Depth Carries Warsaw To Track Title
CHURUBUSCO – A complete team effort made it a happy bus ride home Saturday for the Warsaw girls track team.
The Tigers, for the second straight year, walked away as champions of the Turtletown Invitational.
Coach Scott Erba’s squad got contributions from a plethora of performers to pile up 135 points to win the 12-team event again. The Tigers scored points in all 16 events in earning the team championship, ahead of runner-up Bellmont (114.5).
Sarah Ray continued her sensational senior season in the distance events to lead Warsaw. Ray, who recently signed to run at Olivet Nazarene University, won the 3,200 in a top time of 11:27.49 and also placed second in the 1,600 Saturday. Ray is in her first season as a member of the track team after having an outstanding cross country season in the fall in her first season competing for Erba’s program there.
Ann Harvuot turned in a strong day for the Tigers as well. The junior placed second in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes. She also teamed with Mariah Harter, Samantha Alexander and Brittney Rhodes to win the 4 X 100 relay race in a time of 51.43.
The Tigers also got a winning performance from the team of Brooke Rhodes, Madeline Hooks, Cynthia Yoder and Hannah Dawson in the 4 X 800 relay race. The foursome took top honors in the even with a time of 10:15.75.
Jackie Ferguson placed second in the 300 hurdles for Warsaw. Claire Hickerson was second and Megan Dearlove third in the pole vault for the Tigers. Audrey Rich was third in the 100 and Alexander third in the long jump for the champions.
Warsaw was first with 135 points, followed by Bellmont (114.5), Columbia City (75), Leo (54), Angola (52), DeKalb (49), East Noble (42.5), West Noble (35), North Side (29), Wawasee (24), Heritage (8) and Lakeland (6).
Warsaw, currently 3-0 on the season, will compete at Concord Tuesday versus the hosts and Elkhart Memorial in conference action. The Tigers will then participate in the Kokomo Relays, which they won in 2012, on Saturday.