Greenfield-Central’s Natthara Boosamund lept to a third-place finish in the long jump at the Cougar Chase with a jump of 14-03.00 on Friday, May 6, 2022.
Richard Sitler | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — It was a nice way to cap off a busy week.
At its annual home invitational, Greenfield-Central High School honored its seniors, then grabbed its share of honors at the Cougar Chase Track and Field Invitational at Hancock Health Stadium, Friday.
Both squads had competitors at a dual in New Palestine on Monday, then participated in the Hancock County Championships at Mt. Vernon on Wednesday.
On Friday, the boys team won seven events and took home the seven-team events top prize.
The girls team finished fourth and had three impressive victories of their own.
“Definitely a surprise. Franklin Community is usually really strong at this meet and I know we were tired from county,” Greenfield-Central coach Aaron Smith said. “A lot of our guys ran well and we got one of our sprinters back (Aaron Lee) and having him back definitely helped.”
The Cougar boys not only had the most champions, their team title was aided by three 1-2 finishes. Lee and Kirk Knecht were first and second, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Both won their individual heats. Lee was timed in 11.51 seconds. Knecht finished in 11.59 seconds.
Knecht won the 200 (23.17 second) with teammate Ian Jack placing second. In the 800, Griffen Wheeler (2:04.16 seconds) won with senior teammate Jacob Presser finishing runner-up.
“That’s 54 points (in three events) and that is about one-third of our points tonight,” Smith added. “We did well on the track tonight, but struggled in some of the field events.”
Wheeler and Knecht each had an additional individual victory. Wheeler took the top-spot in the 400 (53.68) Knecht won the long jump with a distance of 19-feet, 5-inches.
The Cougars also won two of the four relay races. Hudson McGuire, Michael Runions, Jack and Lee were on the victorious 4×100 relay group, finishing in 44.92 seconds. Runions, Lee, Jack and Knecht won the 4×200 relay in 1:33.68.
The boys had 138 points, through 16 events, but had clinched the team championship prior to final results coming in on the pole vault.
Knecht, by winning two events, placing second in another and part of a relay win, was named Athlete of the Meet.
For the girls, Kayanna Maroska, Reagan Crouch and Lindsey McCord each took home blue ribbons.
Maroska had a season-best time of 1:00.64 to win the 400. Crouch had a personal record time of 48.29 seconds to place first in the 300 hurdles. McCord also had a personal best, winning the long jump with a distance of 15-feet, 5 ½ inches.
Savannah Lake, Natthara Boosamund, McCord and Maroska finished second in the 800 relay with a time of 1:51.13.
“We really were trying to rest some of those that have been doing three or four events per meet, with conference coming up on Tuesday,” Greenfield-Central coach Mike Foster said. “We were trying to give their legs a rest and give them a chance to be fresh. That was our strategy tonight.”
G-C scored 83 points. Franklin won with 188.5. Roncalli had 122.5 and Greenwood scored 107. The Cougars finished ahead of Danville (69.5), Connersville (36), Rushville (29.5) and Cathedral (10).
“I’ve been very proud of the girls all season long,” Foster added. “They’re hard workers and keep surprising me at every turn. It’s a really good group of girls.”
Overall, it was great preparation for more important weeks ahead. The girls will compete Tuesday and the boys Thursday at Mt. Vernon for the Hoosier Heritage Conference Championships. The post season begins the following week with sectional competition.
After opening the meet with the 4×200 and 4×800 relay races, Greenfield-Central honored all of its seniors. It included, for the boys, Adam Bright, Peyton Flowers, Jefferson Fraire-Blanco, Dakota Herald, Seth Hudson, Masan Kojima, Hudson McGuire, Presser, Logan Stoeffler, Lucas Tutrow, and Jack Weidner.
Seniors on the girls squad include, Sarah Grace Bogle, Hannah Hunter, Maroska, McCord, Ariel Niemeier, Audrey Pechin, Lauren Silcox and Gia Valenzano.
2022 Girls Cougar Chase
Team scores (champions): Franklin 188.5 (4), Roncalli 122.5 (5), Greenwood 107 (4), Greenfield-Central 83 (3), Danville 69.5, Connersville 36, Rushville 29.5, Cathedral 10 (1)
Event: Winner, School;Time/Distance
100-meter dash: Josie Origer, Roncalli;13.37 seconds
200-meter dash: Josie Origer, Roncalli;26.30 seconds
400-meter dash: Kayana Maroska, Greenfield-Central;1:00.64
800-meter run: Makena Cruse, Greenwood;2:26.82
1600-meter run: Amelia Tisdale, Franklin;5:43.89
3200-meter run: Lauren Klem, Franklin;12:32.62
100-meter hurdles: Brooke Coffman, Franklin;17.63 seconds
300-meter hurdles: Reagan Crouch, Greenfield-Central;48.29 seconds
400-meter relay: Katie Smith, Carlie Young, Josie Origer, Sophia Ramsay, Roncalli;51.86 seconds
800-meter relay: Josie Origer, Sophia Ramsay, Alivia Hill, Katie Smith; Roncalli;1:50.63
1600-meter relay: Makena Cruse, Selena Pinon, Nataly Quintero, Quinn Kelly, Greenwood;4:21.90
3200-meter relay: Valeria Lara, Ashley Flick, Sara McGraw, Lauren Turk, Roncalli;10:12.69
Shot put: Abigail Henderson, Franklin;37-feet, 7-inches
Discus: Emma Gardner, Greenwood;114-feet, 4-inches
High jump: Ellie Irwin, Greenwood;5-feet, 6 ¼ inches
Long jump: Lindsey McCord, Greenfield-Central;15-feet, 5 ½ inches
Pole vault: Kailee Swart, Cathedral;11-feet, 6-inches
2022 Boys Cougar Chase
Team scores (champions), for 16 of 17 events: Greenfield-Central 138 (7), Roncalli 117 (1), Greenwood 100 (2), Danville 83 (3), Connersville 71 (1), Franklin 61 (2), Rushville 44
Event: Winner, School;Time/Distance
100-meter dash: Aaron Lee, Greenfield-Central;11.51 seconds
200-meter dash: Kirk Knecht, Greenfield-Central;23.17 seconds
400-meter dash: Griffen Wheeler, Greenfield-Central;53.68 seconds
800-meter run: Griffen Wheeler, Greenfield-Central;2:04.16
1600-meter run: Alec Means, Danville;4:32.28
3200-meter run: Alec Means, Danville; 9:56.36
110-meter hurdles: Parker Sweet, Connersville;14.30 seconds
300-meter hurdles: Gregory Hueston, Franklin;41.27 seconds
400-meter relay: Ian Jack, Hudson McGuire, Michael Runions, Aaron Lee; Greenfield-Central;44.92 seconds
800-meter relay: Michael Runions, Aaron Lee, Ian Jack, Kirk Knecht; Greenfield-Central;1:33.68
1600-meter relay: Aidan Jefry, Collin Webb, Ty Murphy, Gregory Hueston, Franklin;3:40.57
3200-meter relay: Joe Countryman, Lucas Steward, Jack Herald, Alec Means, Danville;8:29.82
Shot put: Dylan Mayhew,Greenwood;53-feet, 7-inches
Discus: Brayden Gardner, Greenwood;149-feet, 2-inches
High jump: Eli Crouch, Roncalli;6-feet, 2-inches
Long jump: Kirk Knecht, Greenfield-Central;19-feet, 5-inches
Pole vault: Results were not available at press time
