By Colin Altevogt & Brandon Jones
Track & Field Experts
HoosierAuthority.com’s Brandon Jones and Colin Altevogt recently carried on a conversation on the May 31 boys track & field state finals via e-mail – here is an edited of version of what they discussed …
Colin:
I’ve always called Ben Davis the best program in Indiana never to have won a state track title. It looks as if I won’t be able to use that distinction anymore after Saturday. I haven’t added up scores in my own prediction, but seeds alone have the Giants scoring over 70 points with no one else even close.
I think there are a few teams (Warren Central, Pike, Lawrence North, maybe Noblesville) that could give Ben Davis a scare. The fact of the matter, however, is that Ben Davis just has too much for anyone right now. Raphael Williams’ recovery nearly puts this on ice. I’ve been astonished at how well he has rebounded in the past couple weeks.
I know you’ve done your own tallying from your predictions. Does anyone else have a chance, Brandon, and if so who is it?
Jones:
Well, I think that the return of Williams along with the absence of Tra Wilson for Lawrence North makes it hard to pick against Ben Davis.
I do not have as large a margin of victory as many (including yourself), but I like BD’s chances of winning its first state crown. The Giants will score huge in the sprints, have a chance (although it is a long shot in the 4×800) to sweep all three relays, and will grab some bonus points in the hurdles and long jump.
I have Ben Davis at 69, Lawrence North at 58, Warren at 54, and Pike and Noblesville rounding out the top five.
Colin:
You’re absolutely right about Wilson. I remember saying that to you after you called with long jump results last week. Those 10 points – and there’s very little doubt in my mind that he would have won – could really factor in at the end of the night. In fact, I’m predicting he wins the 100. He has to take out his disappointment some way, right?
I think it’s going to be a lower-scoring meet than we have tallied up so far. Don’t be surprised if 55 points takes home the title. By the way, do you like your alma mater’s chances? Coach McNulty should immediately be given status as best track & field coach of all time if Warren can pull this one off.
Jones:
Yeah, much like Wright’s injury on the girls side, Wilson’s failures in the long jump really will cost his team, but MUCH worse. I have Ben Davis slated to win this meet by 11 points, and I think that we both can agree that Wilson would have been favored to grab 10 in the long jump. It really hurts.
Not a bad call by any means, however, on having him winning the 100 meters. Remember he was the “state’s fastest man” indoors at 55 meters. Then outdoors, he has played second fiddle to the BD kids (Williams and Terrell) all season long. However, he finished third to them last week at North Central IMMEDIATELY following his dismissal from the long jump. That kind of hurts your notion, but perhaps he has had a week to think about things and will come out firing.
It always seems that team points are much lower than we expect at this level, you are correct. It is hard to imagine Ben Davis scoring 70 or more at times, but let me tell you this: If they have 55, the other contending teams (mentioned previously) HAVE to like their chances.
Warren’s boys have a slim-to-none shot at the title this time around. I could see them finishing second but, much like their girls, you know what you are getting and not much more. Richardson and Collins will score huge in the hurdles, Spight in the high jump, and then about 10-12 relay points.
Not enough to get the job done, unfortunately.
Colin:
With Wilson out, I actually like Conley to take the long jump. Not exactly sure why, just a hunch.
You said Ben Davis has an outside shot in the 4×8. After the crazy race at Lafayette Jeff last week, who do you like in that relay?
Jones:
Well, the mystery surrounding what Fishers’ Drew Shields is going to do has me guessing, but I still like Noblesville. The Millers have been the team to beat all season, and just missing out on the win last week should be their wake-up call.
I have all five teams from the Lafayette Jefferson Regional medaling, with Fishers and Carmel rounding out the top three. The ‘Hounds are the kings of this event and will perform on the big stage. I have Ben Davis scoring two points here as the Giants grab seventh.
I went back and forth in the long jump between Conley and Pennix. Pennix has just been on fire the entire month. I cannot remember the last time he did not leap at least 23 feet. I think Conley is a close second, then after that it is anyone’s guess. This is my FAVORITE event to watch at the state meet for some odd reason, being a distance guy.
Colin:
I like Noblesville as well. I heard one of their guys ran sub-par last Thursday when they were outleaned by Fishers. Shields ran the relay before running 4:15 in the 1600. If he’s not on it, Fishers has no shot. If he is, they’re definitely among the favorites.
Shields has the fastest seed time in the 1600 by like five seconds. Is he the favorite? How will doubling back affect his chances against a fresh field that will include Sean Wilson?
Jones:
I think it depends on the way the race sets up in the 1600. If the pace goes out fast and Shields already has a hard 800 on his legs, I don’t like his chances. There is no way of guessing how this race will develop, so I am picking conservatively.
I did pick Shields, to be honest with you. But I understand I will be wrong one way or another. You are right – Fishers has no chance without him in the 4×800. I like Wilson for second, then the fun begins. I have Ladd Mercer third, Blake Dircksen of Noblesville fourth, and Colin Vance of your alma mater rounding out the top five. But I am not very confident in 3-9.
