman (NR); 3. Liz Wiggins (W); 4. Ashley Pharis (C); 5. Kelly Hale (C); 6. MacKenzie Scheetz (W)
Discus -Ê1. Jen Hale (C) 100-7; 2. Melanie Chupp (NR); 3. Janna Knisley (W); 4. Ginny Gardonio (W)
100 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 12.5; 2. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 3. Jartu Schulterbrandt (W); 4. Gayle DeWilde (NR); 5. Courtney Case (C); 6. Claire Bultmeier (C); 7. Claire Beckett (W); 8. Erin Cook (W); 9. Amie Long (NR)
1,600 M -Ê1. Natalie Ewing (NR) 5:26.31; 2. Rachel Rondeau (W); 3. Monica Spangle (NR); 4. Catherine Bowen (C)
400 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 1:00.50; 2. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 3. Chelsea Boyd (W); 4. Brittney Raber (W); 5. Rachel Snyder (NR); 6. Jill Wehrley (W); 7. Erica Kepp (C); 8. Katie Yoder (C); 9. Kristen O'Dell
300 Hurdles -Ê1. Crystal Key (C) 49.2; 2. Farrah Fleischman (NR); 3. Nikki Tweet (C); 4. Jennifer Purviance (NR)
800 M -Ê1. Summer Boyd (W) 2:32.70; 2. Kim Kurosky (W); 3. Tiffany Brenneman (NR); 4. Betsy App (NR)
200 M -Ê1. Courtney Falconer (C) 26.86; 2. Amy Robertson (W); 3. Cassie Bjurstrom (NR); 4. Claire Beckett (W); 5. Heather O'Dell (NR); 6. Brittney Raber (W); 7. Courtney Carr (C); 8. Connie Long (NR); 9. Claire Bultmeier (C)
3,200 M -Ê1. Natalie Ewing (NR) 11:40.78; 2. Hillary Barlow (W); 3. Monica Spangle (NR); 4. Rachel Rondeau (W)
Shot Put -Ê1. Jen Hale (C) 37-1 1/2; 2. Ginny Gardonio (W); 3. Dynista Jones (C); 4. Pam Guilliams (NR)
3,200 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Hillary Bralow, Rachel Rondeau, Kim Kurosky, Summer Boyd) 10:15.17; 2. Northridge; 3. Concord
400 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Jartu Schulterbrandt, Amy Robertson, Erin Cook, Claire Beckett) 52.86; 2. Northridge; 3. Concord
1,600 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (Amy Robertson, Summer Boyd, Brittney Raber, Chelsea Boyd) 4:16.03; 2. Concord; 3. Northridge
JV -ÊWARSAW 64, CONCORD 55, NORTHRIDGE 22
Long Jump -ÊClaire Bultmeier (C) 13-91/4; 2. Krista Kararski (C); 3. Gayle DeWilde (NR); 4. Heather Ollett (NR)
High Jump -Ê1. Kelly Hale (C) 4-4; 2. Janice Firestra (NR); 3. Chelsea Kararski (C)
100 Hurdles -Ê1. Nikki Tweet (C) 17.98; 2. Jennifer Purviance (NR); 3. Rachel Thinas (C)
Discus -Ê1. Heather Walenga (W) 93-11 1/2; 2. Amy Elliott (W); 3. Jessie Yoder (C); 4. Tess Goff (W)
100 M -Ê1. Kim Mohr (NR) 13.65; 2. Katie Yoder (C); 3. Kara France (C); 4. Kristin DeGeeter (W); 5. Amy Ridley (W); 6. Sarah Haman (C)
1600 M -Ê1. Melonie Albert (W) 6:22.90; 2. Kristen Brown (W); 3. Jessica Wehrly (W); 4. Jamie Finn (C)
400 M - 1. Megan Staley (C) 1:10.94; 2. Julie Kennedy (W); 3. Maria Till (W)
300 Hurdles -ÊRachel Thimlar (C) 58.14
800 M -Ê1. Melonie Albert (W) 2:54.15; 2. Kristen Brown (W); 3. Mirah Garcia (NR); 4. Brittany Cripe (C)
200 M -Ê1. Jartu Schulterbrandt (W) 28.01; 2. Kim Mohr (NR); 3. Megan Staley (C); 4. Katy Yoder (C); 5. Kristen DeGeeter
Shot Put -Ê1. Janna Knisley (W) 30-3 1/4; 2. Melanie Chupp (NR); 3. Tarah Russell (C); 4. Heather Walenga (W)
3200 M -Ê1. Jennifer Finch (W) 12:56.79; 2. Catherine Bowen (C)
3200 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (J. Wehrly, K. Brown, M. Albert, J. Finch) 11:16.10; 2. Concord
400 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (M. Johnston, A. Ridley, M. Scheetz, K. DeGeeter) 57.55
1600 Relay -Ê1. Warsaw (M. Johnston, J. Wehrly, M. Scheetz, L. Wiggins) 4:37.0; 2. Concord [[In-content Ad]]