South Bend-area athletes gear up for Indiana state track & field finals this weekend

He could win the thing. He could finish out of the medals.

But no matter what, during this weekend’s state track finals, Penn’s Mike Paquette is likely to contend for a championship in the discus until the very last throw.

Based on regional results, no less than 11 boys have a shot at the discus title during Saturday’s competition at Indiana University track in Bloomington.

► NIC girls track: Here's who won MVP and coach of the year

Only 10 feet separates the entire bunch, which isn’t much in the discus.  Alex Evans of Franklin Central enters with the state’s best regional effort, 172 feet, 6 inches.

Paquette threw 166-11 at the Goshen regional, but his best effort this season was 172-4 at a meet in Warsaw.

“My goal is to PR and end my high school career on a strong note,” said Paquette with a smile following the regional.

Realistically, in a year when IHSAA award medals may be hard to come by for local athletes, Paquette is the area’s best bet for a state champ. But he will likely need the best throw of his career.

Girls start things off Friday, then boys take over Saturday. Start time both days is 3 p.m. (EDT).

The top nine finishers in each event earn award medals.

Adams 100-meter sprinter Angel Thomas and Penn 800-meter runner Julia Economou should contend for medals in their respective events.

► NIC boys track: Here's who won MVP and coach of the year

Among boys, Penn’s 4 x 800 team set a regional record and may contend for a medal. Jack Moore of Northridge will be among the leaders in the 3200-meter run.

TRIBUNE-AREA COMPETITORS

4 x 800 relay: Penn (Julie Smith, sr.; Mary Eubank, soph.; Abby Stevens, jr.; Julia Economou, jr.; Ellie Stabnik, soph.; Aubrey Morgan, fr.).  NorthWood (Emilie Allen, sr.; Sydney Prenkert, soph.; Mackinze Brewer, sr.; Kaitlin Burden, sr.; Emma Davidhizar, fr.;  Cassie Hunsberger, soph.; Savanah Slone, soph.).  La Porte (Lila Gillisse, fr.; Ella Dubbs, sr.; Brenna Sobecki, jr.; Faith Spain, fr.; Myrriam Dhoore, sr.). 100 hurdles: Kayla Douglas (Adams) jr.; Ella Frick (Saint Joseph), jr.  100: Angel Thomas (Adams) jr.;  Zaira Truvillion (Michigan City) jr.;  Brooklyn Williams (Washington) sr.  1600: Julia Smith (Penn) sr.; Lillian Zelasko (New Prairie) jr. 

4 x 100 relay: Adams (Isabella Soens, soph.; Sofia Frazee, jr.; Kayla Douglas, jr.; Angel Thomas, jr.; Kendyl Kush, soph.; Alexzandira Parker, jr.; Kiara Sisti, soph.; Betzaida Adorno, jr.).  NorthWood (Hannah Chupp, soph.; Claire Payne, fr.; Megan Mikel, jr.; Elayna Yoder, fr.;  Ryanna Briscoe, soph.;  Joselyn Miller, soph.;  Kady Hutsell, soph.).   400: Sarah Beshara (Mishawaka) sr.  300 hurdles:  Ella Frick (Saint Joseph), jr.   800: Julia Economou (Penn) jr.; Lauren Frick (Saint Joseph) fr.  200: Angel Thomas (Adams) jr.; Ja’leiiya Williams (Elkhart) fr. 

3200: Lila Gillisse (La Porte) fr.; Mary Eubank (Penn) soph.; Ellie Stabnik (Penn) soph.; Lillian Zelasko (New Prairie) jr.  4 x 400 relay: Northridge (Elainna Papandrea, sr.; Olivia Adkins, sr.; Jen’Daesha Brown, soph.; Tame Baylis, jr.; Alyssa Sloop, jr.; Ella Hoefer, sr.; Kennedy Troyer, soph.; Taylor Baugh), fr.). High jump: Mady Axsom (Elkhart) sr. Pole vault: Jill Pletcher (Penn) so.

TRIBUNE-AREA COMPETITORS 

4 x 800 relay: Penn (Carter Kaser, sr.; Hudson Kaser, soph.; Mariano Retzloff, sr.;  Seth Jankowski, sr.;  Connor Hamilton, sr.; Shahmeer Turk, fr.; Nicholas Probst, jr.;  Dylan DeDario, fr.).  Goshen (Cole Johnston, sr.; Luis Loera, jr.; Tommy Claxton, jr.; Drew Hogan, sr.;  Alex Lopez, soph.;  Lincoln Clark, soph.;  Bryan Sixtos-Armas, jr.;  Logan Harkenrider, sr.).  110 high hurdles: Kanaan Jewett (Mishawaka) sr.;  Luke Kaufhold (Saint Joseph) soph.  100: Alec Hardrict (Penn) sr.;  Jeremiah Clanton (Michigan City) jr.;  Jaton Thomas (Concord) sr. 1600: Anthony Roberts (Concord), sr. 

4 x 100 relay: Penn (DJ White, jr.; Jake Balis, soph.; Skjold Aallmann, sr.; Alec Hardrict, sr.;  Kohen Turner, fr.; Jaylen Williams, jr.;  Christian Kaczynski, soph.; Kevin Murphy, sr.). Mishawaka (Xavier White, jr.;  Dentrayives Woods, soph.;  Aiden Hooton, jr.; Jacob Landry, jr.; Timothy Kaye, soph.; Max Micolavonfurstenrech; Aldan Zolman, soph.; Karon Miller, fr.).  Elkhart (Zachary Anderson, fr.; Christopher Williams, jr.;  Rodney Gates, jr.; Nathan Munson, soph.;  Micah Porter, sr.;  Jalen Bynum, sr.; Aalias Leonard, jr.; Connor Dow, fr.). 400: Sam Taylor (Riley) sr.; Collin Bergquist (La Porte), sr. 

300 hurdles: Mason Floria (Northridge) sr.; Chaise Magnuson (La Porte) sr. 800: Jaxon Miller (Northridge) jr.; Carter Kaser (Penn) sr.; Cole Raymond (La Porte) sr.; Kolten Becker (South Central-LaPorte) sr. 200: Rodney Gates (Elkhart) jr. 3200: Jack Moore (Northridge) sr.; Tommy Claxton (Goshen) jr.;  Janan Pillai (La Porte) jr.;  William Bauschke (Mishawaka) fr. 

4 x 400 relay:  La Porte (Christopher Price, sr.;  Cole Raymond, sr.;  Collin Bergquist, sr.;  Chaise Magnuson, sr.; Chris Libera, fr.;  Kamden Henriot, jr.; Gavin Wilson, fr.; Stephen Klimczak, jr.).  Penn (Kohen Turner, fr.; Carter Kaser, sr.; Connor Hamilton, sr.;  Seth Jankowski, sr.; Mariano Retzloff, sr.; Hudson Kaser, soph.;  Blake Barker, sr.;  Austin Wells, sr.).  High jump: Trey Thomas (Mishawaka) soph. Long jump: Robert Nabieu (Riley) soph.; Dentrayives Woods (Mishawaka) soph. Shot put: Ty’shaun Williams (Elkhart) sr.; Brevin Miller (NorthWood) sr. Discus: Mike Paquette (Penn), sr.;  Ty’shaun Williams (Elkhart) sr.;  Brevin Miller (NorthWood) sr. Pole vault: Lincoln Hulsey (LaVille) soph. 

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: IHSAA track finals: Indiana state high school meet in Bloomington