BLOOMINGTON | Records are made to be broken, right?
But in the case of Northwest Indiana boys track, don't hold your breath.
Heading into Saturday's 109th annual boys state meet, the region held claim to six long-standing records.
They included: Hanover Central's John Schulte in the discus (1993, 217 feet, 1 inch); Roosevelt's 400-medley relay (1982, 41.02 seconds); Merrillville's David Neville III in the 400 meters (2002, 46.99); Roosevelt's Jeff Patrick in the 200 (1982, 21.10, prelims); Hammond's Rudy Chapa in the 3,200 (1975, 8:55.l0, converted time) and West Side's 1,600 relay (1980, 3:13.66).
Now make that five.
North Central's Futsum Zienasellassie, three-time state champ in the 3,200, made it four straight titles when he easily erased Chapa's time with his 8:51.15.
AN END TO AREA DOMINACE: Area teams have claimed 44 boys state championships – 20 by Roosevelt – but none since Horace Mann in 1991.
MAKING A QUICK STATEMENT: The meet's opening race, the 3,200 relay, served as a good omen locally as Chesterton's Billy Biehl, Austin Palombizio, Tyler Rusboldt and Joe Troop placed third (7:47.61) and Crown Point eighth (7:53.31) led by Zack Seamon, Daniel Walters, Tom Cierniak and Travis Kucic – all underclassmen.
Both teams set school records.
"By five seconds," said Chesterton's Rusboldt, who anchored. "I caught a few guys and we ended up third. That's the highest finish in school history."
Said Troop, who led off: "It's obvious important because I've got to put them in good position. But I'm not a fan of starting off because it sets the tone."
HOP, SKIP, JUMP: Highland's Nick Jones (22-5) and West Side's Lonnie Johnson (22-3 1/4) were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the long jump.
MEDALS ALL AROUND: Other region athletes to medal were Crown Point's Tyler Kral in the shot (8th) and Jordan Kelly in the pole vault (9th); East Chicago's Kenneth Lloyd in the high jump (6th), Portage's Jeron Blake in the 100 (8th) and 200 (6th); LaPorte's Mitchell Hubner in the 800 (7th) and 1,600 (3rd); Munster's Tony Rigoni in the 800 (8th) and Morgan Township's Alec Kostelnik in the 3,200 (9th).
Relay teams that took medals home included East Chicago (6th) and Crown Point (9th) in the 400; Portage (4th) and Chesterton (7th) in the 1,600.
Please Wait…