BLOOMINGTON — By .04 seconds, Mt. Vernon senior George Burhenn became the school’s first-ever track and field state champion.
In a historic day for the Marauders — and Greenfield-Central, too — Burhenn won the 110-meter high hurdles in the IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Finals at Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex at Indiana University Friday.
Burhenn finished the race in 14.33 seconds, edging Tyler Tarter, of Fishers, who finished in 14.37. Tarter had beaten Burhenn earlier in the day in the 110 hurdle preliminaries.
“This feels amazing. I don’t know how to describe it. It doesn’t feel real, to be honest,” Burhenn said shortly after winning his race. “(Mt. Vernon’s) only had a few other state champions, so it’s pretty special.”
Along with winning the high hurdles, Burhenn placed third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (38.75 seconds). As the leadoff runner in the 4×400 relay, he, Tre Jones, Tristan Trevino and Andres Langston placed fourth (3:17.57).
Trevino, in the 800 (1:53.15), and Langston, in the 400 (48.52 seconds), placed seventh and eighth, respectively. All but Burhenn’s state championship hurdle sprint were school records.
“I filled out a long application process for the mental attitude award and it was the most sincere letter of recommendation I’ve ever written,” Mt. Vernon head coach Nick Clarkson said of Burhenn. “It was easy. I put a lot of thought and heart into it because he’s a great ambassador for this school and program. He’s been genuine about leadership. He’s been humble. He’s the most deserving athlete to get the first state championship. He’s been awesome. I’m happy he earned that. He had to fight for it.”
The Marauders scored 28 points and finished tied for sixth, their best finish as a team.
“The kids, with the heat, and all the elements, and with multiple events, they were exhausted,” Clarkson said. “I don’t know where they found the strength, but each time they dug a little deeper.”
Greenfield-Central had a great day, too. The Cougars got a state runner-up placing from Elliot Ryba in the high jump (6-feet, 8-inches) and a sixth from Kirk Knecht in the long jump (22-feet, 5 ¾ inches). They scored a school-record 12 points and tied for 24th, their best finish as a team, too.
Ryba was the best finish by a Cougar in the state meet since 1982 when Jim Gluys won the discus.
“As a whole, we did pretty well. I’m definitely excited with that,” Greenfield-Central coach Aaron Smith said. “I know we had a couple people disappointed, but you can’t expect everything to go perfect.”
In all, Hancock County had representation in 13 of the 16 events. Brownsburg won the meet with a total of 55 points, five more than Carmel.
The Marauder 4×400 relay team placed third last year with the same four runners. They got a better time, beating their school record, but placed fourth.
“We were faster than we were last year and it’s just, that’s how it goes, teams get fast,” Trevino said of the 1600 relay. “Everyone did what they could. That’s just how it goes. You can’t get mad. I had fun. My teammates had fun. We made our parents proud. We did what we needed to do. We got a record. I’m proud.”
“Today was a super strong day for Mt. Vernon even though we didn’t get first (in the relay),” Langston said. “Tristan, George and I, we had events earlier and our legs already had weight on them. But we ran our best by two seconds so I’m happy for us.”
Ryba, who had cleared 6-8, was one of four jumpers left at 6-9. Only eventual state champion Bode Gilkerson of Plainfield cleared the height. He went on to win at 7-feet.
“It feels pretty good. It wasn’t exactly what I hoped for, but definitely something to be proud of,” Ryba said. “I got 6-8, which isn’t my best, but I’ve been consistent. It’s been an overall great year. I’ve finished first all year, this is the first time I’ve been second.”
