Temple Christian’s CeCe Worsham breaks away from the field to capture first in the 100 meter hurdles at the Northwest Central Conference track meet Saturday.
Jose Nogueras| The Lima News
WAYNESFIELD — Waynesfield-Goshen head coach Jim Epperly is going out with a Northwest Central Conference crown.
Epperly, who announced he was stepping down as the Tiger mentor after this season, watched the W-G girls garner first place at the NWCC track and field meet Saturday.
The Tigers dominated the meet, finishing with 160 points, followed by Hardin Northern with 78.5 points and Perry rounded out the top three with 77.5 points. The remaining scores were Elgin (65.5), Temple Christian (52), Ridgemont (49), Ridgdale (13) and Upper Scioto Valley (1.5).
This was the Tigers second consecutive NWCC crown.
“We are deep and have a lot of depth,” said Epperly, who won a state track title in 2006 at W-G. “We have 21 girls on the roster and they are all willing to do what it takes and do the things they need to do so they can succeed. We may not be the most talented but they put the work in and they are a joy to coach. I really love coaching kids.
“It is still fun and I am going to stick around and do the camera but it is time for someone else.”
W-G’s Taylor Spencer, who was co-NWCC female track athlete along with Temple Christian’s CeCe Worsham, helped spearhead the victory by capturing first in three events. The Tiger senior standout took first in the 1,600 meter run with an NWCC and stadium record of 5:01.4. Spencer held the previous NWCC mark of 5:15.29.
Spencer was also victorious in the 400 with a run of 1:01.62 and the 800 with a time of 2:28.64. She finished off her highly successful day with a first place run in the 3,200 with a time of 13:03.66, more than a minute faster than her closest competitor.
“I’ve been feeling better than last year and I have had some better times in my events,” Spencer said. “Today was really just focusing on place and stuff and time didn’t matter. I had a lot of distance to cover so just trying to be smart in my races today.
“I am really excited for districts and stuff and hope to get some more season PRs and qualify for regionals and hopefully state.”
Spencer added that it was extra special to help get Epperly and W-G win an NWCC title.
“It is bittersweet,” Spencer said. “I have had “Ep” as my coach for all four years and really has just helped us as a team and the program. I am sad to see him go but I am leaving too so I am glad he stayed for my senior year and can’t wait to see what he does and I know he is excited to see what we do.”
Like Spencer, Worsham also put in a banner day. On Thursday, she took first in the long jump with a mark of 17’05.75” and then came back by winning the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 15.4, far ahead of the second-place finisher, who came in more than three seconds later. The Pioneer senior state qualifier raced to first in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.85 and then repeated as the top finisher in the 200 with a mark of 26.12.
Worsham said she felt good early in the season and took a small break to relax and preserve her body for the postseason.
“I am hoping to get back where I started,” Worsham said. “Today was like a practice for districts. I know it is not going to be like this at districts and the rest of the year. I was definitely trying to run my best race, although the weather really didn’t permit that, I ran my race and now I’ll get ready for the next couple of weeks.
“This was one of my biggest goals this year and I was happy to share it with Taylor. She deserves it.
The only other individual running event not won by a person named Worsham or Spencer was Tiger Lane Steinke who was first in the 300 meter hurdles with a run of 42.77.
The Tigers captured the 3,200 relay with a time of 11:18.47, Hardin Northern finished first in the 800 meter relay with a time of 1:57.54 and Perry was first in the 400 meter relay with a time of 55.34 and posted first in the 1,600 meter relay with a time of 4:32.63.
In the field events held Thursday, Tiger Kyra Sutherland was first in the pole vault. Perry’s Danaisha Patton was first in the shot put with a toss of 30’09.00. Ridgemont’s Ella Livia Manns was first in the high jump, clearing the bar at 4-10.
HN wins boys title
On the boys side, Hardin Northern captured first with 122 points followed by W-G with 89 points and Perry with 77 points. Rounding out the field were Elgin (69), USV (64), Ridgemont (59) and Ridgedale (47).
“I knew coming in our sprints were going to be strong,” Hardin Northern head coach Pete Brunow said. “Even though (Curtis) Carter didn’t have his best day he finish first in the 100 and placed high in other events and was strong as usual. The two relay teams, the 4×100 and 4×200 did a little better than expected and the 4×400 has been good all year so they came through.
“Everything fell in place like I thought it would and so it is onto the next.”
Perry’s Kimari Glenn was tabbed the NWCC male athlete of the year.
Glenn, who won the long jump Thursday, finished first in the 200 meter dash with a run of 23.45. The Perry sophomore was third in the 100 meter dash and fourth in the 400 meter run.
“I felt good and got into the right mindset and wanted to score points for my team,” Glenn said. “This was definitely on my mind to get the MVP.”
Hardin Northern’s Wesley Newton cleared the bar at 12 feet to win the pole vault.
Glenn’s teammate Isaiah Sanders finished first in the 110 meter hurdles with a run of 16.50.
Hardin Northern’s Curtis Carter was first in the 100 meter dash with a mark of 11.70 and teammate Zeb Wilson was first in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 4:33.61. Wilson also snared first in the 800 meter run with a run of 2:02.14.
In the 400 meter dash, Polar Bear Riley Newton took first with a time of 51.31 and Curtis was second.
W-G’s Lane Steinke ran to a top finish in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 42,77,
In the field events held Thursday. Kevin Smith was first in the shot put with a toss of 144-08. Ridgemont’s Patrick Stacklin was first in the high jump, clearing the bar at 6-1 and fellow Golden Gopher was tops in the shot put with a throw of 49-05.
Reach Jose Nogueras at 567-242-0468.
