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Warsaw Delivers Two More NLC Wins

Written on April 23, 2014 by Staff Reporter

Categories: Sports Archive 2014

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Claire Hickerson heads to a third-place finish in the 100 hurdles for Warsaw Tuesday night at Northridge. The undefeated Tigers beat the Raiders and Wawasee in NLC action.
Claire Hickerson heads to a third-place finish in the 100 hurdles for Warsaw Tuesday night at Northridge. The undefeated Tigers beat the Raiders and Wawasee in NLC action.

MIDDLEBURY – Just like the U.S. Postal Service, nothing is slowing down the Warsaw girls track team again this season.

The Tigers, through the wind and cold, delivered another pair of dominating wins Tuesday night.

Coach Scott Erba’s deep and talented team won 15 of the 16 events on a blustery evening in defeating host Northridge and Wawasee in a Northern Lakes Conference triangular.

The trio of Ann Harvuot, Jackie Ferguson and Allison Miller each won a pair of individual events as the Tigers topped the Raiders 114-17 and the Warriors 114-18.

Warsaw, which has won at least a share of the NLC title for the last eight  years, improves to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in league competition.

On a night more suited for a football game in November, with a howling wind and wind chills in the 30’s, the Tigers were not phased at all.

Star sprinter Harvuot, one of the talented members of a stellar senior class for Erba’s squad, won both the 100 in 13.58 and the 200 in 27.16. She also paired with teammates Samantha Alexander, Audrey Rich and Mariah Harter to take first in the 4 X 100 relay race in a top time of 51.13.

Harvuout admitted that the conditions were not exactly the best to compete in Tuesday night after Monday saw temperatures in the mid to upper 70’s.

Standout sprinter Ann Harvuot breaks from the start of the 100 Tuesday night.
Standout sprinter Ann Harvuot breaks from the start of the 100 Tuesday night.

“It’s definitely not fun,” said Harvuot of the wind and cold after cruising to victory in the 100. “You just have to know that you are not going to get your best time in conditions like these. You just have to come out and do your best. I use it more like a training session tonight and just try to push myself. It’s much more different because I feel a lot more tired right now than I usually do.”

Harvuot has her sights set on finishing strong the final six weeks of the season. This will be the final season of competing in track for her. Harvuot qualified for the State Finals as a sophomore in 2012 and then was forced to miss the regional last year due to an injury.

“My goal is to beat the school records in the 100 and 200 this season,” Harvuot said. “That’s pretty big motivation for me. It comes down to putting in a lot of hard work and training and being pushed definitely helps.

“I went to State as a sophomore and I was so nervous. I just want to get back down there and have fun this year. I want to have a good experience at State. It’s bittersweet for me because this is my last year of track. I’ve done it for the last nine years. I’ve really enjoyed my teammates and the coaches.”

Ferguson won the 100 hurdles and the 400 for the Tigers. She hit the finish line first in the 100 in 17.65 and first in the 400 in 1:06.08.

Freshman distance ace Miller won the 1,600 in a top time of 5:25.76 and claimed first in the 3,200 in 11:58.68.

The Tigers, who won sectional and regional championships a year ago,  also got winning performances on the track from Nicole Eckert in the 300 hurdles (49.00) and Hannah Dawson in the 800 (2:31.00).

Warsaw won all three relay events. The 4 X 800 team of Aletheia Burritt, Madeline Hooks, Claire Kehler and Charlene Orr started the meet with a first in 10:26.99. The 4 X 400 team of Burritt, Mallory Hooks, Haley Peterson and Kenzie Merchant also won with a top effort of 4:27.68.

The Tigers also took firsts in four of the five field events. Standout Claire Hickerson won the pole vault with a top effort of 10-3. Samantha Alexander claimed the long jump with a winning leap of 16-3. Brooklyn Harrison placed first in the shot put with a best throw of 37-5. Courtney Farling cleared 4-6 to win the high jump.

Warsaw also placed second or third 17 times Tuesday night. Anna Craig was second in both the 1,600 and 3,200 for the Tigers, while Rich was third in the 100 and pole vault and Brooke Rhodes placed second in the 800 and third in the 1,600.

The Tigers will compete Saturday in the Turtle Town Classic at Churubusco, where they are the defending champions. Warsaw will then close out NLC regular season action next Tuesday by hosting Plymouth and Elkhart Memorial.

Claire Kehler begins her leg of the winning 4 X 800 relay team for Warsaw Tuesday night.
Claire Kehler begins her leg of the winning 4 X 800 relay team for Warsaw Tuesday night.

 

 

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