This Saturday, the Warsaw Track and Field Programs will be hosting their ‘Warsaw Tiger Showcase’ indoor track and field meet for the 2024 season.  The excitement and buzz from across the state has been ratcheted up quite a bit as elite fields of competitors across multiple events have been assembled to participate.
With over 450 athletes registered, there will be competition at all levels. This includes two nationally ranked All-American athletes, the Gatorade Indiana Girls XC Player of the Year, ten athletes who will compete at the NCAA D1 level next year, and fourteen Indiana All-State athletes. This by far will be an indoor field that has not been seen before in the same heats. Fans will be treated to some extremely strong competition over the course of the day as a preview of the upcoming track and field season.
Showcasing the running events will be an elite field of Girls 1600-meter runners that will be coming from across the state to compete and, more importantly, push each other to record times. Over 70 runners have signed up thus far for this event and meet organizers have been successful in establishing an elite field of the best runners in the state.
This group of runners will participate in what is being called the ‘Saw 1600’ as they push to run a sub-5 minute race in early February. The resumes of this group of girls is quite impressive, comprised of 9 seniors who will continue their running careers at the D1 level, the 2023 IHSAA XC Champ, a junior who posted the #3 XC time in the state this past fall, and a sophomore that has already run a 4:58 time this year. This group contains numerous podium finishers at either last fall’s State XC Meet, or the IHSAA State Meet from last June.
Of local interest, Warsaw’s Joey Rastrelli (2023 IHSAAA 1600 runner-up and Indiana University commit) will be joined by Mallory Weller (currently ranked #2 in the state) Lexi Panning (ranked #3) from the Fort Wayne area, Mary Eubank (Mishawaka), and Elizabeth Ehrhardt (Valparaiso). Spectators will be enticed to stay for a second round of racing as many of these girls will also be running in the 800 meter race later in the afternoon.
An elite group of Boys 1600 meter runners is also coming together as well, headlined by current Indiana #1 Aaron Richter (Junior) from Elkhart. Richter set the top mark by running a 4:22 Mile last month in Chicago and finished 5th at last fall’s IHSAA XC Championship. Joining Richter will be Warsaw’s Tyler Mimnaugh (Junior), and Fort Wayne’s Hunter Panning (Sophomore).
After the running concludes, spectators will be able to see the US Top-Ranked Shot Putter, as Luke Himes returns to the TRAC once again. Himes has continued to dominate this event in Indiana, finishing 1st at last year’s state meet. Himes, the University of Notre Dame commit, achieved US All-American status last year with his runner-up finish at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet. The domination has continued this indoor season as Himes moved into the US #1 spot on February 2nd at this same location with his 67-5 put.
Warsaw’s Jordan Randall will lead the group featuring four high jumpers. Like Himes in the shot put, Randall set a facility and school record at the first Warsaw meet on February 2nd, clearing 6-9.25. This performance moved Randall to #1 in Indiana and #8 in the US. The All-American sophomore will be joined by fellow New Balance All-American Ethan Widenhoefer (current Indiana #2) out of Fort Wayne who is looking to move up on his current best of 6-7. Avon’s Xavier Sherrell (current Indiana #3) Brebuef Jesuit’s Jay Hmurovich (2023 USATF 15-16 Decathlon National Champion and current Indiana #5) will be providing a high level of competition to push each of these jumpers to new levels.
Rastrelli, who helped to assemble the elite 1600 field, understands the how lucky the Warsaw community is to have the capability of hosting a meet of this caliber. “Warsaw is so fortunate to have the TRAC facility to train in and use year-round. I’m super excited to race against these girls again. It was fun reaching out and reconnecting with them. It’s great to see a similar group of elite field athletes will be at this meet as well. Best of all, it will be great to do this at our home facility and to put on an event for all of Warsaw to see. I am hoping the elementary and middle school runners can come out and watch and see how much fun track and field can be as they are the future of these programs.”
It’s known across the running community that Warsaw has an amazing facility with the TRAC. It has become known as one of the most fan-friendly venues for indoor track in the region. Through the work of the organizers, track programs, and local running club, a group of elite athletes has been assembled. The number of D1 committed seniors is telling. Spectators will be able to watch and cheer on the chase for the sub-5 minute 1600, watch the #1 high school shot putter, and four of the top five high jumpers drive each other to new levels. The pole vault event will also be exciting to watch with a very deep and talented field.
Doors open at 8:30 AM with Running Events starting at 9:30. The ‘Saw 1600’ showcase event will be the second event of the morning. Field Events will start at approximately 4:00 PM.