By SCOTT DAVIDSON
Sports Editor

ELKHART – The Warsaw girls track team has made a habit of dominating the Northern Lakes Conference regular season lately.

That trend continued in a big way for the Tigers Tuesday night as they capped another undefeated NLC season in appropriately dominating fashion.

Ashley Erba and Ann Harvuot each won a pair of individual events as undefeated Warsaw topped  host Elkhart Memorial 96-36 and Concord 103-28 in the conference finale. Memorial beat Concord 85-46.

Warsaw completes its third straight 7-0 NLC regular season and has now won 25 straight conference meets. The Tigers, who finish regular-season competition at 11-0 overall,  last league loss was a 69-63 setback to Memorial during the 2009 campaign.

Erba, who won the cross country state championship last fall, says the NLC streak is a big deal.

“It’s a huge tradition for us to win the NLC,” said the junior long distance star. “We do not want to lose in the NLC and that’s definitely a big team thing for us.

“I’m just really excited from an individual and a team standpoint. We’re in a good position and it’s exciting as a team with all our skills coming together. The regular season flew by and I’m really looking forward to the NLC Meet next week and then the state tournament.”

Erba won the 1,600 (5:07.79) and 3,200 (10:50.39) in dominating fashion as expected Tuesday night. She also ran a leg on the 4 X 800 relay, teaming with Lilly Fleming, Ellie Bearss and Brooke Kline to win in 9:59.88. She won the 1,600 despite the fact that the shoelace on her green left shoe was undone.

“Yeah I noticed it about 250 meters in and felt it flapping,” explained Elba. “I was rushing to get ready for the race and didn’t get it tied tight.”

“It was a good, successful meet tonight. I got stuff out of it that I wanted to in terms of strategies.”

Sophomore Harvuot won the 100 (13.31) and 200 (27.17) dashes. Sophomore Jackie Ferguson won the 300 hurdle (48.17) for WCHS.  The Tigers also won all three relay races.

Warsaw had a strong showing in the field events as well. Claire Hickerson won the pole vault (10-0), Sarah Heagy took the shot put (35-6) and Lauren Burish captured the discus (128-11).

Warsaw coach Scott Erba, whose program will host the NLC meet May 8, saw plenty to like from his talented team.

“I was really impressed with how our girls stepped up and performed the way they did tonight,” said coach Erba. “I always feel good when we get to 67 points (for a win) against Memorial. Things are going good for us and I feel really confident going into the NLC Meet.

“Going undefeated in the NLC is a big goal for us. It’s about the program and kids buying into it. It shows consistency to win 25 in a row because you have new kids every year.

“We had a lot of good things tonight. Our throwers (Lauren Burish and Samantha Jensen) had personal bests in the discus and that’s exciting. We had two long jumpers (Courtney Farling and Jamie Lacheta) break 15 feet for the first time and our last relay (the 4 X 400) was four seconds faster than they’ve ever been with three freshmen and a sophomore.

“I also like where Ashley is at right now. She had a really dedicated offseason and is very purposeful. She has some great races coming up and I’m just very excited to see her compete in the tourney.”

Warsaw hosts the NLC Meet May 8.

 

WARSAW 96, ELKHART MEMORIAL 36
WARSAW 103, CONCORD 28
ELKHART MEMORIAL 85, CONCORD 46

100: Ann Harvuot (W) 13.31; Regina Anderson (W) 13.51; Victoria Mills (EM) 13.68.

200: Ann Harvuot (W) 27.17; Michelle Detwiler (C) 27.83; Mariah Harter (W) 27.97.

400: Jessica O’Connell (C) 1:00.37; Allison Hoefle (EM) 1:00.58; Tennie Worrell (W) 1:01.37.

800: Sierra Moore (EM) 2:21.00; Brooke Kline (W) 2:25.81; Lilly Fleming (W) 2:31.25.

1,600: Ashley Erba (W) 5:07.79; Sierra Moore (EM) 5:22.53; Claire Welter (EM) 5:51.70.

3,200: Ashley Erba (W) 10:50.39; Heather Johnson (C) 12:32.92; Morgan Severeid (EM) 12:44.47.

100 hurdle: Jessica O’Connell (C) 16.38; Jackie Ferguson (W) 16.91; Brittney Rhodes (W) 17.11.

300 hurdles: Jackie Ferguson (W) 48.17; Kayla Bixler (W) 48.87; Michelle Bowen (EM) 52.01.

400 Relay: Warsaw (Regina Anderson, Mariah Harter, Brittney Rhodes, Ann Harvuot) 51.24; Elkhart Memorial 51.54; Concord 51.64.

1,600 Relay: Warsaw (Nicole Eckert, Tennie Worrell, Megan Kratzsch, Jackie Ferguson) 4:06.78; Concord 4:11.38; Elkhart Memorial 4:13.05.

3,200 Relay: Warsaw  (Lilly Fleming, Brooke Kline, Ellie Bearss, Ashley Erba) 9:59.88; Elkhart Memorial 10:14.30; Concord 10:48.36.

High Jump: Michelle Detwiler (C) 5-0; Jamie Lacheta (W) 4-10; Abby Schue (W) 4-10.

Pole Vault: Claire Hickerson (W) 10-0; Megan Dearlove (W) 9-4; Chelsea Bettis (EM) 8-0.

Long Jump: Melissa DuBois (C) 17-7; Stephanie Bettis (EM) 16-6.25; Tailor Schultheis (EM) 16-6.

Shot Put: Sarah Heagy (W) 35-6; Deanna Cornelius (EM) 34-8; Lauren Burish (W) 33-8.

Discus:  Lauren Burish (W) 128-11; Samantha Jensen (W) 121-3; Mallory Conrad (EM) 117-1.