Trio from area schools headed to state finals

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SHELBYVILLE — Greenfield-Central finished in fifth place with 41 points at the girls track and field regional Tuesday at Shelbyville, which was a step up from last year’s 32-point, sixth-place result.

“I am very fortunate to have this group of girls on this team,” Greenfield-Central head coach Jan Hacker said. “Even the kids who didn’t make it (to state) did a really great job tonight.”

Warren Central cruised to its fourth-straight regional title with 125.50 points, followed by Center Grove (70), Columbus North (65), Greenwood (42), Greenfield-Central, Franklin Central (40) and Roncalli (35).

Greenfield-Central field specialist Regan Lewis wasn’t bothered by the looming clouds or the constant reminder of a potential storm. She did what she’s done best for the past four years.

Jump.

In the high jump, she made it look easy and stood alone as regional champion.

“I am thrilled for her,” Hacker stated. “When you can see someone have that much success as a senior, it’s a lot of fun.”

The final four competitors were deadlocked at 5 feet 5 inches, but Lewis managed to clear the height on her final attempt. She finished the event with a jump of 5-6, which she cleared on her first try.

Lewis was ecstatic after grabbing first place.

“There’s just more competition here and it’s a bigger event to win so it does feel sweeter (than a sectional win),” she explained.

“I love going to state because you get to see all the high jumpers from around Indiana. That’s probably my favorite part but obviously competing is important too.”

For New Palestine, Erin Trimpe took fifth place in the pole vault, Rachel Wineman was 10th in the high jump and Mattie Waggoner was 16th in the 1,600.

Cougars sophomore hurdler Maddie Wise finished fifth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.31 which wasn’t too far off the top-three finishers but will still have to wait and see if she makes it into state in the event, once the final state finals field is filled out based on times from the state’s other regionals.

She looked much stronger in the 300, gliding over the hurdles en route to a third-place finish and automatic state-qualifying bid. 

“She works really hard in practice,” Hacker said of Wise. “She already works so hard that when she’s in that situation she is already prepared.”

“I’m not going to say it’s easy,” Wise, who also competed in the regional long jump, said of taking part in three events. “Coach thought that long jump would be a good warmup and it was just a lot of fun.”

Also qualifying for state for the Cougars was freshman Sydney Cook. Her finish of 2:20.43 gave Greenfield-Central its third state qualifier. She was the only freshman in the event to finish in the top five.

“She’s off to a fantastic start and has really bought in to what our program is all about,” Hacker said. “I credit the other girls around her for helping her show what our program is, and she’ll have a bright future.”