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What to watch at the Bloomington North girls track regional: Storylines, top seeds

jim gordillo, the herald-times
·8 min read

The IHSAA Bloomington North girls track regional will take place on Tuesday, so here are some of the top athletes and races to watch as they take the last step to the state finals.

Tickets, time schedule

Qualifiers at North come from sectionals at North, Terre Haute, Jeffersonville and Seymour.

The meet will begin at 6 p.m. with field events and the 3,200 relay. Running trials for the 100, 200 and 100 hurdles (top two in each heat to finals and next four best) at 6:45 and running finals begin at 7:20.

Only the top three and any others who meet the state standard in that event (see seeds at the end of the story) will move on to the state meet on Saturday, June 1 at IU's Billy Hayes Track. Heat sheets and live results can be found at bhsnathletics.com.

Tickets are $10 and are available ahead of time at ihsaa.eventlink.com/Tickets or at the gate with a credit card.

Bloomington North’s Hadley Lucas competes in the girls' discus during the Conference Indiana track meet at Bloomington North on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Bloomington North’s Hadley Lucas competes in the girls' discus during the Conference Indiana track meet at Bloomington North on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Looking to go back to the IHSAA state finals

There are several athletes competing who are looking to make return trips to the state finals.

In the throws, North's Hadley Lucas, Linton's Becca Robbins made it in both last year while Clay City's Megan Jackson is a fifth seed in the discus after a state appearance in 2023.

Lucas, a three-time state champ who set both sectional records last week, will be taking aim at both regional records, the 50-0 she set last year in the shot put and the 169-5 set by Edgewood's Stacy Martin in 1999.

North's Dede Eberle made it to state last year in both hurdles, long jump and the 400 relay, while Linton's Sophie Hale made it out in long jump and 100 hurdles and Orleans' Callie Alston was a qualifier in high jump. In pole vault, Edgewood's Ashley Abram and Greencastle's Cali Wuesterfield also made it out in pole vault.

Bloomington South’s Lexi Kollbaum passes Linton’s Peyton Smith during the 1,600 meter run during the IHSAA girls’ track and field sectional championship at Bloomington North on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Bloomington South’s Lexi Kollbaum passes Linton’s Peyton Smith during the 1,600 meter run during the IHSAA girls’ track and field sectional championship at Bloomington North on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Distance showcase could be on display in the regional

The longer the race the more dominant qualifiers from the Bloomington North Sectional appear to be.

In the 3,200, the top seven from that race advanced and own seven of the top eight seeds. Linton's Peyton Smith, an Indiana State signee, heads the list, followed by Edgewood's Hannah Crain and Riley Haskett (2-4), Eastern Greene's Esther Crane (3) and South's Julianne Hoover and Tamara Kun with North's Ellie Patrick eighth,

In the 1,600, South freshman Lexi Kollbaum and Linton's Smith will also have to deal with Northview's Ellia Hayes, an Indiana University recruit who ran a 5:05 at regional last year for second and had a 5:03 for second to Indian Creek star Libby Dowty at the WIC meet this year. Eastern Greene's Lilyanna Blais, North's Hayden McGuire and South's Kate Barada all run 5:21 or faster last week.

Hayes could also be a factor in the 800, seeded third behind a pair of school record holders, South's Ellie Barada and North's Nola Somers Glenn (who also set the meet record last year with a 2:11.64). North's Katie Kent and Edgewood's Ellie Vagedas are the other top-five seeds.

Edgewood’s Emma Edwards races to a win in the 400 meter dash during the IHSAA girls’ track and field sectional championship at Bloomington North on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Edgewood’s Emma Edwards races to a win in the 400 meter dash during the IHSAA girls’ track and field sectional championship at Bloomington North on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

In the 400, Edgewood's Emma Edwards appears to be the clear favorite with a 57.27 last week and a career best 56.30 at the Western Indiana Conference meet. The next best time last week was a 1:01.85 by Shakamak's Elayni Stone. But keep an eye on Charlestown's Jayda Holbrook, a regional qualifier in the 100 (third seed at 12.67), 200 and 400.

