What we learned from the SIAC boys track and field meet as North clinches team title

EVANSVILLE — The North Huskies made history at Thursday's boys Southern Indiana Athletic Conference track and field meet.

For the first time since 1981, the Huskies took home a conference championship. There was music blasting and plenty of dancing from them near one of the Central Stadium endzones. Although winning the SIAC was a major goal, it's certainly not North's ultimate objective.

Let's take a look at how the Huskies came away as SIAC champions and dive into more takeaways from the SIAC meet.

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North's upperclassmen made a splash in team win

Senior Myles Terry pulled his hamstring during an indoor meet earlier this year but is starting to find his peak.

Formerly a state placer with Harrison, Terry is still leading the field with North. He was an individual champion in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.26 seconds and took home two more titles as the third leg of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

North is enjoying having Terry on its team, and the feeling is mutual.

"The Huskies have given me a happy home," Terry said. "They've been motivating me through this whole experience and motivating me to be my better self every day. They're pushing me to be the best I can."

Junior Ben Brasher also clinched a SIAC title in shot put and set a new school record at 54 feet, 1 inch. Plus, there was a family affair between seniors (and cousins) Kaleb Harris and Antonio Harris as North's Kaleb bested Castle's Antonio in the 100 with a time of 11.14 seconds.

"I was really just thinking about having my cousin right next to me," Kaleb said of winning the title. "I knew I had to beat him. So that's all I had in my mind."

Reitz's Jackson Nolan also shines going toward the postseason

Nolan raised his arms in celebration as he crossed the finish line in the 3,200-meter run.

The Panthers junior has been one of Southwestern Indiana's top distance runners over the last couple of years. He won the 3,200 in convincing fashion, but more important than anything, Nolan was ecstatic to help score points for his team. He was also on the 4x800 team that finished third.

Although Nolan has qualified for state multiple times in cross country, he has yet to do so in track. He and the rest of his Reitz teammates want to be at full strength and dominate when it matters the most later this month.

"We have a very strong regional, of course, with some really big names," Nolan said. "But that shouldn't affect how we think. My goals are always just to win."

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Jasper's Calvin Seitz stands out as a freshman

Another impressive distance runner in Southwestern Indiana is Seitz.

He made a strong debut in cross country with a ninth-place finish at state. He's now a two-time SIAC champion in the 1,600-meter run and as the second leg on the Wildcats' 4x800 relay. The anchor in the 4x800, senior Wylee Kippenbrock, also won an individual title in the 800.

Seitz enjoys cross country more than track because of the hills and there not being as many left turns as track. But as he made it to state in one sport, he set his sights on making it in another.

"I'd like to get the freshman state record for the two-mile, which is 9:13," Seitz said. "And we'll see how we'll do at regionals if I even make it to state."

Vincennes Lincoln's Jordan Donovan sweeps hurdling events

The senior wasn't worried about a North hurdler making a false start in the 110. He simply focused on what he needed to do to win.

Donovan ultimately swept both hurdling events, finishing the 110 in 16.06 seconds before breaking away from the pack and setting a personal and new school record in the 300 at 40.86 seconds.

He aims to carry the momentum into the postseason. Donovan knows the competition will continue to increase, but one of his goals is to finish within the top five at the regional.

"There was a lot of great competition out today," Donovan said. "I just (went) hard the first 100 meters and (flew) through the rest of the race. And it felt great."

Results from the SIAC boys track meet

Thursday at Central Stadium

Team: North 127.5, Jasper 111, Castle 85.5, Memorial 79, Reitz 64, Vincennes Lincoln 44, Mater Dei 42, Harrison 37.5, Central 25.5, Bosse 5

Individual winners

100: Kaleb Harris (North) 11.14

200: Myles Terry (North) 22.26

400: Cainen Northington (North) 48.92

800: Wylee Kippenbrock (Jasper) 1:59.9

1,600: Calvin Seitz (Jasper) 4:28.05

3,200: Jackson Nolan (Reitz) 9:27.67

110 high hurdles: Jordan Donovan (Vincennes Lincoln) 16.06

300 hurdles: Jordan Donovan (Vincennes Lincoln) 40.86

4x100 relay: North (Kaleb Harris, Cole McBride, Myles Terry, TJ Michel) 43.18

4x400 relay: North (Cainen Northington, De'Amontey Layne, Myles Terry, Dade Waters) 3:29.77

4x800 relay: Jasper (Cortland Kizior, Calvin Seitz, Max Kline, Wylee Kippenbrock) 8:05.40

High jump: Jay Summitt (Harrison) 6-02

Pole vault: AJ Lothamer (Castle) 13-06

Long jump: Devin Stewart (Central) 21-02.25

Shot put: Ben Brasher (North) 54-01

Discus: Darrion Stewart (Central) 139-0

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA boys track and field: Evansville North wins 2024 SIAC meet