Despite a handful of strong finishes, Seymour’s track and field team wasn’t able to claim enough first-place finishes against visiting Columbus North on Tuesday.

The Seymour boys fell 78-53.5, while the girls lost 89-43 against the Bull Dogs.

The Owls boys opened with a victory in the 3,200 relay, as anchor Bradan Thomasma caught North on the final lap in the final 200 of the race to win in 8 minutes, 33.64 seconds.

Thomasma came back later in the meet to win the 800 (2:07.35)

Lance Roark leapt 19 feet, 2½ inches for second in the long jump, while teammate Max Otte was third at 17-10½.

Otte came back to win the long jump, clearing 5-10 — four inches better than teammate Breyton Johnson’s second place. Roark was third in the event at 5-4.

Luke Champ (53.52) and Conner Lane (55.12) took the top two spots in the 400.

In the 110 hurdles, Blade McKinney placed second by recording 19.03.

Hunter Bauserman (4:36.75) and Jacob Voss (4:40.33) went 2-3 in the 1,600. Voss won the 3,200 in 10:07.17 and Trent Hohenstreiter was third in 10:21.

Second-place finishes went to Jake Vance in the pole vault and 300 hurdles.

Tossing 114-0, Caleb Madden was third in the discus.

North swept the shot put, 100 and took both the 400 and 1,600 relays.

“It was a fairly good meet for us,” Owls boys coach Randy Fife said. “We just didn’t have enough first place performances. North got way too many first places for us to be real competitive. The spots we did win, we ran well.

“We made progress. We just need to keep working hard and we will get there.”

Seymour’s girls picked up their first blue ribbon of the night when Avery DeHart took the 100 hurdles in 17.49.

Clocking 5:29 in the 1,600, Ashton Chase recorded the fastest time. At the end of the meet, Chase ran a 11:47 for second and Makenna SUnbury (12:41) was third in the 3,200.

Jessica Blevins’ time of 1:04.66 won the 400 and leap of 13-10 took the long jump.

In the 100, Elizabeth Lenart got runner-up by timing 13.18. She was also second in the 200 (27.96).

Megan Ritz tied for second with North’s Maliah Howard-Bass in the high jump, as both cleared 4-10.

Paige Kestler heaved 30 feet, 4 inches for second in the shot put, and Morgan Boas’ throw of 84-7 placed third in discus.

The 300 hurdles saw the Owls’ Brett Kleber time 51.84 for second.

Sarah Benefiel (8-0) and Avery DeHart (7-6) took second and third in the pole vault.

North swept the 800 and took all three relays.

“We had a few personal bests and some surprises in the relays,” Owls girls coach Bob Sexton said. “For the most part, across the board, it was a good meet for us. We’re getting better.”

The 400 relay team recorded a time of 53.8, just shy of missing a school record.

“The record is 52.1, so they’re closing in on that,” Sexton said.