HIGH SCHOOL

Gary West edges Carmel for state boys track title

By Paul Shepherd
Star correspondent

BLOOMINGTON — A number of Indianapolis-area athletes won individual state titles, one runner left in an ambulance after winning his event, one meet record fell and a school won its first state championship in 34 years Saturday at the high school boys track and field finals at Indiana University.

Of the 13 individual events, Indianapolis-area athletes won titles in nine, but Gary West claimed the team crown. The Cougars scored enough points with their fifth-place finish in the meet's final event — the 1,600-meter relay — to overcome runner-up Carmel 41-39. Center Grove and Avon (29 points each) tied for third. It was Gary West's first championship since 1980. Carmel had a drop on a baton exchange in the race and failed to place.

"It's been a long time for Gary," Cougars coach Gene Johnson said. "Sooner or later I came up with the kinds of individuals that were willing to pour out their heart. They just let it all hang out there."

With the exception of the final event, much of the evening's drama came in the 300 hurdles. Center Grove's Justin Veteto won after finishing as the runner-up to Hamilton Southeastern's Jacob Wright in the 110 high hurdles.

"I was disappointed after the 110s, but I made up for it in the 300," Veteto said.

In the latter event, Wright was running third heading into the final 100 meters, and it appeared he and Veteto would battle it out again. But his leg caught a hurdle and he fell, hitting his head on the track as he landed. Wright was down for nearly 15 minutes before medics stabilized his neck and removed him from the track on a stretcher. Royals coach Chris Swisher said later that Wright was up and moving at the hospital with a possible concussion.

Following Wright's win in the 110 hurdles, Carmel senior and UCLA football recruit Austin Roberts used a strong kick to win the 100 in 10.83 seconds. He was 11th in the event last year.

"I just put my blinders on," Roberts said. "My coach said to just focus on my race. I didn't pay attention to who was around me. I just made sure to cross the finish line, looked up at the board and saw that all the hard work this season had paid off."

Lawrence North senior Joe Murphy, who will run next year at IU, won the 1,600 in 4:11.05.

"It's what I've been working for all year, honestly," Murphy said. "This is really special to me."

Southport senior Clayton Bowie was the only individual to repeat as state champion, winning the 3,200 in 9:06.63.

"This year I knew I would have more of a target on my back, considering what people saw last year, but I kind of like the pressure and it kind of worked in my favor with the race (Saturday)," said Bowie, who will run at Ohio State.

Shelbyville senior Daniel Kuhn won the 800 (1:50.91) in his first year of running since eighth grade. Kuhn, who has focused on baseball during his high school career and will play at Trine University, said this year is the first coaches have allowed him to participate in both sports.

"I'm honored to be able to do both," Kuhn said. "A lot of coaches would be like, 'You're doing one or the other.' It's so generous (of them) and at the same time, really humbling to be able to show what I can do. To stand up on that podium makes it all worth it."

Brownsburg's Hari Sathayamurthy finished second in 1:51.58, the best by a sophomore in state meet history.

Marshall junior Stoney Prowell won the 400 in 48.4 seconds. Prowell, who ran last year at Fishers, said he arrived to the meet late and felt stressed as he stretched.

"After I got warmed up, it was back to the original game plan, which was to go out and get the 'W,' " Prowell said.

Warren Central junior Isaiah Thomas won the 200 in 21.68 seconds. Avon's Angelo Allen won the shot put with a throw of 60 feet, 6 inches and Brownsburg's 1,600 relay team closed the meet with a win in 3:18.51.

Bloomington South junior Deakin Volz set a state record in the pole vault, breaking the 2007 mark of 17-0 by a half-inch.

Fishers senior distance standout Calvin Kraft won the mental attitude award.

Preceding the meet was the inaugural "unified" track and field state finals, the result of a partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics Indiana, which featured students with and without intellectual disabilities competing in five events. Warsaw won the team title with 101 points to runner-up Mt. Vernon's 91. Noblesville tied for third with Booneville. Plainfield placed ninth.

Boys track and field state finals

Event champions:

3,200 relay: Chesterton (Tyler Vore, Marlon Williams, Billy Biehl, Kevin Kenney) 7:44.87

110 hurdles: Jacob Wright (Hamilton Southeastern) 14.09

100 meters: Austin Roberts (Carmel) 10.83

1,600 meters: Joe Murphy (Lawrence North) 4:11.05

400 relay: Gary West Side (Barry Wesby, Carlton Sims, Lonnie Johnson, Jonvae Johnson) 41.32

400 meters: Stoney Prowell (Indianapolis Marshall) 48.4

300 hurdles: Justin Veteto (Center Grove) 36.85

800 meters: Daniel Kuhn (Shelbyville) 1:50.91

200 meters: Isaiah Thomas (Warren Central) 21.68

3,200 meters: Clayton Bowie (Southport) 9:06.63

1,600 relay: Brownsburg (Brandon Britton, Tyler Kirtz, Nassif Kouton, Hari Sathyamurthy) 3:18.51

High jump: Javen Reeves (New Albany) 6-9

Long jump: Lonnie Johnson (Gary West Side) 23-6

Discus: Gelen Robinson (Lake Central) 197-7

Shot put: Angelo Allen (Avon) 60-6

Pole vault: Deakin Volz (Bloomington South) 17-0 ½*

* State meet record

Team scoring (top 10):

Gary West Side 41, Carmel 39, Center Grove 29, Avon 29, Hamilton Southeastern 28, Warren Central 24, Ben Davis 23.75, Lawrence North 20, Brownsburg 18, Bloomington South 17