North track scraps out win against rival South

By Dennis Clark
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE May 07, 2008 12:52 am

— With the unavailability of Terre Haute North long distance runner Zach Mayhew due to a balky hamstring, the odds were stacked a bit against the Patriots’ boys in their annual high school track and field meet at Terre Haute South on Tuesday.
But the Patriots came from behind in the last two events, riding the standout performance of freshman John Mascari and North’s 4x400 relay team — especially the “win one for the Gipper” effort of Brandon Query with the rain falling — to prevail 70-62.
In the girls meet, North hit the century mark behind the four wins of Ashley Burkins (100 and 300 hurdles, 400 and 1,600 relay) and three wins from Amy Hamilton (800, 1,600 and 3,200) to win 100-32.
“Last year it was a tie and I can definitely say that winning is sweeter,” said North boys coach Chris Conner. “But my kids came through … it came down to the 4x400 and I told my guys, ‘it’s up to you if you guys want it.’ They definitely wanted it.
“And it wasn’t just the 4x400 team, everybody had a part in this win. I’m proud of each and everyone of my kids that ran today.
“We would typically expect 15 points from [Mayhew]. Mascari, wow … an amazing performance from him. I just look forward to the future just watching that kid grow as a runner.
“Brandon stepped up. I went up to him, said ‘we got to have you get this one.’ And he looked at me and goes ‘I’ll do it coach.’
On Mayhew being ready for next Thursday’s sectional, Conner added, “His hamstring is hurting him a little bit and we figured if we lose this meet, we lose this meet. But we don’t want to lose sectionals. So we’re going to save him for sectionals, then we’ll really do some pounding then.”
North was also led by Shaun Smith’s three wins (100, 200 and 400 relay). For South, Andrew Sullivan (800 and 1,600) and John Haley (110 and 300 hurdles) were double winners.
“It was a lot closer than I thought it would actually be,” stated South boys coach Eric Graves. “There were a lot of excellent times, a lot of [personal records], which we want in May.”
On the meet’s big surprise in Haley, Graves laughed, “I will have to change my sectional roster to get him into the 110 hurdles. He always kind of fought against it, but today he was a little more open to the idea. He may even move up to the 4x400 “A” team.
“People come out of the woodwork sometimes at the end of the season. John Haley is one of those fortunate ones.”
While Sullivan and Burkins were once again impressive for the North girls, coach Mike Dason was also pleased with his freshmen, saying, “The freshmen are just unbelievable for us. Christie Hasbrouck got her best in long jump, got her best in pole vault. Paige Rosselli threw one of her best in the shot-put.”
As for Burkins, “Ashley Burkins running a 1:01 in [1,600] relay. We’ve actually moved her from sprinter over into the 400 … want to get her in shape for that. That’s obviously paying off.”
“[North] really had some strong athletes and they came through for them tonight,” said South girls coach Ed Jarvis. “We just need a couple people to step up for us in sectionals. If that happens, we can do a little better than we did tonight.”
Jarvis did extend a lot of praise for Brianne Steppe. Steppe did her part by winning both hurdles (100 and 300) and valiantly coming in second behind Burkins in an exciting end to the meet in the 1,600 relay.
“I really want to point out Brianne … she’s probably been our best athlete all year with Kristy [Twitchell] out,” Jarvis added.
Twitchell, who won the 800 at the Big 4 on Saturday, was relegated to helping with the timing of the meet hobbling around with a walking cast on her lower leg.
“She’s done for the year,” Jarvis admitted. “The Big 4 she looked good, then the next day she was in a chair all day.”
North’s Lindy Jones was not a winner but still very impressive, the sophomore coming in second in all three races (800, 1,600 and 3,200) won by Hamilton.

