FORTVILLE — Winning eight of 16 events, including meet records from two of its seniors, Mt. Vernon grabbed its fourth straight Hoosier Heritage Conference title Thursday at Mt. Vernon High School.
The Marauders finished with 172 points. Greenfield-Central had three champions and placed second with 128.5 points. New Palestine was fifth with 76.5.
“We talked about a chapter from a John Wooden book before the meet,” Mt. Vernon head coach Nick Clarkson said. “In the lockerroom we referenced his words on tying shoes, taking care of the small things before you can achieve greatness. The kids really rose to the occasion on that and bought into it. … we had a great day.”
Seniors Tre Jones and Andres Langston were record-setters in the 200-meter dash and 300 hurdles, respectively. Both were also part of the team’s victorious 4×400 relay team.
Jones won the 200 in 22.16 seconds breaking a 10-year old record of 22.42. He had to hold on from a hard-charging Quentin Williams of Yorktown, who also beat the old mark by finishing in 22.21. Greenfield-Central’s Kirk Knecht was third and was just off the old mark by finishing in 22.43.
“Tre was gutting it out. It reminded me of when he was playing football and he was trying to race to that endzone and someone was chasing him down,” Clarkson said.
Langston won the 300 hurdles in 37.99 seconds. He broke the record set a year ago by then-teammate George Burhenn, now playing football at Purdue. Burhenn’s time was 39.19 seconds.
“Tre and Andres, they aren’t very vocal about a lot of things, but when there’s a chance to write up their own page in the history books, they really rise to the occasion,” Clarkson added.
Jones and Langston were the final two legs of the 4×400 relay victory. Sophomore Sebastian Sprague led off and was followed by classmate Charlie Cole. The group won the race in 3:25.60. Sprague was part of last year’s conference-winning relay team with Jones, Langston and Burhenn. Sprague also won the open 400 in 49.94 seconds.
Sophomore Caden Cassada was a contributor in two victories. He won the 800 in 1:58.63 and led off the team’s winning run in the 4×800 relay. Isaiah Njau, Xaiden Jenson and Tyler Tharp rounded out the rest of the group that crossed the finish line in 8:18.15.
It wasn’t just running events where the Marauders excelled. Sawyer Ruminer won the pole vault by clearing 13-feet, 6-inches. Zaidyn Ramsey was first in the long jump with a distance of 21-feet, 11.75-inches.
Greenfield-Central was ahead of Mt. Vernon after five events, 47-45, and the team’s were tied 61-61 a couple of events later.
Mt. Vernon went on a stretch of winning four straight events, the 400, 300 hurdles, 800 and 200. At the same time, field event results came in for the victories from Ruminer and Ramsey.
“I’m really proud of our guys for competing,” Clarkson said. “We have a lot of guys committed to competing at a high level, racing each other in practice. There were a lot of kids out there, it wasn’t just the Andres and Tre Show either, we had Ramsey over in the long jump, Caden Cassada in the 800 and several relays — the strength of our team — and many others.”
The Cougars were second for the second straight year. Two of their three champions were repeat winners.
With the same winning height he cleared in 2023, Greenfield-Central’s Elliot Ryba won the high jump at 6-feet, 6-inches. Chris Ross won the 3200 again. He won in 9:32.72, nearly three seconds faster than in 2023.
All three of G-C’s wins came from seniors. Carter Crouch won the 1600 with a time of 4:21.72.
New Palestine’s top finish came in the 4×400 relay. Charlie Rigsbee, Jake Cooper, Dylan Dragoo and David Pack finished second.
There were two other meet records. Marcus Bright of Delta won the 110 hurdles in 14.74 seconds. Ayden Ewing of Yorktown won the 100 in 10.82 seconds.
–
2024 Hoosier Heritage Conference Boys Track and Field Results
Team scores (champions): Mt. Vernon (8) 172, Greenfield-Central (3) 128.5, Yorktown (3) 95, Delta (1) 80.5, New Palestine 76.5, Pendleton Heights 40, Shelbyville (1) 26.5, New Castle 5
Event: Winner, School (Time/Distance)
100-meter dash: Ayden Ewing, Yorktown (10.82 seconds)*
200-meter dash: Tre Jones, Mt. Vernon (22.16 seconds)*
400-meter dash: Sebastian Sprague, Mt. Vernon (49.94 seconds)
800-meter run: Caden Cassada, Mt. Vernon (1:58.63)
1,600-meter run: Carter Crouch, Greenfield-Central (4:21.72)
3,200-meter run: Christopher Ross, Greenfield-Central (9:32.72)
110-meter hurdles: Marcus Bright, Delta (14.74 seconds)*
300-meter hurdles: Andres Langston, Mt. Vernon (37.99 seconds)*
4×100-meter relay: Yorktown — Daniel Davis, Ewing, Ephraim Daugherty, Quintin Williams (42.44 seconds)
4×400-meter relay: Mt. Vernon — Sprague, Charlie Cole, Jones, Langston (3:25.60)
4×800-meter relay: Mt. Vernon — Cassada, Isaiah Njau, Xaiden Jenson, Tyler Tharp (8:18.15)
Shot put: Mason Moulton, Yorktown (53-feet, 4 1/2-inches)
Discus: Ethan Lambert, Shelbyville (160-feet, 5-inches)
Long jump: Zaidyn Ramsey, Mt. Vernon (21-feet, 11 3/4 inches)
High jump: Elliot Ryba, Greenfield-Central (6-feet, 6-inches)
Pole vault: Sawyer Ruminer, Mt. Vernon (13-feet, 6-inches)
*Meet record
