Jeffersonville sectional track streak ends at 41 years

For 41 years, the Jeffersonville Sectional boys' track and field meet was just that: Jeffersonville's Sectional.

Silver Creek put an end to that Thursday night, winning the team title with 141 points to Jeffersonville's 137, ending the Red Devils' state-record streak of sectional championships.

"I was a sophomore in college and I'm 61 years old," Silver Creek coach Darrell Kingery said, referring to the start of the streak. "I guess I can retire now."

The Dragons came into the meet with higher-seeded competitors and came away with a historic victory.

"I tell you one thing, Jeff put up a battle," Kingery said. "Seeding-wise, we were ahead."

"The streak was hanging over our head; we knew this day would come," Jeff coach Mark Felix said. "We were seeded to lose by 24 (points). They won, and they deserved it."

It should have come down to the last race, a high-pressure 1,600-meter relay for all the marbles. But Silver Creek was disqualified for a lane violation and Jeffersonville for a uniform violation.

Kingery was philosophical about it.

"Everybody makes mistakes," he said.

For the record, Southwestern Hanover won the 1,600 — and two teams that had state finals aspirations will not make it to the regionals.

Junior Guy Oliver led the Red Devils, winning the high jump at 6 feet, 4 inches and the long jump with a 22-11 effort. He came back to lead a 1-2 Jeff sweep in the 100, winning in 11.35 seconds to sophomore Isaiah Blanton's 11.36.

Both Oliver and Blanton were coming off right hamstring injuries, but both looked strong.

"We always push ourselves in practice," Oliver said.

And for Blanton it's just the start.

"We'll both be back next year," he said.

Jeffersonville's speedsters weren't finished. Blanton anchored the 400 relay as the Red Devils continued to lead in speed.

But Silver Creek was steady in the distance events while scoring well in field events as well. Schuyler Hosp won the discus (154-8) and was second in the shot put.

Junior Tanner Coots set the tone for the Dragons early by anchoring the 3,200 relay win, followed by a victory in the 1,600 (4:32.93). Henryville junior Jacob Hedrick was runner-up in 4:35.99.

Coots finished strong but struggled after the race.

"I think I'm dehydrated," he said.

He didn't show it in the midst of the 1,600.

"I just wanted this race really bad," said Coots, who captured his first sectional title and posted a personal best in the event. His strategy was to stay off the pace and make his move midway through the race, but things didn't go quite to plan.

"I tried to stay behind Hedrick and get him on the third lap," Coots said. "We ended up racing until the fourth."

The 1,600 took a lot out of Coots. He showed a lot of moxie coming back to run the 800, but he didn't finish well enough to score.

For Madison senior Jordan Partee, disappointment in the long jump gave way to success in the 200 meters. Favored in the long jump, he did not have a qualifying effort, but he came back to edge Jeff's Blanton in the 200.

Partee has been running the event for only about a month, but he showed enough natural talent to get the victory.

"I've just got to work on my block starts and my endurance," he said.

The top four finishers advance to the Bloomington North Regional at 6 p.m. next Thursday, competing against qualifiers from the Corydon, Bloomington North and Bedford North Lawrence sectionals.

The top three regional qualifiers then move on to the State Finals on June 7 at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex in Bloomington.