Published: April 30, 2008 10:09 am         

Memorial perfect in NLS boys track

The Memorial Crimson Chargers completed an undefeated Northern Lakes Conference high school boys track and field season with wins over Goshen and Northridge on Tuesday night at Elkhart.

The Chargers, on a chilly and windy night, defeated Goshen 100-32 and Northridge 69-63. Northridge was a 79 1/2 to 52 1/2 winner over Goshen.

“It has been a hard NLC season,” Memorial coach Adam Homo said. “Northridge is a good team. We have a long way too go. We need to be more consistent in the throws.”

Goshen senior Brock Goodman won high jump (6-0) and classmate Michael Murto the 800 meters (2:02.40).

“Goodman is peaking in high jump and that is fun to watch,” Goshen coach Brock Maust said. “Murto had a great run in the 800.

“We competed with Northridge and Memorial had a great meet. They are one of the better teams we have seen in the conference. It is always fun to go up against Northridge. Their distance runners challenge ours.”

Northridge was led by junior triple winner Seth Virgil. He finished first in the 100 (11.32), 200 (22.91) and long jump (22-2).

Virgil also anchored Northridge’s winning 4 x 400 relay (3:29.5).

“We knew coming in that is would take one heck of a meet to beat Memorial,” Northridge coach Ryan McClane said. “We had our best in some areas and not our best in too many areas. Goshen had a great meet with us. It was close up until the last two or three events.

“We are going to take a long look at that 4 x 400. Virgil ran the anchor and Mercer who normally is in that position ran the first leg. It worked, because it has been five or six years since we have had a relay under 3:30.”

Northridge won the 4 x 800 relay (8:16.0) as Mercer outkicked Murto down the homestretch.

“That is what NLC track is all about,” Maust said. “Anyone that doesn’t like a race like that doesn’t like track.”

McClane said, “I have a feeling we are going to be seeing a lot of Goshen in the 4 x 800 over the next few weeks in the state tournament.”

Also for Northridge, junior Jordan Hoffman won discus (135-0) and classmate Nate Romine shot put (50-6).

Winning events for Memorial were senior Devington Halliburton 110 high hurdles (14.85) and 300 intermediate hurdles (38.91), senior Antwan Branch 400 (52.5), junior Race Dorsey 3,200 (9:54.7) and junior Peter Roach pole vault (14-6).

Goshen freshman Tyler Wynn was second in the 3,200 (10:03.5) and senior Scott Flory third in shot (45-9).

“That is a great time for a freshman,” Maust said. “Wynn is a great kid and a fun one to watch.

“Flory was very consistent tonight and so was (junior) PJ Metzler in the throws.”



Summary

4 x 800-METER RELAY — 1, Northridge 8:16.0.

110-METER HURDLES — 1, Zach Prater (G) 16.12; 2, Daniel Driver (G); 3, Josh Riegsecker (G).

100-METER DASH — 1, Seth Virgil (N) 11.32; 2, Tyler Coburn (G); 3, tie, Tony Pung (G) and JJ Frey (N).

1600-METER RUN — 1, Ladd Mercer (N) 4:28.4; 2, Andrew Albert (N); 3, Taylor Bontrager (N).

4 x 100-METER RELAY — 1, Goshen 47.66.

400-METER DASH — 1, Nate Meyer (N) 57.47; 2, Carmelo Castillo (G); 3, Nate Hickey (N).

300-METER LOW HURDLES — 1, Nick Paluchniak (G) 43.15; 2, JJ Frey (N); 3, Austin Springer (N).

800-METER RUN — 1, Michael Murto (G) 2:02.49; 2, Mitch Keyser (N); 3, Cameron Miller (G).

200-METER DASH — 1, Seth Virgil (N) 22.91; 2, Nate Meyer (N); 3, Tyler Coburn (G).

3200-METER RUN — 1, Tyler Wynn (G); 2, Andrew Albert (N); 3, Tony Yoder (N).

4 x 400-METER RELAY — 1, Northridge 3:29.5.

LONG JUMP — 1, Seth Virgil (N) 22-2; 2, Tyler Priem (N); 3, Jared Stephenson (N).

HIGH JUMP — 1, Brock Goodman (G) 6-0; 2, Jordan Hoffman (N); 3, Ross Yeater (G).

POLE VAULT — 1, Zach Prater (G) 11-0; 2, Kyle Mays (N); 3, Blake Vigilone (N).

SHOT PUT — 1, Nate Romine (N) 50-6; 2, Scott Flory (G) 3; Thomas Gingerich (G).

DISCUS — 1, Jordan Hoffman (N) 135-0; 2, Nate Romine (N); 3, Thomas Gingerich (G).

Team records (next meet): Goshen (4-6, 2-5 NLC), Northridge (6-3, 4-3) and Elkhart Memorial (8-0, 7-0) compete in the Kelly Relays Friday at Concord.