T&F: South Putnam battles with Warriors, Bulldogs

The South Putnam track teams hosted Danville and Monrovia in a
triangular meet Thursday night. Danville won both meets, with the Eagle
boys placing second and the girls coming in third.

For the girls, the meet opened with a school record in the 3,200
relay. The team of Shannon Egold, Lauren Haynes, Amanda Lund and Rachel
Egold ran a 10:58.3 to eclipse the old mark and finish second.

Eagle coach Kate Atkinson was proud of her team, but said this was something they had expected.

Rachel Egold runs the anchor leg of the school-record setting 3,200 relay team. The team of Shannon Egold, Lauren Haynes, Amanda Lund and Rachel Egold ran the event in the time of 10:58.3. [Click to enlarge]

“They work their butts off. We knew it would just be a matter of time
this year before they would break the record,” Atkinson said. “I won’t
be surprised if they break it and lower it a couple more times this
season.

“I think they’re going to be a group to watch out for come
conference, county and sectional,” the coach continued. “I know that’s
a goal of theirs.”

The Lady Eagles won five events in all, three of them by Shelby
Johnston. Johnston took the 100 hurdles in 16.3, the 300 hurdles in
49.1 and the high jump with a leap of 5-feet-2-inches.

South Putnam’s other two victories also came in the field
events. Kellie Caniff took the long jump with a length of 15-7.
Brittany Cox won the discus with a throw of 95-9.

“Brittany Cox has been throwing very well for us on the
discus,” Atkinson said. “She’s been putting in a lot of work and she’s
seeing some success. She’s creeping up on the discus record.”

Shannon Egold is also approaching a school record in the 3,200, as her time of 12:54.4 was just six seconds off the mark.

In general, Atkinson is happy with her teams efforts both Thursday and on the year as a whole.

“We knew tonight would be a meet where we would have to perform
at our best to be competitive with Danville and Monrovia being very
good track programs,” Atkinson said.

“The girls have been working very hard and we see times
continuing to drop,” she continued. “It may not always show with places
and scoring and things, but we are improving as the season goes along.
It’s a positive experience for everyone so far, all the way around.”

On the boys’ side, coach Carl Coons was pleased all around with
his team’s second-place finish. He knew they were up against good
competition in the Warriors and Bulldogs.

“Danville’s always strong and it’s always a test for us. Monrovia has a nice group of kids,” Coons commented.

“I’m pretty pleased with what we did tonight,” he continued. “I
think we had some good performances. I think we had some people who
stepped up. It’s that time of year.”

Dylan Hayes (left) receives the handoff from Tyler Heavin during the third leg of the 3,200 meter relay. The team finished first with a time of 9:32.6. [Click to enlarge]

The Eagles picked up four wins in the meet. The 3,200 relay team began
the meet with a win, running a 9:32.6. Jon Weaver picked up a win in
the 800, with a 2:14.5. Tyler Heavin won the 1,600 in 5:04.9.

In the field events, Adam Masters won the discus with a throw of 131-1.

Besides these, though, Coons also highlighted the performances of Tim Toland, Dayne Nelson and Chris Smiley.

“There were some performances I was pleased with tonight. I
really looked for some people to step up and they did,” Coons said.
“This is only the second good night that we’ve had to run, so I’m
pleased. I just feel positive with where the kids are at and I think
they’ll be okay.”

In general, Coons likes the way his team has dealt with some adversity early this season.

“The season has been a unique season. The weather has been off
and on and off and on. We’ve had a significant number of injuries this
year that have been detrimental to us. I think we’re coming through
those. We’re getting some of those kids healthy. Hopefully here in the
next couple of meets we’ll see the fruits of that labor,” Coons
concluded.

The Eagles visit Rockville at 5 p.m. Monday for a three-way meet with the Rox and Lighthouse Christian.

At South Putnam

Girls’ Results

Danville 64, Monrovia 63, South Putnam 40

Individual Results (SP only)

100 — 4. Butts 14.3.

1,600 — 3. S. Egold 6:01.1.

3,200 — 2. S. Egold 12:54.4.

100 H — 1. Johnston 16.3.

300 H — 1. Johnston 49.1.

400 Relay — 3. South Putnam 1:01.8.

1,600 Relay — 4. South Putnam.

3,200 Relay — 2. South Putnam 10:58.83*.

LJ — 1. Caniff 15-7, 3. Johnston 14-10.

HJ — 1. Johnston 5-2, 4. Caniff 4-8.

PV — 4. Franklin 6-0.

SP — 3. Hacker 26-11.

Discus — 1. Cox 95-9.

*–School record.

Boys’ Results

Danville 74, South Putnam 54, Monrovia 44

Individual Results (SP only)

200 — 4. Parker 25.4.

400 — 2. Toland 56.4, 4. Bowen 59.8.

800 — 1. Weaver 2:14.5.

1,600 — 1. Heavin 5:04.9.

3,200 — 4. Heavin 11:48.2.

110 H — 2. Riddell 18.5, 3. Smiley 18.6, 4. Williams 19.4.

300 H — 2. Smiley 45.5.

400 Relay — 2. South Putnam 49.5.

1,600 Relay — 2. South Putnam 3:54.9.

3,200 Relay — 1. South Putnam 9:32.6.

HJ — 3. Migliano 5-6.

PV — 2. Nelson.

SP — 3. Masters 44-0.5, 4. Frame 39-8.

Discus — 1. Masters 131-1.

Next meet — South Putnam visits Rockville for a triangular meet with the Rox at Lighthouse Christian at 5 p.m. Monday.