Wabash Valley track and field standouts will get their chance to shine when the IHSAA sectionals take place today for the girls at South Putnam and Thursday for the boys at Terre Haute North.
North’s girls, ranked No. 16 in the state, are considered the heavy favorites to capture another team championship.
“This is our first time to go to South Putnam [for a sectional],” North coach Mike Dason pointed out. “The IHSAA did a realignment [a few months ago] and we were surprised. But we’ll just do what we were told.
Dason said the Patriots’ 3,200-meter relay squad consisting of four of the following five — senior Emily Cotterman, junior Sydney Dickerson, sophomore Jessi Conley, junior Megan Howes and junior TaPring Goatee — is among the best in the state.
“Sydney and TaPring in the 800 should do well [in the sectional],” Dason mentioned. “[Junior] Chanli Mundy in 3,200 should do very well. We’ve got [sophomore] Rachel Gutish in the pole vault. [Freshman] Keirra Porter should win the hurdles and she’s also doing long jump.
“My three throwers — [senior] Monica Larsen, [junior] Alyssa Turpin and [sophomore] Bri Burgess — they’ve had an unbelievably outstanding year and they’re looking for more success as we start the sectional.
“I’ve got three high-jumpers — [freshman] Carson Smith, [sophomore] Kelsey Thomas and Porter — who jumped 5-2 at the North-South meet [last Tuesday]. Porter won’t be jumping in the sectional, though. We’re saving her for other events.”
In the boys sectional, Terre Haute South coach Mark Raetz expects a close battle between his Braves and North for the top spot in the team competition.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to come out on top in the Big Four Classic [on May 5 at Northview] and the North-South dual meet, but really it’s close,” Raetz said. “Scoring out the heat sheets, I actually have North favored to beat us. It’s going to be close and our guys are going to have to be ready to compete hard to put up some good times and good marks.
“Individually, our top guys are [senior] Nick Jaeger in the high jump, [junior] Tyler Seibert in the 400 and the long jump, [junior] Nic Keller in the discus, [sophomore] Jackson Bertoli and [junior] Logan Hambrock in the distance events and [junior] Jeremy Patterson in both hurdle events.
“North should be strong in the pole vault, shot put and sprints and they’ve got a strong hurdler [junior Cole Seward] and they’ve got [senior] Tyeson Mundy in the distance events.”
The top four places in each event will move on to the Evansville Central regionals — May 22 for the girls and May 24 for the boys.
Today
GIRLS
At South Putnam
Times — Field events begin at 5:30 p.m., track events at 6.
Participating schools (13) — Clay City, Cloverdale, Greencastle, North Central, North Putnam, Northview, Riverton Parke, South Putnam, South Vermillion, Sullivan, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, West Vigo.
Advancement — The first- through fourth-place finishers in each individual and relay event, plus relay teams meeting the standard in the sectional finals of their event, will move on to the Evansville Central Regional on May 22.
Admission — $5 at gate.
IHSAA track and field sectionals
Thursday
BOYS
At Terre Haute North
Times — Field events begin at 5:30 p.m., track events at 6.
Participating schools (13) — Clay City, Cloverdale, Greencastle, North Central, North Putnam, Northview, Riverton Parke, South Putnam, South Vermillion, Sullivan, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South, West Vigo.
Advancement — The first- through fourth-place finishers in each individual and relay event, plus relay teams meeting the standard in the sectional finals of their event, will move on to the Evansville Central Regional on May 24.
Admission — $5 at gate.