BOYS
Terre Haute North 70, Terre Haute South 62
3,200 relay — THN “A” (Milton Brinza, John Davis, Brenden Longfellow, Kevin Depasse) 8:38.21. 110H — John Haley (THS) 15.84, Erwin Tapia (THS) 17.90, Kenny Payne (THS) 18.17. 100 — Shaun Smith (THN) 11.23, Elias Brown (THS) 11.80, Lucas Strassler (THN) 11.97. 1,600 — Andrew Sullivan (THS) 4:29.76, Brandon Query (THN) 4:39.51, Brinza (THN) 4:51.41. 400 relay — THN “A” (Daniel Gabbard, Ben King, Strassler, Smith) 43.91. 400 — Dylan Bubeck (THS) 52.64, Dillon Hare (THN) 52.95, King (THN) 53.08. 300H — Haley (THS) 41.98, Dayne Hosier (THN) 43.07, Deli Stinnett (THS) 44.48. 800 — Sullivan (THS) 2:02.35, Matt Collier (THS) 2:06.40, Brinza (THN) 2:07.10. 200 — Smith (THN) 23.05, Brown (THS) 23.77, Strassler (THN) 23.94. 3,200 — John Mascari (THN) 10:02.75, Query (THN) 10:45.68, Taylor Head (THS) 10:45.69. 1,600 relay — THN “A” (Strassler, King, Conner Lentz, Zach Jenkins) 3:30.26. HJ — Adam Austin (THS) 6-2, Lemuel Young (THS) 6-0, Broc Hudson (THN) 5-8. LJ — Scott Weatherford (THN) 23-3.25, Gabbard (THN) 1-8.50, Rashad Owens (THS) 19-4.50. SP — Aaron Edwards (THN) 35-5, Josh Bridwell (THS) 50-2, Eric Hannum (THN) 40-2. D — Bridwell (THS) 143-2, Edwards (THN) 140-5, Frank Toth (THN) 127-0. PV — Tyler Crooks (THS) 12-6, Jacob Ridgway (THN) 12-0, Lentz (THN) 12-0.
GIRLS
Terre Haute North 100, Terre Haute South 32
3,200 relay — THN “A” (Katie Shew, Madeline Whitaker, Jordan Cresgy, Lindsey Hoff) 10:52.46. 100H — Brianne Steppe (THS) 17.21, Megan Wilkey (THN) 17.68, Erica Maxwell (THN) 19.08. 100 — Ashley Burkins (THN) 13.09, Brittany Dorsett (THN) 13.29, Tajah Dickson (THN) 13.65. 1,600 — Amy Hamilton (THN) 5:17.89, Lindy Jones (THN) 5:27.21, Liz Marietta (THN) 5:56.79. 400 relay — THN “A” (Wilkey, Alexa McFadden, Dorsett, Burkins) 51.63. 400 — Ally Vaeth (THS) 1:02.64, Larina Couthino (THS) 1:03.60, Mallory Reed (THN) 1:05.61. 300H — Steppe (THS) 48.07, Wilkey (THN) 51.01, Dickson (THN) 51.37. 800 — Hamilton (THN) 2:25.88, Jones (THN) 2:30.58, Katie Shew (THS) 2:41.69. 200 — Burkins (THN) 27.48, Dickson (THN) 28.80, Kayla Liffick (THS) 29.18. 3,200 — Hamilton (THN) 11:32.46, Jones (THN) 11:54.31, Kate Samson (THS) 12:54.59. 1,600 relay — THN “A” (McFadden, Maddie Nelson, Mallory Reed, Burkins) 4:17.95. HJ — Beth Liebler (THN) 5-0, Caitlin Tincher (THS) 4-10, Devony Shaffer (THN) 4-10. LJ — Dorsett (THN) 15-6.50, Coutinho (THS) 15-6, Christie Hasbrouck (THN) 15-1.25. SP — Adrianne Bell (THS) 35-6.50, Paige Rosselli (THN) 35-4, Shayla Lewis (THS) 32-6. D — Rosselli (THN) 94-2, Emily Adams (THN) 91-7, Lewis (THS) 85-8. PV — Amber Wilcox (THN) 8-6, Hasbrouck (THN) 7-6, Shelby Payne (THN) 7-0.

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