With conference meets and the State Tournament just around the corner it's hard to believe that we are already approaching the final stages of the IHSAA outdoor season. There have been quite a few great performances already for the outdoor season, which bodes well for an exciting next 5 weeks or so.
Sprints
To start us off in the Sprints, Bloomington North's breakout superstar sprinter Jaidyn Johnson has been on a terror run to start the outdoor campaign. Running marks of 10.34 and 21.15 in the 100 and 200 respectively at the Mustang Invitational. Johnson is now tied for 6th all time in the 100 and tied for 12th all time in the 200. Johnson is a recent University of Louisville recruit announcing his decision after HSR weekend. Lawrence North junior Jerome Smith appears to be only athlete to go under 21.5 besides Johnson in the 200 this outdoor season, going 21.43 at the Charlie Riley Invite.
Hurdles
In the hurdles it's been the Tyler Tarter show up front and has taken another step after being one of the best Hurdlers in the State last season. The IU Bloomington recruit has run 13.69 in the 110 Hurdles and 36.89 in the 300 Hurdles. Both are Indiana #1 and is currently top 5 in the country for both hurdle events. Mt. Vernon senior and Duke University recruit Andres Langston also has a standout performance in the 300 hurdles going 37.98 against Tarter. After being a 400 runner most of his career the 300 hurdles might be the event he puts his focus on for the State meet in June.
Distance
On the Distance side, it's as strong as its even been for the state, especially up front. It starts with Martinsville's mega star Martin Barco, after his national runner up performance in the mile. Barco has gone on to win both Showcase meets at Franklin Central and Carmel in April. His 8:48.20 narrow win at Carmel over Brebeuf senior and Nike Cross Nationals runner up Cameron Todd puts him 7th all time at 3200 (his mile indoors is 4th all time). Barco will also be attempting to become the 1st hoosier to break 4 minutes in the Mile in New York on May 3rd. The senior duo of Cameron Todd and Will Conway from Brebeuf and Floyd Central respectively have also put down all time marks this outdoor season. Conway, a Tennessee recruit broke the Indiana State record at 3200 running 8:41.18 while Todd, a Notre Dame recruit is now 3rd all time at 3200 running 8:46.55. Both marks were run at the Arcadia Invitational out in California. The 1st, 3rd, 7th and 17th best 3200 runners all time are all current high school seniors as well.
Barco wins the fast heat at the Carmel 3200m Showcase with a time of 8:48.
Mid-Distance
In the mid distance events sophomore standout Caleb Winders appears to have taken the state lead in the 800m at 1:54.44 with a comfortable margin of victory at the Conference Indiana Championships. At HSR this year he dropped a 1:51 closing split on Bloomington North's national leading 4x800m. He will look to try and capture the state title this year after finishing runner-up as a freshman. The 400m had an exciting showdown this past weekend for the top two spots between Zionsville senior Cameron Mullens and West Lafayette senior Andres Negron-Carrero. Both would run to a 48.80 with Mullens able to outlean at the line. Mullens is the top returner in this event for the upcoming state meet in June and the only athlete in Indiana to go sub 48 at any point.
Field
In the field, Notre Dame commit and reigning State Champ Luke Himes from Heritage Christian continues his dominance and has the best Shot Put throw of the year at 67' 4" while Fishers senior Joel Gates had a breakout performance at the Charlie Riley invite to put him on top of the state leaderboard for the Discus with a 183' 9". Warsaw sophomore Jordan Randall would have the best high jump of the state at 6'10" before Elliot Ryba from Greenfield would clear the 7 foot mark for the first time outdoors at the 100th Kokomo Relays. In the long jump, Penn senior Elijah Coker has the best long jump at 23' 10" from the Mishawaka boys Invitational. In the Pole Vault Hamilton Heights senior and IU Bloomington Recruit Peyton McQuinn has the top mark so far being the only athlete to clear 16 feet.
Elliot Ryba Clearing 7 feet in the high jump at the 100th Kokomo Relays
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Martin Barco, Nicki Southerland Star at Flashes Showcase