She's seeded 10th in the 400 but finished seventh at state last year in 57.04 after beating out Edwards for second at last year's regional race by .10.

In the 3,200 relay, South was the only team to break 10:00 last week, but Northview won a WIC title with a 9:51. Owen Valley will be looking to lower its school record for the third time this season after a 10:22.87 got them a fifth seed.

Bloomington North’s Dede Eberle anchors the 400 meter relay during the track meet against Bloomington South at North on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
Bloomington North’s Dede Eberle anchors the 400 meter relay during the track meet against Bloomington South at North on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

Will Dede Eberle four-peat?

As a junior last year, Eberle pulled off a regional sweep of the 100 and 300 hurdles, long jump and 400 relay, anchoring the team to a school record 48.68.

She set the meet record in the 100 hurdles last year at 14.43 as well, then went on to earn two medals at state, losing a chance at a third when she hit a hurdle with her hands in the 100 finals.

She is the top seed in all three of her individual events and the Cougars are No. 1 in the relay as well.

Bloomington North’s Grace Wellman and Bloomington South’s Eden Bailey compete in the 100 meter dash during the track meet at North on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
Bloomington North’s Grace Wellman and Bloomington South’s Eden Bailey compete in the 100 meter dash during the track meet at North on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

Here's a future Hoosier to watch

Another IU recruit to watch is Lyric Steele from Jeffersonville, who is back after losing a year due to injury. As a sophomore at Charlestown, she medaled at state in the 100 and 200. This year, she was the indoor 60-meter champ at the Hoosier State Relays. Outdoors, she just broke long-time Hoosier Hills Conference records in the 100 (11.79) and 200 (24.53).

She is the top seed in the 100 (12.27) and 200 (25.45).

While it'll be tough for any area competitor to get out in the 100, the 200 sees South's Eden Bailey and Edgewood's Macey Crider seeded 3-4.

BLOOMINGTON NORTH GIRLS TRACK REGIONAL SEEDS

Top 4 in each event plus area qualifiers (state standard in parenthesis)

100 (12.24): 1. Lyric Steele, Jeff, 12.27; 2. Shalane Blakely, THSouth, 12.50; 3. Jayda Holbrook, Chrlstwn, 12.67; 4. Dusty Welker, WVigo, 12.77; 5. Kayla Bush, Mart, 12.90; 6. Daisy Rogers, BN, 12.91; 7. Violet Hall, BS, 12.92; 8. Grace Wellman, BN, 12.95; 11. Helena Cutshall, BS, 13.29.

200 (25.40): 1. Steele, Jeff, 25.45; 2. Kyarra DeGroote, WVigo, 25.51; 3. Eden Bailey, BS, 26.38; 4. Macey Crider, Edg, 26.50. 14. Emily Fluke, Mart, 27.82; 15. Rilynn Williams, BN, 27.88.

400 (58.17): 1. Emma Edwards, Edg 57.27; 2. Elayni Stone, Shkmk, 1:01.85; 3. Katherine Sarver, Sullvn, 1:02.26; 4. Demme Hancewicz, THSouth, 1:02.35; 6. Emma Rice, BN, 1:02.68; 7. Mary Asplund, BS, 1:02.91; 12. Izzy Himebaugh, BN, 1:04.05; 14. Maya Jackson, BS, 1:04.38.

800 (2:15.53): 1. Ellie Barada, BS, 2:10.58; 2. Nola Somers Glenn, BN, 2:14.38; 3. Ellia Hayes, N'view, 2:17.75; 4. Katie Kent, BN, 2:25.32; 5. Ellie Vagedas, Edg, 2:25.39; 10. Grace Stringer, BS, 2:32.17.

