INDIANAPOLIS — As projected second-ranked Warren Central won the sectional team title on Indianapolis’ east side, but the Greenfield-Central and New Palestine boys track and field teams made their presence known.
The Cougars finished fourth in the team standings with 59 points and pushed through to next week’s Warren Central Regional in six events with qualifying top-three placements.
Warren Central won the meet with 164 points. Franklin Central was second with 139.50, Roncalli was third with 79 and Indianapolis Lutheran was fifth with 54.
New Palestine was sixth with 46.50 points, but the Dragons advanced in seven events, including three for Nick Bastian.
The senior qualified in the 100-meter dash (5th, 11.45), long jump (4th, 21 feet) and with the 1,600-meter relay team of Wesley Jewell, Caleb Byers and Drew Lapenta (5th, 3:36.06).
Greenfield-Central freshman Kirk Knecht advanced in the 200-meter dash with a first-place run in 22.72 seconds. He also placed second in the long jump with a distance of 21 feet, 10.50 inches.
G-C sophomore Griffen Wheeler was third in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:45.15.
The Cougars’ 1,600-meter relay team placed second in 3:34.09 with a quartet of Wheeler, Michael Runions, Logan Stoeffler and Ian Jack.
The 3,200 relay team of Ernest Presser, Austin Nigh, Matthew Wickham and Lucas Tutrow came in third with a time of 8:30.94.
Cody Hargett earned the Cougars’ second sectional championship in the pole vault with a winning clearance of 14-04.00.
The New Palestine 3,200 relay team of Colin Darley, Lapenta, Cody Crawmer and Jaret Whitaker earned a callback after placing fourth in 8:32.85.
Jack Rossell placed fifth in the pole vault at 11-06.00 to secure a regional spot. Tucker Keevers (4th, 47-09.00) and Richard Clevenger (4th, 153-06.00) both qualified in the shot put and discus, respectively.
