Sprint to the finish: Lady Eagles win sectional crown

May 18—ZIONSVILLE — When they needed some big, clutch performances, the Zionsville Lady Eagles track and field team delivered.

Zionsville won six events, qualified 15 to the regional, and bested Brownsburg 131.5-126 to win the sectional title.

"A number of girls stepped up tonight," Zionsville head coach Drake Sterling said. "We had a good number of champions, were setting sectional records left and right — it was just phenomenal across the board."

Through pre-meet calculations, Sterling knew the meet was going to be really close, not just with Brownsburg, but Plainfield and Avon as well.

Zionsville's six champions was three more than any other team. With those six champions came four sectional records.

Sterling said they needed everyone of the good performances.

"This sectional is stronger than I've ever seen it," Sterling said. "Brownsburg is unbelievable this year, Avon's really up this year and Plainfield is really good. Heading into next week, we know it's going to be another battle, and I don't know if we will be in the hunt again next week, but if we are, these teams and all the Hamilton County teams will be right there."

Not much separated the teams throughout the entire meet.

Heading into the 4x400, the Eagles knew the meet was close, and even know all the other events were done — the results weren't posted.

With just a couple points separating the teams, the Eagles knew they probably had to win the 4x400 — or at worst place second — to have a chance to claim the title.

The Eagles were in third at the first exchange, but strong legs by Lily Robinson and Omema Anyanwu put the Eagles in front for anchor Michelle Nazarov.

The senior was able to close it out, and secured the sectional title in a time of 3:57.86 — a new sectional record.

"I have a lot of faith in that group," Sterling said. "There is a lot of experience there (with seniors Sophia Yovanovich, Robinson and Nazarov) and they have been totally locked in to this the last four years. We want to win relays at the State Finals, and they are totally committed to that."

While the Eagles closed the meet with a win, they also started the meet off with a championship.

The 4x800 team of Kiersten Hill, Mackinsey Heagy, Delaney Greeson and Audrey Magnusen came in seeded third, but won the sectional title in 9:48.82.

It was the first time all season that particular group has ran together, and they ran a season-best time.

"It's the first time they have been on the track together," Sterling said. "Delaney Greeson really just picked up the 800 about two weeks ago, and that has energized us. They are all very similar in what they can run and for them to run a season-best the first time together is awesome."

The big performances continued for the Eagles throughout the meet.

Sophia Yovanovich set the school, sectional and stadium records by running 11.92 to win the 100.

It is the second fastest time in the state this season and her first time under 12 seconds.

"That is a fantastic time and I'm sure beyond her wildest imagination," Sterling said. "It's beyond what we could envision as coaches four years ago when she came in. She has dropped over a half second in the last two weeks in the 100, which you just don't see. When you can get under 12 seconds, you are talking one of the best 30-40 performances ever in the state."

Zionsville also got a sectional record in the pole vault from Kennedy Merrill, who cleared 12-feet-3-inches.

Nazarov tied the sectional record in the long jump, winning with a jump of 18-feet-8-inches. That mark also tied the stadium record. Yovanovich was second with a jump of 17-feet, advancing the regional.

The Eagles final champion was senior Katelyn Makinde in the shot put. She threw 41-feet-3-inches.

Automatically qualifying to the regional with top-3 finishes were Heagy in the 800 (third, 2:26.26), Katherine Bowen in the 1,600 (third, 5:27.91), Kennedy Haffner in the 100-meter hurdles (third, 16.08), Mary Raikos in the 300-meter hurdles (third, 48.58), the 4x100 team of Yovanovich, Anyanwu, Robinson and Nazarov (second, 48.37).

The Eagles will get callbacks for Elizabeth Raborn in the 200, Lilyan Campion in the 400 and Ava Esteves in the pole vault.

The regional is next Tuesday at Lafayette Jeff.

The top-3, plus anyone who hits the state standard advance to the State Finals.

Sterling said the Eagles have to rely on their experience next week.

"The seniors are totally locked in right now," Sterling said. "They are really focused and they have a collective goal that they've been working on for four years. They are bringing along the younger girls with them. All the girls are mentally tough, hard workers and are close-knit. I have full faith in them."

Will Willems is the Sports Editor of the Lebanon Reporter. Follow him on Twitter @Will_Willems.