I say the winning time is 4:11-4:12.
Colin:
I like Wilson here. Mercer and Dircksen are two other guys who will have the 4×8 on their legs. That’s a rough double to come back and be competitive a little over an hour later. Remember, Wilson was leading the thing with 250 meters to go last year and very nearly got second. He ran in the neighborhood of 9:12 earlier in the season for 3200 meters and has laid low since then. I think the winning time will be 4:10 or a little under. It all depends on if someone will take it out fast.
If you think the mile is open, how about the 800? Wilkins has to be the favorite, but I really think anything could happen there.
Jones:
I understand what you are saying about the hard 4×800 leg playing a factor, but I just don’t think this mile field is as deep as previous years. Guys who have been there before like Mercer can still compete with the “best of the rest.”
Yeah, the 800 is ridiculous this year. I also think that Wilkins is the favorite, but I would not be shocked if someone else stole the thing. I am going with Wilkins based on the fact that I have seen him race more than anyone else in the field this spring, and he has been more and more impressive every time out.
It almost seems like he is toying with the field. He bides his time and then hits another gear – a gear that I am not sure anyone else in this field possesses. Not even going to predict a time here, but Holahan and Schoch have been battling each other with each’s time dropping over the past few weeks. I like Holahan second, Schoch third, Shields fourth, and Wysong fifth.
Colin:
That would be quite a day for Shields if he put in a 4×8 leg on a high-placing relay, won the 1600, then picked up fourth in the open 8. How about the 3200? Tito scratched out of everything else, and remember he ran 9:22 at the end of a sick triple back at the end of April. Is he the favorite despite the times being put down by Bayer and Witt?
Jones:
After hearing about Fout, my immediate focus turned to Medrano. At that time (three weeks ago), I began thinking how Tito HAS to be the favorite now. The triple that you mentioned had just happened a week earlier, so my confidence in Tito was riding high.
But I cannot stop thinking about how Bayer has continued to drop time EVERY week. He won that Franklin Central mile, which has carried him to an amazing outdoor season that very few saw coming.
I think that there are four guys who “could” win the 3200 – the two mentioned above as well as Witt and Gates. All will be fresh and will make this state put Fout’s news in the rearview mirror.
I am going with Bayer in about 9:01 followed by Medrano, Gates, and Witt, who will all be faster than 9:12.
Colin:
I think that Tito, when healthy, is just on a different playing field than everyone else. He was a national cross country finalist in November. I’m not sure any of the other guys are at that level. I think he wins in 9:02 followed by Bayer, Witt, and Gates.
Last thing: One of the big aspects that we’ve talked about leading up to the state meet is the importance of relays. Both favorites on the boys and girls sides have, arguably, the best relays in Indiana. Does anyone else get the stick around the track like Ben Davis?
Jones:
Ben Davis has a shot at the 4×100 record, one I thought would never go down. And the Giants could probably field a second 4×100/4×400 that could make a run at qualifying for the state meet.
Colin’s picks (i.e. the short-and-sweet list):
4×800 meter relay: Noblesville
110-meter hurdles: D’Juan Richardson – Warren Central
100-meter dash: Tra Wilson – Lawrence North
1600-meter run: Sean Wilson – Franklin
4×100 meter relay: Ben Davis
400-meter dash: Robert Gardner – Gary Wallace
300-meter hurdles: D’Juan Richardson – Warren Central
800-meter run: Barry Wilkins – North Central (Indianapolis)
200-meter dash: Matt Terrell – Ben Davis
3200-meter run: Tito Medrano – Lafayette Jefferson
4×400 meter relay: Ben Davis
Discus throw: Leonard Wells – Warsaw
Shot put: Brandon Pounds – Lawrence North
Long jump: Jordan Conley – Lawrence North
High jump: Xavier Carr- Harding
Pole vault: Kevin Schipper – Fort Wayne Dwenger
Jones’ picks (i.e. the let-it-all-hang-out list):
4×800 meter relay
1. Noblesville
2. Fishers
3. Carmel
4. Franklin Central
5. West Lafayette
6. Zionsville
7. Northridge
8. Ben Davis
9. North Central (Indianapolis)
110-meter hurdles
