In a realignment from last season, athletes from Wayne County high schools were sent to the IHSAA East Central sectional on Tuesday, May 20. The top eight finishers in each event scored points for their team, with the top three finishers in each event advancing to the Lawrence Central regional to be held on Tuesday, May 27.
East Central won the team title. Richmond finished third, Seton Catholic finished fifth, Centerville finished ninth, Northeastern finished 10th, Hagerstown finished 14th and Lincoln finished 15th.
Akailyn Hogg from Richmond was a double winner. Hogg won the 100 meter (12.52) and the 200 meter (25.88). Sara Swinney from Seton Catholic won the 400 meter (1:00.28). Keena Barker from Richmond won the 3200 meter (11:56.88) and Payton Gross from Northeastern won the high jump (5’1″). Swinney was second in the 200 meter (27.32). The team of Bella Cornell, Bryn VanVleet, Gwynie Falcone and Swinney from Seton Catholic finished third in the 4×400 meter relay. Barker finished second in the 1600 meter, (5:22.13) and the team of Kashawn Farris-Craig, Shaylon Sexton, Lily Vanlandingham and Hogg from Richmond finished second in the 4×100 meter relay (51.51). Shanel Sexton from Richmond was third in the long jump (16’9.5″) and Jenna Johnson from Richmond was third in the shot put (36-4.75). The team of Lily Black, Anna Nevels, Paige Dixon and Kaylynn Wolfal from Centerville were third in the 4×800 meter relay and all were regional qualifiers.
Other athletes scoring points for Richmond include: Vanlandingham, sixth in the 100 meter and fifth in the 200 meter; Lena Allen, eighth in the 800 meter; the team of Kemaira Farris-Craig, Jayden Johnson, Harlow Flanagan and Kashawn Farris-Craig, seventh in the 4×400 meter relay; the team of Allen, Lauren Newton, Kamaira Farris-Craig and Katy Peacock, seventh in the 4×800 meter relay; Shaylon Sexton, sixth in the high jump and eighth in the long jump.
Other athletes scoring points for Seton Catholic include: Cornell, fourth in the 100 meter and eighth in the 400 meter; Falcone, sixth in the 1600 meter; Jackie Clemente, sixth in the 3200 meter; VanVleet, sixth in the 100 meter hurdles and seventh in the 300 meter hurdles; the team of Jana Clemente, Jackie Clemente, Peyton Anderson and Falcone, fifth in the 4 x 800 relay; Julie Scherschel was fourth in the high jump and VanVleet finished seventh.
Other athletes scoring points for Centerville include: Wolfal, sixth in the 800 meter and fourth in the 1600 meter; Nevels, fifth in the 3200 meter; the team of Wolfal, Bridget Tegeler, Addie Butler and Adanech Jarvis were sixth in the 4 x 400 meter relay; Ilan McKinney, eighth in the high jump; and Abigail Sangster finished fifth in the discus.
Other athletes scoring points for Northeastern include: Amiyah Davis, sixth in the 400 meter and fifth in the long jump; Madelyn Green, seventh in the 1600 meter; the team of Kaedynce Lakes, Claire Mainous, Green and Davis, fifth in the 4×400 meter relay.
Athletes scoring points for Hagerstown include: Savannah Smith, eighth in the 100 meter; the team of Zaylee Payne, Claire Bowen, Aurora Allen and Smith, seventh in the 4×100 meter relay; the team of Abigail Smith, Emsley Holcomb, Avery Blunk and Havanna Harris, fourth in the 4×800 meter relay; and Mckenzie Waggoner was seventh in the shot put.
Final team standings: East Central 134.5, Batesville 99, Richmond 74, Franklin County 59, Seton Catholic 50.5, Oldenburg Academy 32, Connersville 28.5, Rushville 28.5, Centerville 25.5, Northeastern 23, Morristown 22, Union County 20.5, Tri High 17, Hagerstown 10, Lincoln 0
Complete results can be viewed at IHSAA.org.
A version of this article appeared in the May 28 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.