Published: May 07, 2008 11:13 am         

Stevens the star of NLC girls show

Tuesday was Primary Election Day in Indiana and for those looking for a front-runner, the searching could have stopped after Kaila Stevens.

The Goshen High School senior was simply not going to be denied a second title in the Northern Lakes Conference high school girls track and field meet at Warsaw.

She had already captured the individual 400-meter title in record-setting fashion and when it came time for her anchor leg in the 4 x 400 relay, there was not stopping her.

Even when Stevens took the baton some 30 to 40 meters behind the front-runner.

She made up the deficit and then some, leading Goshen to a first-place finish in 4:02.83. Also on the team were senior Kelsey Peters, junior Laura Sorg and sophomore Jillian Zimmerman.

“The whole 4 x 400 stepped it up,” Stevens said. “My goal was to get up to the girls who were in front of me. I wanted to win the 4 x 400 so the rest of the team could experience being all-conference.”

Goshen coach Bruce Bergdall said, “Warsaw changed its lineup and ran (senior) Lauren Prigden third instead of fourth. That was a smart move. It worked in getting them the lead.

“Kaila was behind, but she thrives on that. Coming from behind is her bread-and-butter.”

The host Warsaw Tigers won the team title with 150.5 points, followed by Goshen 103.7, Elkhart Memorial 92.5, Northridge 90, Plymouth 89.7, Concord 53.5, Wawasee 25.4 and NorthWood 17.7.

“This was an exciting night,” Bergdall said. “I was pleased to see how the team competed. We were consistent, which is something that was missing in our last couple of meets, but we solidified things with a lot of personal bests.”

The Redskins had one other champion as senior Rachel Hollinger-Janzen won the 3,200 (11:17.74).

“I felt good until the last 800. Then I started getting a side cramp,” she said. “I knew what my lead was and that I had to maintain it. My race strategy was to stick with the front pack for the first mile and then take over in the second mile.”

Bergdall added, “Rachel is finally coming into her own. She looks like the Rachel of old since she is getting her times down to where we want them. Her winning has a positive effect on the rest of the team. It gives them a confidence boost.”

Hollinger-Janzen finished fourth in the 1,600 (5:16.79) and had some incentive to win the 3,200.

“I really wanted an NLC title. I couldn’t let a sprinter (Stevens) show me up,” Hollinger-Janzen quipped.

Stevens’ specialty is the 400 and it wasn’t long into the race she had a commanding lead. She crossed the finish line in an NLC record 57.42, breaking the mark of 58.26 by Emily Matz of Wawasee in 1995.

“The 400 felt really good and relaxed,” Stevens said. “I have a lot of nervous energy before the 400 and the 4 x 400. I try to do things to turn that into something positive. My splits were right on. I think there is more left in me.”

Northridge won the 4 x 800 relay as junior Hanna Mercer, sophomore Allie Plodson, senior Karissa Cominator and senior Melissa Kauffman finished in 9:41.64. Kauffman also finished first in the 800 (2:19.33).