1,600 (5:00.45): 1. Lexi Kollbaum, BS, 5:14.37; 2. Peyton Smith, Lint, 5:14.91; 3. Lilyanna Blais, EG, 5:16.19; 4. Hayden McGuire, BN, 5:19.60; 5. Kate Barada, BS, 5:21.71; 10. Evie Peterson, BN, 5:35.59.

3,200 (10:52.34): 1. Smith, Lint, 11:08.89; 2. Hannah Crain, Edg, 11:36.02; 3. Esther Crane, EG, 11:41.28; 4. Riley Haskett, Edg, 11:47.58; 5. Julianne Hoover, BS, 11:53.99; 6. Tamara Kun, BS, 12:01.67; 8. Ellie Patrick, BN, 12:09.53.

100 hurdles (14.91): 1. Dede Eberle, BN, 14.69; 2. Sophie Hale, Lint, 15.21; 3. Kathryn Ison, NCentral, 15.44; 4. Bailey Brickert, SPut, 15.45; 5. Adriene Shaevitz, BS, 15.69; 13. Annalise Coyne, BS, 17.26.

300 hurdles (45.78): 1. Eberle, BN, 46.47; 2. Emma Martin, THNorth, 46.75; 3. Ison, NCentral, 46.85; 4. Karsyn Buck, N'view, 47.41; 8. Coyne, BS, 49.19; 10. Maddie Moscrip, Mart, 49.64.

High jump (5-4): T1. Buck, N'view, 5-5; Callie Alston, Orlns, 5-5; T3. Kenli Sullivan, BN, 5-2; Sydney Montgomery, Seymr, 5-2; T5. Kena Maddox, EG, 5-1; Mallory Bettenbrock, ClayC, 5-1; Aylah Belding, JenCo, 5-1; T18. Edwards, Edg, 4-10.

Long jump (18-0¾): 1. Eberle, BN, 17-10; 2. Fluke, Mart, 17-2; 3. Abigail Fowler, Eastern Pekin, 17-1; 4. Hale, Lint, 16-8¾; 8. Rogers, BN, 16-2.

Shot put (41-4¼): 1. Hadley Lucas, BN, 52-3½; 2. Hannah Dart, Mad, 37-9¾; 3. Becca Robbins, Lint, 36-5¼; 4. Sophia Scott, SilvCrk, 35-10; 5. Anna Barnes, BS, 35-9½; 12. Ashley Greer, BN, 33-8½; 13. Molli Lucas, BS, 33-6½.

Discus (124-6): 1. Lucas, BN, 168-5; 2. Robbins, Lint, 136-7; 3. Scott, SilvCrk, 134-3¾; 4. Barnes, BS, 121-2; 6. Greer, BN, 111-1; 12. Lillian Weldrep, BS, 98-10; 15. Ava Norton, Edg, 97-8.

Pole vault (11-6): T1. Ashley Abram, Edg, 10-0; Cali Wuesterfeld, THNorth, 10-0; T3. Abagail Clark, THSouth, 9-6; Skyler Byrd, Grncstle, 9-6; T10. Lauren Barbu, BN, 8-6; Harlie Robbins, Edg, 8-6; T15. Aryana Wallace, BN, 7-6.

400 relay (48.46): 1. Bloomington North, 49.40; 2. Terre Haute South, 50.18; 3. Bloomington South, 50.45; 4. Jeffersonville, 50.46; 5. Edgewood, 51.01; 6. Martinsville, 51.18.

1,600 relay (3:59.20): 1. Bloomington South, 4:07.67; 2. Edgewood, 4:12.25; 3. Bloomington North, 4:14.19; 4. West Vigo, 4:15.05; 9. Martinsville, 4:23.51; 11. Eastern Greene, 4:27.22.

3,200 relay (9:26.01): 1. Bloomington South, 9:53.71; 2. Silver Creek, 10:14.18; 3. Bloomington North, 10:16.89; 4. Northview, 10:19.66; 5. Owen Valley, 10:22.87; 12. Martinsville, 10:49.12.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: What to watch at the IHSAA Bloomington North girls track regional