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The 15th-ranked Warsaw girls track and field team returned from its spring break vacation in impressive fashion Wednesday at the Tigers Athletic Complex. Opening their Northern Lakes Conference season, the Warsaw Lady Tigers (6-0, 2-0 NLC) picked up a 90-42 win over Northridge, as well as a 122-10 win over Wawasee. “The first meet after the break is always interesting, because you’re trying to get all the kinks worked out,” Warsaw coach Scott Erba said. “Knock the rust off for girls who may not have done as much or girls that did do some things, but are getting back into the groove.” In past seasons, Northridge has always been a strong contender with Warsaw for NLC supremacy, but this year, Warsaw just has too much. Following their big win over the Northridge Lady Raiders, Erba is now turning his attention to two other conference squads. “Northridge is going to get better and better because they are so well-coached and they have girls that are talented and motivated,” he said. “(Elkhart) Memorial beat Goshen (Tuesday), and that’s surprising a little bit. That puts Memorial toward the top, because coming into the year, I thought Goshen, with all their returners, would be right there. I think they still will be. So, I think Goshen and Memorial will be the two other teams that will be right there at the top.” With their two latest NLC wins, the Warsaw girls have now won 18-straight conference meets, with their last loss coming on April 23, 2009 against Memorial. And with a roster than can score points anywhere, defeating the Lady Tigers in 2012 may be a little difficult. On the night, Warsaw won 13 of the 16 events, including two of the three relays, all five sprints, four of the five field events and two of the three distance runs. Sophomore Ann Harvuot finished up by winning the 100 (12.85) and 200 (27.07), while also anchoring the first-place 400 relay (52.59) with senior Regina Anderson, freshman Mariah Harter and junior Brittany Rhodes. Sophomore Claire Hickerson also posted a pair of wins, taking the long jump with a distance of 14-11.25 as well as the pole vault, by clearing 9-8.
The Lady Tigers other multiple individual winner was junior Ashley Erba, who first won the 1600 in 5:15.68, then found time to chat with other competitors until she pulled away in the final lap of the 3200, winning in 11:53.44. In that 3200, Ashley Erba could be seen slowing down and talking with the other runners, but when she had to, she turned it on and defeated the second-place finisher by 13 seconds. The NLC meet may have been an important meet for the team, but with neither Northridge or Wawasee really challenging for the win, Ashley Erba’s bigger competition may come Friday at the Franklin Central Showcase. The meet will feature some of the top runners in the state, with Ashley Erba, the state’s defending cross country champion, taking part in the faster of the two 3200 girls’ races. “There are some really good mile-runners in that,” the Warsaw coach said. “A lot of girls that were state finalists last year. It should be a really good event for her, so tonight was about making sure she could score the points.” However, Wednesday, the focus was on getting a team win and getting the NLC season started on a positive note. “Our objective each year is to go 7-0 and win conference, win sectional,” Erba said. “You have to be 2-0 to do that. Getting Northridge early on is a good test to see where you are. I feel very, very good with where we are.” And as if the Lady Tigers didn’t look strong enough, one of the team’s top runners hasn’t even competed this season, as sophomore Anna Bearss is still recovering from a leg injury. “She’s progressing well,” Erba said. “She’s been having some great workouts and I think she’s been feeling positive and confident with what she’s doing. When she gets that OK to start running again, I think she’s going to have a nice cardiovascular system to lean back on.” Along with Ashley Erba’s participation in Friday’s Showcase, the 3200 relay of senior Lilly Fleming, freshman Ellie Bearss, Kristin Quick senior and Brooke Kline will also participate. The entire Lady Tigers team is back in action Tuesday in Nappanee, taking on NorthWood and Plymouth. WARSAW 122, WAWASEE 10; WARSAW 90, NORTHRIDGE 42; NORTHRIDGE 107, WAWASEE 24 3200 Relay - 1. Warsaw (Lilly Fleming, Kristin Quick, Ellie Bearss, Brooke Kline) 9:48.18, 2. Northridge 9:51.43; 100 Hurdles - 1. Elise White (War) 16.92, 2. Brittany Rhodes (War) 17.00, 3. Jackie Ferguson (War) 17.01; 100 - 1. Ann Harvuot (War) 12.85, 2. Lauren Lambert (N) 13.24, 3. Mariah Harter (War) 13.34; 1600 - 1. Ashley Erba (War) 5:15.68, 2. Corinne Cominator (N) 5:21.68, 3. Jennifer Schrock (N) 5:33.02; 400 Relay - 1. Warsaw (Regina Anderson, Harter, Rhodes, Harvuot) 52.59, 2. Northridge 53.03; 400 - 1. Tennie Worrell (War) 1:03.54, 2. Mackenzie Gray (N) 1:03.69, 3. Nicole Eckert (War) 1:04.33; 300 Hurdles - 1. Ferguson (War) 50.96, 2. Kayla Bixler (War) 53.25, 3. Bekah Ross (N) 53.78; 800 - 1. Cominator (N) 2:24.39, 2. Kline (War) 2:26.53, 3. Olivia Golden (N) 2:33.12; 200 - 1. Harvuot (War) 27.07, 2. Lambert (N) 27.98, 3. Ferguson (War) 28.20; 3200 - 1. Erba (War) 11:53.44, 2. Schrock (Nr) 12:06.32, 3. Courtney Linnemeier (Waw) 12:27.46; 1600 Relay - 1. Warsaw (Megan Kratsch, Worrell, Eckert, Fleming) 4:18.01, 2. Northridge 4:19.41; High Jump - 1. Jamie Lacheta (War) 5-0, 2. Lily Russo (N) 5-0, 3. Rhodes (War) 4-10; Long Jump - 1. Claire Hickerson (War) 14-11.25, 2. Christina Juroff (N) 14-10.5, 3. Russo (N) 14-4.5; Discus - 1. Sarah Heagy (War) 107-1, 2. Lauren Burish (War) 105-7, 3. Samantha Jensen (War) 104-7; Shot Put - 1. Madison Stewart (N) 36-3.75, 2. Heagy (War) 35-2.5, 3. Burish (War) 35-0.5; Pole Vault - 1. Hickerson (War) 9-8, 2. Megan Dearlove (War) 9-0, 3. Sarah Rozow (Waw) 8-6 Records: Waraw 6-0 (2-0 NLC), Wawasee 0-5 (0-2 NLC)
