Locals compete at Indiana boys regional track meet
BLOOMINGTON – North Harrison distance ace Daniel Fleace and Clarksville sprinter Marquis Parrish pulled off surprising wins, and Floyd Central speedster Gaige Klingsmith lived up to his billing in the marquee speed race during Thursday's Indiana High School Athletic Association boys track regional meet.
Klingsmith, the top seed in his main event, claimed the 100-meter dash in a race stocked with speed. Fleace fleeced the field in the 3200, surging to the front and holding off a last-lap charge from Bloomington North's Fergus Arthur. And Parrish vaulted from the third seed to the title in the 400.
They were the area headliners who qualified for the state finals at Indiana University on June 7. The top three in each event, plus any athlete who bettered the state standard in that event, advanced.
The state standard came into play in the 100. Klingsmith crossed first in 10.99 seconds, but the top five (including New Albany's Tuwan Payton in 11.08 and Parrish in 11.13) all clipped the standard time of 11.14 and qualified.
"I knew there would be speed coming into this but I didn't expect five guys to make it," Klingsmith said. "It wasn't the start I wanted, but I've fought that all year. I'm not very good at accelerating out of the blocks. I just tried to lengthen my stride and hang with the other guys until I could break away."
Parrish shifted into a faster gear during the stretch run in the 400 and won in 49.85. He clipped Bloomington North's Charlie Ryan (49.93) at the line, while top seed Bradley Lake of Martinsville was third at 50.76.
"I knew what I had to do," Parrish said. "I just went out and did it. I just tried to keep up with everybody else and beat them on the last 100. That's where I pulled away."
Fleace's win was the biggest upset. He was nearly 20 seconds behind the top seed going into the race, and he got boxed in the pack during the early stages of the eight-lap run. But he worked his way into the top three, and then changed his goal. Winning was suddenly an option, and he took off to cross in 9:27.19.
"I didn't feel I had run a great two-mile yet this year," said Fleace, who focused on the 1600 for most of the season. "I knew I could go faster than what I was seeded, a lot faster. It took a lot of patience. I gave myself a chance and was able to hold them off."
Bloomington North easily won the team competition with 108 points, pulling away from Bloomington South (83) and Floyd Central (76). The Cougars won their first crown since 2007 and ended South's six-year streak.
Other surprises were not the best kind. New Albany's Javen Reeves, who was a whisker away from 7-0 in the sectional, settled for runner-up in the high jump at 6-6. Klingsmith couldn't summon any reserve energy in the 200 and missed the cut in fourth.
New Albany (second) and Floyd Central (third) advanced in the 400 relay.
Bedford North Lawrence had three champions, with Matt Garrison (23-2 in the long jump), Nathaniel Dotts (21.98 in the 200) and Mike Flynn (53-7 ½ in the shot put).
Bloomington South's Deakin Volz shattered the state record in the pole vault, clearing 17-3.
Justin Sokeland can be reached at (502) 582-4059.