On a cool, sunny Tuesday evening, the Seymour boys track team floated between fourth and fifth place for most of the Seymour Relays.
When the final tallies came in around 8:45 p.m., the Owls notched a third place finish of seven teams with 82 points.
Columbus East took the meet amassing 115 points, and Jennings County earned silver at 84.
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A blue ribbon went to senior Daniel Hauersperger in the 3,200 with a time of 9:56.92. Earlier in the day, Hauersperger got second in the 1,600 timing 4:37.24.
Owls sophomore Seth Ragon also picked up a first-place finish by clearing 6-3 in the high jump.
“Daniel made a nice double today running the 1,600 and 3,200 today,” Owls coach Randy Fife said. “Without the junior varsity, or girls, here today none of our athletes had a lot of time to rest between events. Seth Ragon narrowly missed a PR of 6-4, and both our pole vaulters PR’d tonight. We’re showing consistency throughout the lineup.”
The 3,200 relay squad of Cam Deppen, Dawson York, Evan Frische and Tim Molinari combined for 9:05.61 for third place.
Ragon, Nickson Cribs, Jackson Morris and Kemberley Florvil got third in the 1,600 relay with a combined time of 3:45.77.
In the long jump, Austin Hatfield garnered second leaping 19-10.
Jake Vance vaulted 12-00, a personal record, to claim third in the pole vault.
“I thought we competed really well,” Fife said. “There was very good competition in all the events, quality people, up and down the lineups. It’s a good, high-quality meet, and we held our own. We hovered between fourth and fifth and finished third. We made a nice strong finish with some late events.”
As the season has progressed, the Owls have faced tougher competition as they gear for sectional.
“We’re getting better as a team,” Fife said. “We didn’t have a ton of personal records tonight; we had some, but overall we’re maintaining our improvement. You can’t PR every time, and I feel like we’re turning into a solid team.
“The kids have bought in. It’s been a very enjoyable year from that standpoint because the kids seem to take pride in being on the track team, and being a track athlete. They’re working hard and are proud of getting better.”