NORTH MANCHESTER - The Three Rivers Conference coed track and field meet in North Manchester Thursday showcased Manchester's talent and Tippecanoe Valley's youth. Victors of 11 of 15 events, the Manchester boys defeated the visiting Tippecanoe Valley Vikings 84-38, while the Lady Squires won 82-41, taking first in 10 events. "We just keep getting better and better," Manchester coach Julie Cassel said. "These kids are hard-working, they have great attitudes. They're just great kids. I think I'm very fortunate. "We have a little of everything," she added. "That's why we're doing well." Showcasing the talent on its boys squad, Manchester's Kegan McNeeley and Matthew Fahs-Brown each won two individual events while also taking part on a winning relay. For McNeeley, he won the 100 in 11.2 seconds and the 200 in 22.7 and joined Preston Penrod, Tom Naragon and Jacob Casper on the winning 400 relay (45.3). While McNeeley was controlling the sprints, Fahs-Brown was doing it in the distance races, winning the 1600 (4:56.9) and 3200 (10:40.4), as well as the 3200 relay (9:14) with Micah McDaniel, Andrew Bolinger and Jared Monce. "Everybody does their part," Cassel said. "We've been very fortunate. We don't have just one sprinter, we have three. Then, we have two good hurdlers. A lot of the younger guys are also learning from the older ones. The older ones are very good at taking the younger ones under their wings. I just can't ask for better." Cole Sellers was also a multiple event winner, placing first in the discus (137-7) and shot put (42-3.5). Other wins by the Manchester boys were captured by Bolinger in the 800 (2:18.9), Brodi Carter in the 110 hurdles (17.3), For Valley, sophomore Nolan Sponseller was the top point-getter for the boys, winning the 400 (53.5) and finishing second in the 200 (23.6), while also teaming up with Michael Thacker, David Green and James Gregory on the winning 1600 relay (3:44). "Nolan Sponseller was great last year and we're looking for great things this year," Valley coach Alysha Wachtmann said. On the girls side of things, Wachtmann is also looking for good things, although it's coming from some young athletes. In the loss, all five of the Lady Vikings five first-place finishes were achieved by freshmen. "Our girls are very young and very good," Wachtmann said. "We've got Jazzmine Brown in the 400 and the high jump, winning both (tonight). Caylie (Teel) won the 100 and 200 and got second in the long jump. Then, Catherine Leadford, our hurdler, won the 300 and placed (third) in the 100. They're all freshmen, so we're very excited about at that." Even though Valley does have the youthful talent, the Lady Squires had more overall talent, even with some girls going easy in preparation for Saturday's Churubusco Relays. Going light, Cassel got wins from Kelsi Custer in the 1600 (5:59.6) and 3200 (13:23), as well as Darien Rodriuez in the 800 (2:46), Bekah Brunn in the 100 hurdles (16.7) and all three relays. Along with the effort on the track, the Lady Squires also did it in the field, with Lindsey Budnik winning at long jump (15-4) and Niki Frieden taking first in the shot put (29-3) and discus (96-3). "We have Niki Frieden who wanted to pick up first for us and go 96 feet, and she threw 96 tonight," Cassel said.
