Published: May 10, 2008 12:07 am         

Fairfield boys repeat as conference track champions

Just moments before taking the baton for the anchor leg of the 4 x 400-meter relay, Fairfield High School senior Alex Korenstra realized he was about to run the final lap on his home track.

The University of Notre Dame recruit made the most of it, leading the Falcons to victory in the event during the Northeast Corner Conference boys track and field meet Friday night at Fairfield.

The Falcon foursome finished in an NECC record time of 3:26.74, breaking the mark of 3:28.7 by Central Noble in 1975.

“Just before he stepped on the track Alex looked at me and said ‘Coach, this is my last lap on this track,’” Fairfield coach Bob Miller said.

Korenstra said, “It was weird. All these memories of races on this track going back to junior high were going through my mind. There have been a lot of good times on this track and we left it on a high note.”

The rest of the record-setting relay included junior Alic Vanover, seniors Tyler Gangloff and Robby Gingerich.

“I run with my three best friends on the 4 x 400,” Gangloff said. “Winning here at home where we go to school every day is awesome. This whole team is like a family and we did it in front of our friends and families. That hits you right in the heart.”

Hosting the NECC meet for just the second time, Fairfield captured its second consecutive championship with a whopping 167 points.

Westview was second at 78.5, followed by Lakeland 74, Churubusco 67.5, Eastside 59.5, West Noble 53, Angola 40.4, Prairie Heights 25, Fremont 23, Hamilton 20 and Central Noble 16.

“The kids did good and had some really nice times,” Miller said. “We have a great group of seniors. It was nice for them to win the conference at home. I figured out the other day that over the last three years they have complied a 41-2 record with just one loss in the NECC.”

Korenstra won two individual events, taking the 200 (22.44) and 400 (49.99) dashes.

“The wind killed me in the 400,” Korenstra said. “But I didn’t need to run that hard.”

It was a different story in the 200 where Korenstra rallied to edge his teammate Vanover (22.49).

“The only reason I ran that fast was Alic,” Korenstra said. “The main reason we are both fast is that we have each other.”

Vanover won the 100 (11.12), nipping Korenstra (11.3).

Gangloff was also a double winner for the Falcons, taking the 110 high hurdles (15.10) and 300 intermediate hurdles (40.11).

“Winning was awesome,” Gangloff said. “Last year I lost to Mike Brown of West Noble in the 110s. In the 300s, I pushed my hardest. The wind was strong for the first couple of hurdles.”

Also for the Falcons, senior Travis Herman-Shepler finished first in shot put (49-8 1/2), senior Michael Hopkins, Gangloff, senior Trevor Conrad and Vanover won the 4 x 100 relay (45.04).

West Noble senior Jeff Wysong won the 800 (1:59.24), finishing just ahead of Gingerich (2:01.13).

“That was a career-best for Robby,” Miller said. “He is running his best at the right time and I am anxious to see what he can do in the sectional.”

Wysong also captured the 1,600 (4:27.18).

Westview senior Jesse Sherman won pole vault (13-0) and Lakeland junior Aaron Baker discus (154-0).