Full Speed Ahead: Local Stars Ready to Shine at Track & Field State Finals

The Hoosier State’s fastest feet and fiercest competitors are heading to North Central High School this weekend, and Bartholomew County is bringing a full fleet to the launch pad. For the first time in recent memory, Columbus North, Columbus East, Hauser, and Jennings County are all sending athletes to the IHSAA Boys and Girls Track & Field State Finals — and the medal hunt is wide open.

Columbus North’s girls are back in force, qualifying in 10 of the 16 events — a remarkable resurgence for a program that sent just one athlete to state a year ago.

That one athlete? Senior standout Carys Glyn-Jones, who’s now aiming for a top finish in the 800 meters. Glyn-Jones is seeded 4th statewide after a gritty postseason run, and she anchors a Bull Dog 4×800 squad that’s hungry to return to the medal stand. The relay also features freshman Hazel Sasse and seniors Kyleigh Wolf and Macy Eaton and enters state seeded 17th.

Freshman Emma Haston has jumped into the spotlight — literally — and will represent North in the high jump, where her personal-best leap of 5’4” ties her for the ninth seed. Sophomore Emerson Chambers enters the 100-meter hurdles as the 12th seed and will double up as part of the Bull Dogs’ 22nd-seeded 4×100 relay along with Avery Johnson, Lily Miller, and Sierra Newell.

The field events stay strong for North as Sydni Schiefer takes aim in the shot put with the 16th-best mark, and Newell returns in the pole vault, ranked 27th. The Bull Dogs also qualified a 4×400 team with Glyn-Jones, Sasse, Reece Peeples, and Natalie Rohm, seeded 26th overall.

At Columbus East, senior Carsyn Schlehuser earned state spots in both the 100 and 200 meters. Her 26th and 27th seedings may be underdog territory, but she’s sprinting into her final meet determined to go out strong. Junior Kai Scott will also compete in the 300 hurdles, seeded 27th.

And over in Hope, it’s a historic moment for the Hauser Jets. Freshman Addyson Russell becomes the first-ever Lady Jet to qualify for the state meet in track and field, sprinting her way in as the 26th seed in the 200. With this milestone, Hauser’s track program has officially hit liftoff.

On the boys’ side, Columbus North’s Jace Works is locked in for a shot at championship hardware. Works enters the 800 meters with the second-fastest regional time in the state at 1:52.53, trailing only Bloomington North’s Caleb Winders. It’s shaping up to be a photo finish between the two junior rivals, and Works has positioned himself for a serious title bid.

He also anchors the Bull Dogs’ 4×800 relay, a dangerous unit that includes Logan Vanzant, Neal White, and Owen Russell. They clocked the second-best time across all regionals, just behind defending champion Bloomington North. If the pack runs clean and tight, Columbus North could be barking on the top step of the podium by day’s end.

In the distance events, sophomore Graham Pumphrey is seeded ninth in the 1600 and looks to double up with medal hopes after helping power the relay. Veteran Neal White also qualified in the 3200 and enters seeded 12th, bringing cross-country toughness to the state oval.

Russell rounds out a busy meet with hurdles duty, qualified in both the 110 (27th) and 300 (26th) events.

From neighboring Jennings County, Kraedyn Young enters the 1600 seeded 4th after an electric run at regionals. With a closing kick that’s earned him podium finishes all year, Young is poised to make a big leap under the Friday night lights in Indy.

With a packed roster of qualifiers across nearly every discipline, local teams are primed for their best state showing in years. Whether it’s a first-time flyer like Russell or a seasoned vet like Glyn-Jones or Works, every athlete takes the line carrying their school’s pride and postseason dreams.

So as the starter’s pistol echoes across Indy, keep your eyes on the lanes, pits, and podium — because Bartholomew County just might be bringing home a haul.