GT&F STATE FINALS: #6 Pike upsets #3 FW Northrop, #1 LC for second title

From ihsaa.org

For the second time in school history, the Pike Red Devils captured the IHSAA Girls Track & Field team championship June 1 at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.

Head coach Dee Dee Nathan’s sixth-ranked squad took home the team title with a score of 55 points, six better than runner-up No. 3 Fort Wayne Northrop and 9.5 more than top-ranked Lawrence Central. The Red Devils also won the state title in 1997.

Pike was led by the state champion 4x100 meter relay team of sophomore Morgan Haney, senior Jasmine McFadden, junior Chelsea Yeadon, and senior Morgan Yeadon. The Red Devils had a strong showing in the sprints, finishing 2-3-4 in the 100-meter dash (M. Yeadon, C. Yeadon, Haney) and 2-4-6 in the 200 (M. Yeadon, C. Yeadon, Haney).

Westview senior Skyler Carpenter captured titles in both hurdle events and the long jump to conclude her high school career with seven individual state championships. Her victory in the 300 hurdles was her third straight in the event.

Junior Ashley Erba of Warsaw raced to first in the 3200 meter run, crossing the line in 10:24.94 and adding to the individual cross country state championship she won last fall.

Sophomore Brionna Thomas of Fort Wayne Wayne was a double winner on the night, taking the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

In the 4x800 meter relay, Carmel repeated as state champs with senior Sarah Bennett, senior Taylor Cotherman, junior Ariel Hune, and senior Lauren Kahre coming in at 9:14.39.

Senior MonTayla Holder of Lawrence Central defended her state championship crown in the 400, winning with a time of :56.26.

Senior Cassie Wertman of Southridge, 2011’s discus state champion, was victorious in the shot put, winning with a toss of 50’ 1.25”. This year’s discus winner was senior Rachel Dincoff of DeKalb with a throw of 143’ 7”.

Nathan became the first woman to be a student on a state championship track team (Fort Wayne South in 1985 and 1986) and then coach a team to the title. She won seven crowns (five individual, two relays) during her high school career before going on to become an Olympic heptathlete and a world indoor pentathlon champ.

The Indiana University standout also becomes the third to win an individual state championship and later coach a state championship team, joining Rhonda Brady-Gillis and Hope (Sanders) Robinson.

State champions
Pole Vault: Hannah Acton, 12, Bloomington South, 12-3
Long Jump: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 18-10.5
Discus: Rachel Dincoff, 12, DeKalb, 143-07
High Jump: Morayo Akande, 12, North Central (Indianapolis), 5-8
Shot Put: Cassie Wertman, 12, Southridge, 50-1.25
3200 Relay: Carmel (Sarah Bennett 12, Taylor Cotherman 12, Ariel Hune 11, Lauren Kahre 12), 9:14.39
100 Hurdles: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 14.13
100 Meters: Brionna Thomas, 10, Fort Wayne Wayne, 11.91
1600 Meters: Bethany Neeley, 11, Eastern (Greentown), 4:53.95
400 Relay: Pike (Morgan Haney 10, Jasmine McFadden 12, Chelsea Yeadon 11, Morgan Yeadon 12), 46.75
400 Meters: MonTayla Holder, 12, Lawrence Central, 56.26
300 Hurdles: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 42.20
800 Meters: Taylor Wiley, 12, Evansville Central, 2:11.85
200 Meters: Brionna Thomas, 10, Fort Wayne Wayne, 24.62
3200 Meters: Ashley Erba, 11, Warsaw, 10:24.94
1600 Relay: Fort Wayne Northrop (Alexis Scott 10, Makelle Skelton 11, Dejah Arnold 10, Demetra Taylor 12), 3:51.45

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE TEAM SCORES AND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS!!

AND CATCH THE ARCHIVED VIDEO STREAM OF THE EVENT COURTESY OF FORMER HOOSIER AUTHORITY PARTNER INDIANA RUNNER VIA THE IHIGH NETWORK BY CLICKING HERE!

Westview’s Carpenter wins Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Skyler Carpenter of Westview High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Girls Track & Field. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the proud corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to the school in her name.

The Westview standout is a two-time state champion in both the 100 hurdles and long jump and a three-time winner in the 300 hurdles, setting the state record in the latter in 2011 in :42.03. Skyler ranks second in her class and owns a 4.05 GPA.

The daughter of Jeff and Brenda Carpenter of Shipshewana works as an aide for students in special education, represents Westview on the LaGrange County Community Foundation, and is an officer for the National Honor Society.