Scots' Wilkinson scaling new heights; Highland sweeps Anderson

By Mike Beas

Fri, May 16 2008

— ANDERSON — A pole vaulter’s existence is off the beaten path somewhat in that the event involves as much daring as it does athleticism.
Highland senior Ethan Wilkinson, a State Meet qualifier in 2007, can speak to this better than most.
The Scots’ school record-holder in the event, having cleared 14 feet, 4 inches in last season’s dual meet at Perry Meridian, Wilkinson is doing everything in his power to reach the 15-foot plateau before exhausting his prep eligibility.
Monday in a girls/boys dual meet against city rival Anderson, Wilkinson took first with a top vault of 11 feet. He then requested the bar be raised to 14 feet, but missed on his three attempts.
Wilkinson’s points factored into Highland’s 103-24 rout of the Indians, as the host Scots won 15 of the 16 events. The Highland girls also drove home their point with plenty of points in a 90-38 victory.
Provided a warm, sunny day with mild breezes, Wilkinson hoped to make the most of Mother Nature’s graciousness, but couldn’t get it done. Nonetheless, the senior knows the season is young.
“Last year, it hurt me that I peaked too early. I did a lot of training during the indoor season and my hopes were to get 15 feet,” said Wilkinson, who won the Mount Vernon Regional with a best of 13-9. “But then I stopped training the way I had been once the season started and it fell off after that.”
The men’s track programs at Purdue and Indiana State have shown an interest in Wilkinson, which is one reason why the senior is familiarizing himself with a 15-foot pole rather than the 13-foot, 6-inch pole he formerly used.
Wilkinson was but one of many bright spots for Highland in Monday’s meet.
Junior sprinter Jamie Mallory took home four blue ribbons, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes in 11.16 and 23.28 seconds, respectively, and taking part in two victorious relay efforts (400 and 1600).
“Since his freshman year, I’ve known Jamie was fast,” said seventh-year Highland coach Cary House. “This is his first year out for track, and he just shoots out of the blocks like a cannon.”
Senior Trey Messer also enjoyed an outstanding meet, with first place in the 300-meter low hurdles in 42.64 and a role in the aforementioned 400- and 1,600-meter relay efforts.
Kerry Detienne, a junior, won the shot put with a best of 50 feet and the discus with a top throw of 130 feet, 10 inches. Sophomore distance specialist D.J. Taylor crossed the finish line first in the 1,600 (4:46.97) and 3,200 (10:48) and ran third leg on the Scots’ winning 3,200 relay (8:32.47).
“We are stacked at least two deep in every event, and in some events we’re three deep,” House said. “And the bulk of our points are coming from sophomores and juniors.”
In the girls meet, sophomore Haylei Banister won the 1,600 (6:38.63) and 3,200 (14:41) for Highland, and this came after helping the 3,200 relay team secure a win in 11:48.79. Senior Donielle Burton prevailed in her specialties, the long jump (14-11) and pole vault (6-6) as the Scots dominated.
“We needed that. We had struggled against Pendleton Heights in our last meet, so morale was down a little bit,” said Highland assistant Jeff Howard, who filled in for Scots head coach James King, who missed the meet because of illness.
“I asked the girls to do three things: compete hard, support each other and have fun. And I know they did that today. I really saw the effort.”
For Anderson, junior Jasmine McGhee did her thing in the 100- (12.69) and 200-meter dashes (26.14) and anchored both the winning 400 and 1,600 relays. Senior LaTavia Peters captured the 100 hurdles in 18.45 seconds and the 300s in 55.44.
Kali Harrison, a freshman, won the 800 (2:44.47) for the Indians and was part of the 1,600 relay.

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