Dominant Braves keep eyes on prize: sectional championship

0

Brownstown Central’s girls track and field team dominated the 2017 regular season.

Now, they’re eyeing the sectional crown.

The Braves have won all but one competition this spring, including the Salem Invitational and Mid-Southern Conference meet.

They won the 10-team MSC meet Tuesday with just two seniors on the roster. In 2016, the Braves placed fifth at the MSC.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

In this year’s meet, Brooklyn Snodgrass was nothing short of superb, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes and pole vault.

She also teamed up with Kristen Stuckwisch, Keeli Darlage and Madison Klinge to take the 4×100-meter relay.

Snodgrass, who qualified for state in the 100 last year as a freshman, has continually won three to four events for the Braves each meet.

Trentity Vaught has continued to rack up the points for the Braves in the throwing events, winning the MSC discus and placing third in the shot put.

Vaught was a state discus thrower last season.

While most of the time the winners get the big nods, it’s the second-, third- and fourth-place finishes that have propelled the Braves to prominence.

Grace Jaynes was second in the discus, Emily Koch got runner-up in the high jump and Ashley Schroer placed fourth in the shot put at MSC.

Kaelyn Johnson was third in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

Stuckwisch also was third in the 400-meter dash, and Klinge notched fourth in the 300-meter hurdles.

They’re getting production — and more importantly points — across the board.

Brownstown’s girls won nine straight sectional championships from 2003 to 2011.

Over the past five years, Seymour has won every title in consecutive fashion.

At last year’s sectional, Seymour edged Jennings County in North Vernon by one and a half points for the championship.

Springs Valley finished third, Bedford North Lawrence grabbed fourth and Brownstown was fifth.

Earlier this season, at Columbus East, Brownstown placed third in a tri-meet that also featured Jennings County. The Braves scored 46 points, while the Panthers had 56.

At the Hoosier Hills Conference meet Tuesday, Jennings County scored 69.5 to Seymour’s 64.5, while BNL totaled 41 points.

Barring a big day from Springs Valley or BNL, it looks like a three-way race between Jennings County, Seymour and Brownstown for the team title.

The Panthers also are hungry for the sectional. They have won just two sectional titles in school history — back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.

With a trophy and regional berths on the line, Tuesday night’s sectional could come down to the final race.

No posts to display