These Evansville-area girls have qualified for the IHSAA state track and field finals

EVANSVILLE — Another postseason track and field meet, more records broken at Central Stadium.

It happened in two events on Tuesday evening. A slew of seniors will close out their careers next weekend at state, including Southwestern Indiana's only defending state champion. Many more athletes also punched their tickets to Bloomington for the first time.

Let's dive into the takeaways from the regional meet.

IHSAA track and field: Signature School is known for its academics. It also has one of the state's best sprinters

North's 4x100 relay, Signature School's Ava Olomajeye break records

There's so much speed and depth in this Huskies unit.

It continues to impress and break records as its anchor, sophomore De'Janay Layne, is cementing herself among the area's top sprinters. She already broke meet records twice this month as an individual in the 200-meter dash. North's 4x100 continues to etch its name in the record books as well.

It broke the meet record with a time of 48.26 seconds. Sophomore Iana Tecson, who also advances as an individual in the 200 with Layne, admires the unit she's on.

"My favorite thing is how we're able to pull our trust in each other and have that chemistry, not just outside of the track but also on the track," Tecson said. "We really pull together as a team and perform for the stands, perform for the lights."

Meanwhile, there was a special meaning for Olomajeye breaking the meet record in the 400. It was previously held by Bosse grad Alexia Smith in 2022. Olomajeye is going to Indiana University in the fall and looks forward to more competition with Smith, now at Purdue, in the Big Ten.

For now, she's aiming for the top spot on the podium at state.

"That (goal) has not changed," Olomajaye said. "I know I can (do it) and I know that I've put in the work. I really feel that I can have that No. 1 spot."

Central's Jahzara McAlister returns to state in final season

It's been a full circle moment for the senior to be in this spot.

She had never gone to state as an individual but did qualify on the Bears' 4x100 relay as a freshman. Although she fell short over the next two seasons, McAlister had no doubt she would return to Bloomington.

Her perseverance has paid off. She gets to put on a Central uniform one more time after being the regional runner-up in the 100.

"It helps that I have my belief in God. I knew He had me," McAlister said. "I put in the work. I did my part. He already delivered his."

Standout Castle seniors will close out careers at IHSAA state finals

Gretchen Hurt and Amaya Royal have enjoyed their last two trips to Bloomington together. They will make one final trip next weekend.

The seniors combined for three regional titles as Hurt swept shot put and discus and Royal won in the 100-meter dash. Royal also qualified for state in the 200-meter dash after standing on the podium at state last season and breaking a school record.

"We've been together since we were freshmen and we've kind of been in the same boat of keep on going to state," Hurt said. "We've developed a bond over the years, and that's something that's super special. I'm just so proud of her."

"I think it's so fun to see me and Gretchen try to get first in our prime events," Royal added. "Knowing that we've both gone (to state) three years with each other, it really makes it special for our senior year."

Reitz's Cordelia Hoover, Pike Central's Xavery Weisman advance in 3,200

Hoover, a senior, is excited about her future running with Southeast Missouri State. But she still wants to soak up some final moments wearing a Panthers uniform.

While she was a state qualifier earlier this school year in cross country, she wanted to end her high school track career at the finals, too. Her goal was fulfilled with a third-place finish in the 3,200.

"It's so meaningful (going to state) because it's my last race," Hoover said. "There's so many runners that have pushed me throughout the season that are making it to state, too."

Weisman is one of the runners who pushed Hoover, and she also punched her tickets in the 1,600 and 3,200. The junior has also been to state before in cross country but this will be her first rodeo in track.

"As an upperclassman, I really, really wanted to get there," Weisman said. "I just ran really hard today and I achieved that. I'm really happy."

Results from Central girls track and field regional

Tuesday at Central Stadium

Team scores: Floyd Central 79, North 68.25, Castle 64.5, Jasper 36.75, New Albany 33, Corydon Central 31, Central 27, Evansville Christian 20, South Knox 19, Borden 18.5

Evansville-area state qualifiers

100: 1st: Amaya Royal (Castle) 12.43, 2nd: Jahzara McAlister (Central) 12.61, 3rd: Ava Kelley (Boonville) 12.62

200: 1st: De'Janay Layne (North) 25.38, 2nd: Iana Tecson (North) 25.4, 3rd: Amaya Royal (Castle) 26.97

400: 1st: Ava Olomajeye (Signature School) 56.39*, 3rd: Brooklyn Lutz (Castle) 58.57

800: 1st: Abrielle Richard (Evansville Christian) 2:17.03, 3rd: Mia Porter (North) 2:25.01

1,600: 2nd: Mallory Watt (Princeton) 5:16.4, 3rd: Xavery Weisman (Pike Central) 5:17.96

3,200: 2nd: Xavery Weisman (Pike Central) 11:44.97, 3rd: Cordelia Hoover (Reitz) 11:47.28

100 hurdles: 1st: Elle Knepp (Barr-Reeve) 15.72, 3rd: Alishia Darrett (North) 16.11

300 hurdles: 3rd: Alishia Darrett (North) 45.99

4x100 relay: 1st: North (Ja'Shonti Boyd, Vanessa Nankwenya, Iana Tecson, De'Janay Layne) 48.26*, 3rd: Harrison 50.20

4x400 relay: 1st: North (Ja'Shonti Boyd, Alishia Darrett, De'Janay Layne, Iana Tecson) 4:00.79, 2nd: Castle 4:03.09

4x800 relay: 3rd: Jasper (Alexis Byrd, Monica Lorey, Molly Isaacs, Ella Clark) 9:56.9

High jump: 2nd: Josie Page (Wood Memorial) 5-02, 3rd: Claire Townsend (North) 5-02

Pole vault: 1st: Ann Elise Sloan (Evansville Christian) 12-0, 2nd: Madeline Maier (Mount Vernon) 11-03, 3rd: Riley Hinson (Forest Park) 10-09

Long jump: 2nd: Azaria Small (Central) 17-01

Shot put: 1st: Gretchen Hurt (Castle) 40-08, 2nd: Angelica Sierra (Southridge) 38-08.5, 3rd: Jenna Herr (Memorial) 37-04.5

Discus: 1st: Gretchen Hurt (Castle) 124-04

*-new meet record

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA track and field: These Evansville-area girls are going to state