INDIANAPOLIS — At the state’s second-largest high school located in its largest city, the girls from tiny Eastern Hancock showed their might Tuesday at the track and field regional.
On the Ben Davis campus, Shelby Mourey took home a high jump championship for the Royals, while teammate Kaycee Ruble claimed the shot put crown. The Eastern Hancock duo joined Mt. Vernon’s Olivia Coleman in grabbing spots in the State Finals on June 6 at Indiana University.
“We definitely walk in here feeling intimidated,” said Mourey, who cleared 5 feet, 5 inches. “They have like all these different runners, and we have two. It’s kind of crazy to see how many girls are here for other teams.
“But, coming out of it, we feel like we held our ground with them. So, that’s always cool.”
Eastern Hancock brought five total athletes to the regional, while the Pikes, Southports and Ben Davises numbered in the dozens.
It mattered little to Ruble, who entered as the shot put top seed at 36-6, then backed it up with a school record heave of 38-10.
The junior credited throwing coach Brett Burkhart, an assistant to head coach Jerry Cain, for her mettle under pressure.
“He’s hard on me in in practice: ‘Get focused, get your head in the game,'” said Ruble, a junior. “But once we’re here, he’s awesome. He just says, ‘Do your best, and I’ll be happy with whatever you get.'”
Ruble will make her first trip to Bloomington for the State Finals, while Mourey qualified in the high jump for the second straight season.
The top three finishes in each regional event Tuesday automatically advanced to the state finals.
Coleman, Mt. Vernon’s all-around threat, is also making her second appearance past the regional round. But the senior hasn’t been to the state finals since making it in the 400 meters as a freshman. Coleman was later hobbled by a sophomore-year knee injury.
“Great to see her get back,” Mt. Vernon head coach Tim Leonard said. “I don’t think she was fully back last year. She’s improved quite a bit.”
Coleman made it out of the regional Tuesday with a second-place 400 finish and a third-place long jump placement. Her 400 time of 57.01 seconds broke the Mt. Vernon program record set by Liz Skinner (57.44) during the 1977 state finals.
Coleman, who already owns the Marauders’ long jump and 200 bests, placed fourth in the 400 at the 2012 state finals in 58 flat.
Mourey took 13th in the high jump at Indiana University last spring for the Royals with a bound of 5-4. The top eight finishers earn a spot on the podium and all-state recognition.
“The goal is to podium this year, for sure,” said Mourey, who owns the Eastern Hancock program record at 5-8.
Note: Pike won the team regional title with 118 points, ahead of Cathedral and Ben Davis, who each gained 64 points. … The Marauders’ 400 relay team finished seventh. … Mt. Vernon’s Aubri Benbow grabbed seventh in the 300 hurdles.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Girls Track and Field State Finals” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2015.
Site: Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Admission: $10
Order of Events
3:00 p.m. – Pole Vault, Long Jump and Discus
3:30 p.m. – High Jump; Shot Put
4:15 p.m. – 3200 M Relay Finals
5:00 p.m. – 100 M Dash Trials
5:15 p.m. – 100 M High Hurdle Trials
5:40 p.m. – 200 M Dash Trials
6:10 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:15 p.m. – 100 M High Hurdles
6:25 p.m. – 100 M Dash
6:35 p.m. – 1600 M Run
6:45 p.m. – 400 M Relay
7:05 p.m. – 400 M Dash
7:20 p.m. – 300 M Low Hurdles
7:45 p.m. – 800 M Run
8:05 p.m. – 200 M Dash
8:15 p.m. – 3200 M Run
8:30 p.m. – 1600 M Relay
[sc:pullout-text-end]
