Bridgeport went into last Thursday’s Class AA Region II track meet as a prohibitive favorite. They left the regional proving the speculation was more than just correct.

 

The Indians boys and girls didn’t just win the regional, they dominated to a tune that’s not been seen in a long, long time. The girls steamrolled the nine-team field with 254 points, while the boys finished with 175.

 

To get an idea of just how dominant both were one only needs to look at the point differential between first and second place to get an idea of just how strong the Tribe was. On the girls’ side, the runner-up was Liberty with 81 points; mean the Tribe had three times as many points as their closest competitor.

 

Finishing second in the boys’ 11-team field was Nicholas County with 71 points, which means BHS easily doubled its closest competitor. Regardless of the final numbers it’s hard to not see the dominance.

 

Incredibly, not only did the girls win the meet handily, but they did so by winning 14 of the 18 events. That’s something Coach Emilee Stout thinks is unique.

 

“I don't believe so,” said Stout is she’s ever aware of that happening at the regional level in her five years as head coach and seventh year overall coaching with BHS. “I’m not 100 percent on that, but I'm pretty sure.”

 

The Tribe also did something else unique. They have a state qualifier in all 18 events.

 

For those thinking BHS senior McKenna Smith was responsible for four of those wins, they would be correct. Smith won the 100 meter dash (11.9 seconds), the 200 (24.74), the 400 (56.37) and the 300 meter hurdles (46.43 seconds). Her 100 time was just off her state meet record time of a year ago.

 

Smith wasn’t the only one dominating. Sophomore Julia Muller continued her ascension as one of the top distance runners with a trio of first place finishes. Muller won the 800 (2:28), the 1600 (5:28.75), and the 3200 (12:32.19).

 

After that, a boatload of Indians earned individual first place honors. Kristen Crowder won the high jump (5 feet, 4 inches), Madyia McCullough was the winner in the shot put (32 feet, 8 inches), and Abby Strait took home the discus win with a throw of 99 feet, 7 inches.

 

The girls were also strong in the relays events with several wins. The all-sophomore 4x100 team of Sophia DelGreco, Isabella Bowen, Juliet Hart and Crowder won with a time of 51.01 seconds. The 4x200 team of Ashton Miller, Hart, Crowder and Catie Wilson finished first with a showing of 1 minute, 48.43 seconds. The 4x400 team picked up the win in 4 minutes, 14.98 seconds as the group of Crowder, McKenna Eddy, Kirstin George and Wilson did the honors. The final win came in the 4x102.5 shuttle hurdle event as Miller, Sarah Kinney, Hailie Davis and Emily Meade won with a time of 1 minute, 8.14 seconds.

 

“I’m very pleased with our showing at regionals, especially with qualifying in every event,” said Stout.

 

While the boys didn’t win as many events, the Tribe won plenty. Most of the dominance came in the distance events and the relays.

 

Thanks to that, the Indians won their fifth-straight regional title and 10^th overall since 1999.

 

“I was thrilled with the way the weather cooperated for us in Weston on Thursday and with the boys’ performances.  We continued to improve and looked very focused,” said Griffith. “Improvement and focus are the two things that I ask for from the team and they showed just that all meet long.”

 

While Jimmy Lacaria did most of the damage, the BHS boys managed 48 points from three events thanks to the 1-2 punch of Lacaria and Mark Duez.  Lacaria won the 800 (2 minutes, 3.52 seconds), the 1600 (4 minutes, 39.75 seconds) and the 3200 (9 minutes, 53.16 seconds) with Duez nipping on his heels. Duez was runner-up in the 800 (2 minutes, 4.61 seconds), the 1600 (4 minutes, 41.46 seconds) and the 3200 (9 minutes, 53.46 seconds).

 

“Our distance runners had a very good and strategic day,” said Griffith.

 

Duez was involved in the 4x800 meter relays win that Lacaria did not run in. Duez teamed with Coleton Marsh, Timmy Kinney and Tristan Shaw to get the win in 8 minutes, 43.58 seconds. Griffith said Lacaria will return in the event at this week’s state tournament.

 

Bridgeport also won the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays. The 4x100 team of Brice Haines, Trenton Shaw, Maverick Eddy and Chase Binegar posted a time of 45.08 seconds. The 4x200 team of Eddy, Binegar, Trenton Shaw and Braeden Oldaker won with a time of 1 minute, 34.01 seconds.

 

“All of the relays ran well,” said Griffith.

 

The Indians managed one more win in the field events. Chris Trent won the shot put with a throw of 52 feet, 2 inches.

 

“Chris Trent and Braeden Oldaker led the way with outstanding days. Chris broke Christian Meese’s school record in the shot with a heck of a set of throws … He then backed that up with a runner up finish in the discus with a throw of 143 feet, 10 inches,” said Griffith, who offered praise for Oldaker in the 110 high hurdles and the 300 meter hurdle events.

 

“This is possibly the largest combined contingent of athletes for the boys and girls teams we have ever taken to the state meet.  It demonstrates just how dedicated these athletes are and what hard work and determination can accomplish,” said Griffith.  “I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

 

The state track meet begins Friday and continues Saturday. The meet will once again be held at Charleston’s Laidley Field.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Julia Muller heading out for one of her three wins, while Ashton Miller clears the hurdles in the second photo. In the third picture, Chase Binegar, left, gets the baton from Maverick Eddy. Below, Jimmy Lacaria sets the pace with Mark Duez on his heels. Photos by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.