Green claims third straight sectional title

Katy Green knows what it takes to make it to the State Finals.

A two-time state placer in the 800, the Zionsville senior knows how to manage the three-week postseason and make sure she is peaking at the right time.

She used that experience on Tuesday night to claim her third-straight sectional title in the 800-meter run, finishing in 2:11.54, setting the sectional record and breaking her own school record in the event.

"It's good knowing that there are just a couple weeks left, and it all comes down to this," Green said. "All the work throughout the season pays off now. Through the first 400, I felt really strong, and I told myself before the race that I just wanted to close with good form and stay looking up at the end. I think I did that well."

The time was roughly two seconds faster than her previous best, which earned her a ninth-place finish at the state meet a year ago.

It was more than nine seconds faster than her winning time a year ago at the sectional. Green has ran more 3,200 and 1,600 races throughout the year to work on her endurance, and it seems to be paying off.

"It's been great for her," Zionsville head coach Lauren Arnold said of Green's training. "We've really been working on mentality, and she's always been a positive athlete with a lot of grit. I think it's all coming together for her."

Green was able to display some of that grit on Tuesday evening.

Matched up again with Avon freshman Alena Wigger, who edged Green for the HCC title a couple weeks ago, Green took out the opening 400 and led at the halfway point of the race.

Wigger tried to make a move on the back stretch, but Green kicked it into another gear and pulled away over the final 200 meters and won by more than a second.

"A lot of our training we have ended with more sprint-based stuff," Green said. "Closing in on more 800-based training with that at the end of the season has really helped."

Green's performance was just one big highlight on what was a strong day for the Zionsville girls.

The Eagles, and all the teams, endured multiple weather delays that pushed the start of the meet back a couple of hours.

But that seemed to light a fire under the team, and they sit third in the team standings with just the shot put to be decided.

"We had a discussion before we came back out about how everyone is the same position as us, and we just had to take this weather and really have the mentality that we were going to beat it," Arnold said. "They did a good job of doing that tonight."

The Eagles started the meet off with a second-place finish in the 3,200-meter relay, with the team of Sara Bostwick, Madeline Bruns, Marlee Phillips and Abby McClure finishing in a time of 9:46.72 to advance to the regional.

Laurel Powell followed that up with a second place finish in the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.30 to move on.

Bostwick and Megan Race both qualified for the regional in the 1,600, placing second and third in times of 5:19.34 and 5:19.82 respectively. Ella Ventrone placed third in the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 45.75 to advance, and Letty Banwart and Cailyn Murphy qualified for the regional in the 3,200 by placing second and third in times of 11:22.38 and 11:23.77.

Annaliese Tibbs placed third in the high jump, clearing 5-feet-3-inches to advance.

In the final event of the day, the Eagles 4x400 relay team of Ventrone, Maryn Carter, Hallie Clark and Ellie Graves ran a season best 3:57.90 to place second.

"They are looking really good, and I think they have a good chance of making it to state," Arnold said. "They're a young team with a lot of energy, and we got great performances from everybody."

The Eagles are hoping to potentially get a couple more regional qualifiers via callbacks, but won't know for sure until Wednesday night because not all of the sectionals were able to be held on Tuesday night because of the weather.

Green said the whole team is hitting their stride right now.

"It was nice tonight, even after the rain delays, to see everyone out there getting PRs and have really good races," she said. "I think that was definitely beneficial going into my race."

Western Boone also had a solid day competing, finishing in ninth with 18 points - there most since 2023.

Head coach Nate Birk said he was proud of the way his team handled everything on Tuesday.

"I think our girls were a little frustrated with the weather situation, but used that as fuel to have some of their best performances of the year," Birk said.

Western Boone got a regional qualifier in Sabina Shepherd, who placed third in the long jump in a time of 15-feet-9.50-inches.

"She is a newcomer on the track team as a freshman, and you don't see a lot of regional qualifiers as a freshmen," Birk said. "She found her groove in the long jump and she has really been working hard these last couple of weeks. This wasn't quite her personal best, so I'm excited to see what she can do at the regional."

The 4x800 team of Joan Gearheart, Claire Torp, Lyla Kinsler and Kate Higer placed fourth in a time of 11:04.89.

River Roys placed seventh in the 100-meter hurdles in 17.52 and eighth in the 300-meter hurdles in 51.68.

Charlotte Stucky placed sixth in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 12:24.54.

The 4x100 team of Roys, Jada Sanders, Alexa Massingill and Taylor Princell placed eighth in 54.41.

Birk said he is thankful for all the contributions the seniors made to the program.

"They have meant everything," Birk said. "They are a strong senior class and it's really sad to see them go. Charlotte Stucky has been a strong force on our distance squad, Kate Higer in the mid-distance, River Roys in the sprints and hurdles - all that core group and all the senior girls on this team has been awesome and it was a privilege to coach them."