Before the final standings were even announced Tuesday evening, Warsaw’s girls track and field team started posing for pictures with the sectional championship trophy. Nobody questioned the Lady Tigers’ early celebration, and rightfully so, as they left no doubt who the class of the 13-team field was. Winning eight of the meet’s 16 events, the host team scored 171 points and cruised – to say the least – to its ninth straight sectional title. How dominant were the Lady Tigers? They qualified for Tuesday’s Warsaw Regional in 13 events. To go with their eight first-place finishes, they were second in six events and third in three. Elkhart Memorial was a distant second in the team standings with 90.5 points, followed by Elkhart Central (53), Goshen (50.5), Wawasee (45), Concord (42.5), Fairfield (42), Columbia City (37), Northridge (34), NorthWood (30), Jimtown (16.5), Elkhart Christian (6) and Bethany Christian (5). “This is a fun time of year,” said Warsaw coach Scott Erba, whose team won its 10th straight Northern Lakes Conference title last week. “You put all the work in, and you look back all the way to December, January, February, indoor meets, snow on the ground, and you finally get outside and you hope it’s warmer, but this is what the girls were working for. They worked to get to this point, advancing and moving on next week with a big group of girls.” The top three finishers in each event, as well as those meeting a set standard, qualify for Tuesday’s Warsaw Regional. Individual sectional champions for Warsaw included Samantha Alexander (long jump), Jazzmine Brown (high jump), Rebecca Lemon (pole vault), Audrey Rich (200), Nicole Eckert (300 hurdles) and Allison Miller (3200). The Lady Tigers’ 4x100 team of Mariah Harter, Alexander, Abbi Curtis and Rich won in a time of 49.64 seconds. Warsaw’s 4x400 team of Eckert, Brooke Rhodes, Brown and Rich crossed the line in a winning time of 4:09.63. Second-place finishers for the Lady Tigers were Harter (100), Rhodes (400), Anna Craig (800), Mia Beckham (1600), Alexie Day (high jump), and the 4x800 relay team of Mallory Hooks, Charlene Orr, Rhodes and Miller. Third-place finishers for the Lady Tigers included Curtis (100), Alexander (200) and Shunterra Davis (long jump). “We kind of mapped out what would be our best-case scenario, and we about hit it on every stride,” said Erba. “We’re real excited about going to regionals next week.” Katlyn Kennedy led Wawasee with a second-place distance of 38-7 in the shot put. She will be joined at the regional by teammates Hannah-Marie Lamle (3rd, 300 hurdles), Hannah Winters (3rd, discus), Shelby Swartz (4th, 100) and the 4x800 relay team of Aubrey Kuhn, Sarah Harden, Reagan Atwood and Delanie Bame. Swartz and the relay team advanced by meeting a set time.
WARSAW SECTIONAL Note – top three finishers in each event, as well as those that meet a set standard, advance to Warsaw Regional
Team Scores – Warsaw 171, Elkhart Memorial 90.5, Elkhart Central 53, Goshen 50.5, Wawasee 45, Concord 42.5, Fairfield 42, Columbia City 37, Northridge 34, NorthWood 30, Jimtown 16.5, Elkhart Christian Academy 6, Bethany Christian 5