1. D’Juan Richardson – Warren Central
2. Logan Griffith – South Bend Adams
3. Ronneal Williams – Merrillville
4. Joshua Harper – Lawrence North
5. Marquis Collins – Warren Central
6. Brandon Newbern – Ben Davis
7. Luke Swift – Center Grove
8. Jeremy Mack – Elkhart Memorial
9. DeJuan Mitchell – Lawrence Central
100-meter dash
1. Lavarus Williams – Ben Davis
2. Tra Wilson – Lawrence North
3. Matt Terrell – Ben Davis
4. Shaun Smith – Terre Haute North
5. Sam Trahan – Marion
6. Kerron Harding – Pike
7. Troy Franklin – South Bend Washington
8. Emerald Gulliet – Fort Wayne South
9. Bryan Mickler – Noblesville
1600-meter run
1. Drew Shields – Fishers
2. Sean Wilson – Franklin
3. Ladd Mercer – Northridge
4. Blake Dircksen – Noblesville
5. Colin Vance – Fort Wayne Snider
6. Jeremiah Vaughn – Franklin County
7. Craig Padgett – Mishawaka
8. Derek Stinefield – Wapahani
9. Dustin Betz – Northeast Dubois
4×100 meter relay
1. Ben Davis
2. Pike
3. Lawrence North
4. Fort Wayne Northrop
5. Marion
6. Warren Central
7. Perry Meridian
8. Elkhart Memorial
9. Richmond
400-meter dash
1. Robert Gardner – Gary Wallace
2. Eric Brown – Wawasee
3. Josh Lee – Pike
4. Keenan Johnson – Princeton
5. Colton Slack – Martinsville
6. Alex Korenstra – Fairfield
6. Jerel Flournoy – Gary Wallace
7. Marvis Herring – Avon
8. Devin Randle – Marion
9. Jermichael Williams – Fort Wayne South
300-meter hurdles
1. D’Juan Richardson – Warren Central
2. Brandon Newbern – Ben Davis
3. Logan Griffith – South Bend Adams
4. Marquis Collins – Warren Central
5. Devington Haliburton – Elkhart Memorial
6. Greg Lane – Wabash
7. Joshua Harper – Lawrence North
8. Tyler Gangloff – Fairfield
9. Nick Huber – Perry Central
800-meter run
1. Barry Wilkins – North Central (Indianapolis)
2. Joe Holahan – Bloomington South
3. Tim Schoch – Bloomington North
4. Drew Shields – Fishers
5. Jeff Wysong – West Noble
6. Mark Crossman – Brownstown
7. Garrett Bonk – Andrean
8. Nathan Hendershot – Pendleton Heights
9. Logan Rosenberg – Carmel
200-meter dash
1. Matt Terrell – Ben Davis
2. Tra Wilson – Lawrence North
3. Raphael Williams – Ben Davis
4. Nick Turner – Southport
5. Sam Trahan – Marion
6. Kerron Harding – Pike
7. Jared Miller – Bremen
8. Robert Gardner – Gary Wallace
9. Anthony Harper – Concord
3200-meter run
1. Andy Bayer – Leo
2. Tito Medrano – Lafayette Jefferson
3. Zach Gates – Hamilton Southeastern
4. Anthony Witt – Shakamak
5. Cale Allen – Fishers
6. Scott Lasiter – Franklin Central
7. Ben Bizuneh – Pike
8. Zach Mayhew – Terre Haute North
9. Nate Morrow – DeKalb
4×400 meter relay
1. Gary Wallace
2. Ben Davis
3. Pike
4. Warren Central
5. Wawasee
6. Fort Wayne Northrop
7. North Central (Indianapolis)
8. Merrillville
9. Valparaiso
Long jump
1. Malcom Pennix – South Bend Washington
2. Jordan Conley – Lawrence North
3. Seth Virgil – Northridge
4. Randy Hudi – Crown Point
5. Kerron Harding – Pike
6. Joe Rippe – Carmel
7. Raphael Williams – Ben Davis
8. Daniel Smith – South Bend Clay
9. Broderick Lewis – Lafayette Jefferson
High jump
1. Derrick Spight – Warren Central
2. Xavier Carr – Harding
3. Jacob Wise – Southwestern (Shelbyville)
4. Geoff Davis – Lawrence Central
5. Eric Post – Frontier
6. Jonathan Christensen – Southmont
7. Matt Gerbick – Andrean
8. Kevin Bloom – East Noble
9. Aaron Heinzman – Hamilton Heights
Shot put
1. Brandon Pounds – Lawrence North
2. Tyler Hiatt – Noblesville
3. Jakob Engel – Portage
4. Ben Stancombe – Bloomington South
5. Leonard Wells – Warsaw
6. Shane Wyatt – Lafayette Jefferson
7. Nick Banke – Mishawaka
8. Bob Belden – Decatur Central
9. Chadd Keller – Bellmont
Discus throw
1. Bob Belden – Decatur Central
2. Brandon Pounds – Lawrence North
3. Leonard Wells – Warsaw
4. Nick Banke – Mishawaka
5. Tyler Hiatt – Noblesville
6. Ben Stancombe – Bloomington South
7. Matthew Webster – Warren Central
8. Ben Cox – Harrison (West Lafayette)
9. Cameron Lowry – Pike
Pole vault
1. Kevin Schipper – Fort Wayne Dwenger
2. Corey Shank – Fort Wayne Northrop
3. James Reynolds – NorthWood
4. Jeremy Pratt – Rushville
5. Tucker Field – Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
6. Derek Messmer – Jasper
7. Jacob Sebastian – Austin
8. Travis Fisher – Fort Wayne Northrop
9. Peter Roach – Elkhart Memorial
Team scores
1. Ben Davis 69
2. Lawrence North 58
3. Warren Central 54
4. Pike 39
5. Noblesville 30
6. Fishers 29
7. Gary Wallace 26
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