Coming off a county title, Crawfordsville boys’ track and field will look to win its first Sagamore Conference title since 1991.
Last time out in 2019, the Athenians placed seventh at the Sagamore Conference meet, but this is a much different team.
Two years ago, Crawfordsville’s lone win came in the 4X800 meter relay. Nate Schroeter placed sixth in the shot put, and he will compete in both the shot put and discus on Friday night at Danville. The Athenians also have senior Hunter Hutchison, a distance runner with experience.
Otherwise it’s a roster full of inexperience when it comes to marquee meets like the SAC. But a talented one nonetheless, that includes Ty Lynas, Alex Kellerman, Tyeson Fuller, Kyle Fruits, Mikale Willis, Hutchison, among others.
Southmont was a close second to Crawfordsville at the county meet last week on the boys’ side, and placed third in the conference in 2019. Dillan Lauy that season won the pole vault and the 400 meter run, and placed third in the long jump and was on the 4X400 winning relay team. Trent Jones, who set the county record in the 100 meter dash, was third in the same event in 2019, while winning the 200 meter dash as a freshman.
Southmont coach Desson Hannum expects the same events to have success in 2021.
“I think we have a good opportunity to do well in the sprints, pole vault, and 4X400,” he said. “I think the overall goal is to finish in the top half of the conference and get as many conference winners as we can get.”
While Crawfordsville and Southmont have very little returning experience on the girls’ side from the SAC meet in 2019, North Montgomery will lean on their veterans.
“Experience is always helpful in big meets like our conference meet,” North Montgomery coach Josh Thompson said. “Our team will rely on our more experienced athletes to set the example and help out our newer athletes with the differences between a championship meet and a regular season meet. Our athletes have been focused on success at the end of the season and they are now at a point where they can showcase their talents.”
Sidney Campbell was fourth in the 100 meter hurdles and sixth in the 300 meter hurdles as a sophomore in 2019, while Grace McClaskey was a part of the winning 4X400 relay team.
On the boys’ side, the Chargers are the defending champions. James McClerkin is the top returner. He was sixth in the pole vault two years ago.
