For The Tribune

COLUMBUS

If the Seymour boys and girls track team learned one thing in Tuesday’s season-openers at Columbus East, it’s that the Owls will once again be strong in the distance races.

Both Seymour squads swept the victories in the four distance races. But the Olympians won most of the other events in claiming an 87-45 win in the boys meet and an 80-52 victory in the girls meet.

“Our distance crew really did a nice job,” Seymour boys coach Randy Fife said. “We got first in every distance race. For us to come up and get a fair amount of blue ribbons was solid. We’re still working on our relays, finding the right combinations, but it was a good start for us.”

The highlight of the meet for the Owls squads may have been in an event they didn’t win. Junior Mikaela Grout finished second in the girls pole vault with a school record-tying 8 feet, 6 inches.

In the girls distance events, Claire Loebker, Abby Voss, Oriana Morales and Emma Brock won the 4×800-meter relay in 10 minutes, 33.0 seconds. Megan Winter took the 1,600 (5:42), Morales captured the 800 (2:36.6) and Brock won the 3,200 (12:26.5).

Also for Seymour, Morgan Ritz won the shot put (31-3), Mazie Caudill took the discus (90-8) and Katy Nolting captured the 300 hurdles (50.9).

“We felt like we did well,” Seymour girls coach Bob Sexton said. “The distance girls did well. They took command of some races that we wanted them to. Our hurdlers looked gold. Our sprinters keep working and getting a little stronger, a little faster, so I liked seeing that tonight.”

For the boys, Cam Deppen, Dawson York, Keegan Bowman and Daniel Hauersperger opened with a win in the 4×800 relay (8:48.7). Hauersperger added wins in the 1,600 (4:50) and 3,200 (10:00.4), and Bowman took the 800 (2:12.2).

The Owls other win came from Seth Ragon in the high jump (6-2).

“I’m very happy with how we competed,” Fife said. “We came up here and ran some personal bests. Early in the year, that was amazing for us.”