By Staff
NILES – The results are in from the Buchanan Track Invitational for middle schools and they are not what the Ring Lardner Vikings hoped for.
The girls track team failed to bring home the championship for the first time in four years, finishing second behind Edwardsburg. The girls lost the meet by a score of 54-50.
The meet started off well with the field events all placing in the top three spots.
Taylor Brandstatter took second in the long jump. Alex Haimbaugh finished second and Jesse Sebastian took third in the shot put. Whittney Ellis and Starr Ford tied for third in the high jump.
Samantha Wetzel took the two mile, with Taylor Fuller in second. This was followed by Aimee Whetstone taking first in both the 55- and 200-meter hurdles. Desiree Egmer won the 800 run and Anne Tyler the 400. Mikeya Briggs, Tory Treat and Ashley Jude also helped with some points. There were some valiant efforts by Wetzel, Haimbaugh, Egmer and Ford, but they still couldn't overcome the speed of the Eddies.
The heart breaker of the afternoon occured in the boys' meet. The Vikings lost to the Eddies too, but by the slimmest of margins, 56.5-56.
Justin and Jordan Potthoff, Nick Lucero, Myles Busby and Trey Nichols started things off well in the field events, capturing two firsts, two seconds and a third.
Ron Smith took first in the 55 hurdles, while Cole Allison won the mile and finished second in the two-mile.
Matthew McLaughlin, Logan Harpenau, Lucero and Allison won the 3,200-meter relay. Antwan Brann, Busby and the Potthoff twins finished first in the 400 relay. Daryle Whalen and Sam VandenHeede also brought home some third place points.
The race of the day belonged to Matthew McLaughlin and his 3,200 relay team. After falling behind, McLaughlin had to make up almost 400 meters in only an 800 meter race. Not only did he catch up, but he took first place away from the Eddies by almost 50 meters.
The Vikings host their annual Don Bender Relays on Friday, April 27 at 4 p.m. The relays are named for long time teacher, coach and athletic director at Ring Lardner. Mr. Bender started the relays when he was the coach at the school. The relays were named in his honor in 1990, after his retirement. Mr. Bender will be the honorary starter at the meet.
The boys team looks to defend their title at the relays. They have won first place four out of the last five years and have captured two straight.
The girls have not finished first since 2004, but they have taken a second the past two years and face an even tougher challenge this week with Lakeshore, St. Joe, Edwardsburg, as well as eight other schools attending.