Pike Girls Win Track & Field Crown

June 1, 2012

Pike Red Devils Spring to Girls Track & Field State Title
For the second time in school history (1997, 2012) the Pike Red Devils captured the IHSAA Girls Track and Field team championship Friday night at Indiana University’s Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex. 

Head coach DeDee Nathan’s squad took home the team title with a score of 55 points. Fort Wayne Northrop placed second with 49 points, edging Lawrence Central who finished third with 45.5.  Pike was led by the state champion 400 meter relay team of Morgan Haney (10), Jasmine McFadden (12), Chelsea Yeadon (11) and Morgan Yeadon (12). The Red Devils had a strong showing in the sprints, finishing 2-3-4 in the 100 (M. Yeadon, C. Yeadon, Haney) and 2-4-6 in the 200 (M. Yeadon, C. Yeadon, Haney).

Westview senior Skyler Carpenter captured titles in both hurdle events and the long jump and concluded her high school career with seven individual state championships.  Her victory in the 300 hurdles was her third straight in the event.

Junior Ashley Erba of Warsaw raced to first in the 3200 meter run, crossing the line in time of 10:24.94 and adding to the individual cross country state championship she won last fall.

Sophomore Brionna Thomas of Fort Wayne Wayne was a double winner on the night taking the 100 and 200 meter dashes. 

In the 3200 meter relay, Carmel repeated as state champs (Sarah Bennett 12, Taylor Cotherman 12, Ariel Hune 11,  and Lauren Kahre 12), coming in at 9:14.39.

Senior MonTayla Holder of Lawrence Central defended her state championship crown in the 400 meter dash, winning with a time of 56.26. 

Senior Cassie Wertman of Southridge, 2011’s discus state champion, was victorious in the shot put, winning with a toss of 50-1.25.  This year’s discus winner was senior Rachel Dincoff of DeKalb with a throw of 143-7.

Also of note, Coach Nathan became the first woman to be a student on a state championship track team (Fort Wayne South Side, 1985, 1986) and then coach a team to the title. She won seven crowns (five individual, two relays) during her high school career before going on to become an Olympic heptathlete and a world indoor pentathlon champ. She's also the third to win an individual state championship and later coach a state championship team joining Rhonda Brady-Gillis and Hope (Sanders) Robinson.

39th Annual IHSAA Girls Track & Field State Finals
Friday, June 1, 2012
Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex
Indiana University, Bloomington

Top 10 Teams

1. Pike 55
2. Fort Wayne Northrop 49
3. Lawrence Central 45.5
4. Westview 38
5. Indianapolis Bishop Chatard 31
6. Fort Wayne Wayne 27
T7. Carmel 26
T7. North Central (Indpls.) 26
9. Center Grove 20.5
T10. DeKalb 17
T10. Eastern (Greentown) 17


State Champions

Pole Vault: Hannah Acton, 12, Bloomington South, 12-3.
Long Jump: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 18-10.5.
Discus: Rachel Dincoff, 12, DeKalb, 143-07.
High Jump: Morayo Akande, 12, North Central (Indianapolis), 5-8.
Shot Put: Cassie Wertman, 12, Southridge, 50-1.25.
3200 Relay:
Carmel (Sarah Bennett 12, Taylor Cotherman 12, Ariel Hune 11, Lauren Kahre 12), 9:14.39.
100 Hurdles: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 14.13.
100 Meters: Brionna Thomas, 10, Fort Wayne Wayne, 11.91.
1600 Meters: Bethany Neeley, 11, Eastern (Greentown), 4:53.95.
400 Relay: Pike (Morgan Haney 10, Jasmine McFadden 12, Chelsea Yeadon 11, Morgan Yeadon 12), 46.75.
400 Meters:  MonTayla Holder, 12, Lawrence Central, 56.26.
300 Hurdles: Skyler Carpenter, 12, Westview, 42.20.
800 Meters: Taylor Wiley, 12, Evansville Central, 2:11.85.
200 Meters: Brionna Thomas, 10, Fort Wayne Wayne, 24.62.
3200 Meters: Ashley Erba, 11, Warsaw, 10:24.94.
1600 Relay: Fort Wayne Northrop (Alexis Scott 10, Makelle Skelton 11, Dejah Arnold 10, Demetra Taylor 12), 3:51.45.

Skyler Carpenter of Westview Wins Mental Attitude Award
Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee announced Skyler Carpenter of Westview High School as the winner of this year’s Mental Attitude Award in Girls Track and Field.

The Westview standout is a two-time state champion in both the 100 hurdles and long jump, and a three-time winner in the 300 hurdles setting the state record in 2011 in 42.03. Skyler ranks second in her class and owns a 4.05 GPA. She works as an aide for students in special education, represents Westview on the LaGrange County Community Foundation, and is an officer for the National Honor Society. 

She is the daughter of Jeff and Brenda Carpenter of Shipshewana.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the proud corporate partner of all IHSAA tournaments, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Westview High School in the name of Skyler Carpenter.