Kalida’s Andrea Burgei (left) and Waynesfield-Goshen’s Taylor Spencer compete in the girls 1,600 during Friday night’s Waynesfield-Goshen’s Tiger Invitational.
Jackelyn Johnson | The Lima News
WAYNESFIELD — When it comes to distance running, Kalida junior Andrea Burgei does not have a preference on which event she competes in.
Burgei demonstrated her versatility at Friday’s Tiger Invitational at the Waynesfield-Goshen Track and Field Complex.
Burgei was part of the winning 3,200-meter relay on Friday.
A little later in the invite, Burgei won the 1,600-meter run in 5 minutes, 47.90 seconds.
Then, in the 3,200, Burgei held off Parkway’s Taylor Muhlenkamp for the win. Burgei’s winning time was 12:43.90, while Muhlenkamp crossed the finish line in 12:52.40.
In the 1,600, Waynesfield-Goshen senior Taylor Spencer stayed right on Burgei’s heels for the first 1,200 meters.
Then, Burgei shifted to a higher gear and pulled away from Spencer to record the win. Spencer finished in 5:52.50.
“I knew she (Spencer) was going to kick it,” Burgei said. “So, I just tried to stride it out at least the first 200 (meters of the final lap). I knew I had to get on her before she sprinted at the end.
“It was good, running against her (Spencer). It was good to have someone you know, right there, that you know you can run with.”
Spencer went on to win the 800 Friday (2:32.50). Kalida’s Allie Kuhlman finished second (2:35.50).
Burgei said her conditioning is getting better as the season progresses.
“The first meet of the year, I struggled doing the mile (1,600) and then the two-mile (3,200, in the same meet). I was not conditioned well enough,” Burgei said. “I really don’t have a favorite, I guess. It’s like, just go one race at a time. … That’s my mindset, especially this year.”
Last spring, Burgei was part of the 3,200 relay team that placed seventh at last year’s Division III state meet.
“We’re trying to get back there (to the state meet). It was a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Burgei said.
Burgei has also been a state qualifier in cross country.
Burgei did make it to regionals in the 1,600 and 3,200 last season. However, she did not qualify for the state meet.
Burgei said she does not have a preference in any of the events she competes in.
“I really don’t have a favorite. I just run in whatever I’m put down for,” she said with a grin.
In the final team results, Kalida won the girls title. The Wildcats recorded 135 points, while second-place Benjamin Logan had 110 points. Indian Lake (109.5), Carey (104.5) and Bath (76) rounded out the top five squads in the 12-team field.
On the boys side, Benjamin Logan slipped past Bath for the team title, 113-112. Kalida (71), Allen East (64) and Spencerville (57) rounded out the top five teams.
Kalida’s Hovest dominates the throws
Kalida senior Camille Hovest won the shot put and the discus Friday at the Tiger Invite.
In the shot put, Hovest won with a mark of 37 feet, 5.25 inches. Teammate Mia Burgei finished second (34-1.5).
In the discus, Hovest bounced back after a couple fouls and notched a winning mark of 126-3. Earlier this season, Hovest threw over 146 feet.
So far this season, Hovest has improved on both of her throwing events.
“Last year in the discus, I was throwing around 120 (feet). In the shot, I was throwing like 36 (feet),” Hovest said.
Last spring, Hovest made it to the regional meet, but did not qualify for the state meet.
Hovest wants to close out her senior year on a high note.
“In the discus, I want to correct my form, and potentially get down to state. In the shot, I just want to throw the best that I can,” she said with a grin.
Spencerville’s Oakman, Kalida’s Heitmeyer battle in distance races
Spencerville senior Lanny Oakman and Kalida junior Collin Heitmeyer went toe-to-toe in the 1,600 and 3,200 Friday night.
In the 1,600, Oakman held off Heitmeyer for the win. Oakman’s winning time in the 1,600 was 4:40.90. Heitmeyer crossed the finish line in 4:45.70.
Oakman came back later and won the 3,200, while Heitmeyer was second.
Oakman was pleased at how he ran Friday night.
“Collin Heitmeyer was on my tail the whole time (in the 1,600),” Oakman said. “I was OK with my performance. I didn’t train a ton during the winter. So, I’m a little bit behind.”
Bath sophomores Landen Jones (4:49.60) and Jacob Wireman (4:51.30) placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 1,600 for the Wildcats.
Jones came back later and finished third in the 3,200 (10:52.30).
Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
