The Indiana Runner Open held at the Kesler Student Activity Center on the campus of Taylor University produced some fine early season performances Saturday afternoon. The meet was highlighted by strong performances from Addison Knoblauch of Homestead in both the 1600m and 3200m runs, Izaiah Steury in both the 800m and 1600m runs, and John Colquitt from Brownsburg in both the 60m hurdles and 60m dash. The trio produced six wins between them.
Knoblauch led the 1600m field with a 4:59.23 clocking to win the event handily over Victoria Clibon of Fort Wayne Northrop. Clibon was timed in 5:21.06 for second. Both Knoblauch and Clibon doubled back for a 1-2 finish in the 3200m as well. Knoblauch won in a fine 10:41.59. Clibon was timed in 11:29.62. Lauren Walda from Ft. Wayne South Side and Gnister Grant from Northview were third and fourth, respectively, in 11:34.04 and 11:59.29.
Other strong performances on the girls side included a strong hurdles battle between Morgan Patterson from Fort Wayne Northrop and Skyler Sichting. Patterson edged Sichting 9.37 to 9.67 for the victory.
Brownsburg girls turned in a strong 1-2 punch in the girls 60m dash. Izzy Neal and Aysa Thruston led the field with respective times of 8.05 and 8.09. This looks scary for the 4x100m relay later in the spring.
In the girls 400m, Mayan Stickel ran 1:00.70 to just edge Katelyn Henselmeier, who was timed in 1:00.71.
The girls 800m produced some strong indoor early times with both Tori Jackson from Whiteland and Paige Iaria from Indian Creek breaking 2:30. Jackson won in a time of 2:26.35 with Iaria coming home in 2:28.34 for second.
Morgan Patterson doubled back to win the 200m in 26.69. She edged Izzy Neal who came back from the 60m dash to run 27.13 for second.
Kya Crooke took home a couple of field victories. She jumped an amazing early 5'6" to take the high jump easily and a strong indoor 17'2.5" to win the long jump by almost two feet. Both are outstanding early performances.
Kailee Stewart took gold in the pole vault with a mark of 11'0". She bested Riley Nielsen and Mackenzie VanBibber. Both jumped 10'6" for runner-up.
Addyson Trausch won the shot put with a throw of 30'2" to win by over two feet.
On the boys' side, John Colquitt from Brownsburg certainly announced he is fit and ready for the season. Colquitt won the 60m hurdles in 8.18 to best Knox Willis from Zionsville. Willis was timed in 8.53. James Philpott was third in 8.82.
Colquitt then doubled back and won the 60m dash in 6.93 over Luke Collins. Collins was timed 7.07. This is a tough double indoors with small heats of both the hurdles and dash- showing Colquitt's strength early indoors.
Izaiah Steury ran a near solo 4:12.26 to take the 1600m by 25 seconds. Nate Killeen from North Central was second in 4:37.25. Steury doubled back to win the 800m in 1:57.39. Anthony Roberts was second in the 800m with a good early season time of 2:03.90.
Riley Buroff ran a fast 51.61 in the 400m dash to beat Maddox Treece who was timed 52.61.
David Slick turned in a strong 22.79 to best Treece, doubling back from the 400m, who ran 23.56 for second in the 200m dash.
Luke Haggerty won the 3200m, barely beating Jcim Grant to the line. The two were timed in 10:07.97 and 10:08.91, respectively.
Braxton Walls out jumped Alden Mahaffey by two inches in the high jump. Walls winning jump was 6'2".
Jaxon Zollinger won the pole vault, hitting 14'0" already this season. He bested Peyton McQuinn by six inches.
Stephen Sydnor out leaped the long jumped field by over 18-inches to win in 22'4.74".
Luke Himes smashed the shot put field with a huge winning effort of 58'0. His throw put him almost 16 feet better than the field.