Columbus North’s Akot Tong crosses the finish line in the 800 meters at Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
BLOOMINGTON — Columbus North went into Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals with aspirations of winning the 4×800-meter relay, and with less than 200 meters ago, the Bull Dogs were closing in on second place.
But after putting his team in position to make a run at the runner-up spot, sophomore Jace Works caught a spike in the track and fell. He got up and finished, but the Bull Dogs came in 12th in the fast heat and 16th overall in 8 minutes, 9.83 seconds in the rain at Indiana University.
“He was running fantastic,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “He got a little wobbly, and he caught a spike, and that was it. We were near second with 150 to go, and Jace got us almost into second. He just did the best he could.”
Columbus North’s Frankie Polyak, right, begins the 4×800-meter relay at Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals
Ted Schultz | The Republic
The Bull Dogs were in 10th place following a 2:01.8 leadoff leg from senior Franklie Polyak and a 2:02.0 from sophomore Logan Vanzant. Senior Akot Tong then ran a 1:56.3 to move them into fourth.
Works then ran a 53-second opening 400 to put North in position.
“It’s pretty tough,” Tong said. “I think it was just straight unfortune. What happened happened, and I think we raced well. We just had a bad ending happen. But I’m happy that we made it here, and I hope next year, those guys come back and place high.”
Columbus North’s Akot Tong listens to instructions before the start of the 800 meters at Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Spent from his 4×800 leg, Tong ran 1:59.12 to finish 17th in the open 800.
“I just had no energy level, really,” Tong said. “Even the 4×800, I felt really bad.”
“He ran really strong and moved us up a ton of spots, and he used a lot of energy (in the 4×800),” Sluder added. “Then, it was tough sitting in there (in the tent) for 2 1/2 hours. It was rainy. It was cold, and we probably could have had him a little different prepared for that. That’s our fault. But he ran hard, and he was just a little tired in that open 800.”
Columbus North’s Akot Tong runs with a pack on the first lap of the 800 meters at Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Bloomington North won the 4×800 relay in 7:47.94. Columbus North had run 7:47.06 in winning its sectional.
“The thing we talked about with those four guys is that when something like that happens, and it happens because you ran your tail off, we can live with that all day,” Sluder said. “We know that we were 25 meters from third place, and at this point, it’s something that we can hang our hat on.
“The crazy thing is, we’re going to end the season with the state’s fastest overall time,” he added. “So that makes us feel good, too. It’s not like getting a medal, but we still take our victories. We’re happy. We wish we could have got a medal, but we know what we did today, and we feel really good about that.”
Edinburgh’s Jackson Hartwell competes in the long jump at Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Meanwhile, Edinburgh junior Jackson Hartwell finished 21st in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 7 1/2 inches. The long jump, pole vault and high jump were moved inside Gladstein Fieldhouse because of the rain.
“I’ve never jumped at an indoor track before,” Hartwell said. “This is my first time, and I honestly didn’t do my best or really that good today, even though I jumped 20s. I feel like I tried my best. I just need to next year, practice more, stay more consistent on putting my work in so I can get more consistent jumps.”
Jennings County’s Blaine Ison runs the final leg of the 4×100-meter relay during Saturday’s Boys Track and Field State Finals.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Jennings County senior Blaine Ison finished 22nd in the preliminaries of the 100 in 11.32. Seniors Brandon Braun, Loki Hifo, JoJo Hifo and Ison took 23rd in the 4×100 relay in 44.11.
