WARSAW – “Ridiculous”

That was the first word that popped out of the mouth of Warsaw boys track coach Matt Thacker Friday night as he heard the final team scores and standings announced for the Max Truex Invitational.

The host Tigers impressed their coach with a third-place effort in the eight-team event played out under gorgeous weather conditions for a change.

Undefeated Warsaw, coming off a tough 71-61 Northern Lakes Conference win over Northridge Thursday night, put forth a strong effort in the 34th annual event at WCHS.

“We had a meet Thursday where we had to have it and then our guys come out and compete like they did here tonight,” said Thacker. “That shows the heart of our kids. It is ridiculous.

“I can’t fault our effort tonight. Did they exceed what I thought we would do after last night, yes. They competed and that’s all that I can ask of them. We’ve got guys who have run six tough races in the last two nights for us.”

Valparaiso claimed the team championship with 122.5 points. LaPorte was runner-up with 104.5 with Warsaw third with 97. Homestead was fourth with 80 points, followed by Penn (66), Hobart (63), Fairfield (62) and Fort Wayne Wayne (12).

The outstanding distance duo of Owen Glogovsky and Daniel Messenger paired to win the 1,600 relay event for the Tigers. Glogovsky was second overall in the field with a time of 4:26.49 and Messenger clocked in seventh at 4:43.50.

The Tigers had a strong showing in the field events competition Friday night. The duo of Brock Riley (6-3) and Luke Wilson (6-0) paired to place second in the high jump relay. The pair of Rashaan Jackson (20-2 1/2) and Rane Kilburn (19-5) were second in the long jump relay.

Warsaw also placed second in the discus throw relay as Andrew Scheidt (144-8) and Jaceb Burrish (131-10) teamed up. The Tigers were second in the shot put relay with the team of Ben Plummer (46-11 1/2) and Dylan Childers (46-4 1/2).

The pair of Caleb Klusman (15.92) and Ross Armey (16.27) combined to place second for the Tigers in the 110 hurdles relay event.  Messenger and Nick Adams paired to place second in the 800 run relay. Messenger had the top time in the field at 1:59.54 and Adams clocked in at 2:12.58.

Thacker, whose team is 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the NLC (with 32 wins in a row in conference action dating back to the 2011 season), has seen his team respond the last couple of weeks.

“For the most part, our guys have responded and competed well lately,” Thacker said. “Lucas Cone is a perfect example of that. He switched to the pole vault to find a way to help the team and he had two personal bests this week (going 10 feet tonight). That’s a big bonus for us to have. That’s the type of attitude, kid and competitor that we want.”

Warsaw will take some time to rest up before closing out the NLC and regular season next Wednesday with a league triangular at NorthWood versus the host Panthers and Plymouth.