Newton Girls Track Team Shines at Olney Meet, Secures Second Place Overall
The Newton Lady Eagles delivered a powerful performance at the Olney (Richland County) Invitational, finishing second overall in a competitive field of four teams. Newton tallied 98 points, trailing only the host team Olney, who claimed the top spot with 126 points. Lawrenceville and Cisne rounded out the standings with 18 and 15 points, respectively.
Sprint Events: Depth and Determination
In the sprints, Newton showcased impressive depth. Lena Fehrenbacher led the team in the 100 meters with a 5th-place finish (14.4 seconds, season record), while the 200 meters saw freshman Brenly Francis clock a personal best of 29.8 seconds to take 5th place. Teammates Isabel Meinhart, Reese Schulte, and Maleah Miller followed closely, each recording season or personal bests.
The 400 meters proved to be one of Newton’s strongest events, as three runners placed in the top five: senior Camryn Martin (3rd, 1:06.4 SR), freshman Avery Geier (4th, 1:06.8 PR), and sophomore Grace Schumacher (5th, 1:07.0 PR). The strong showing in the one-lap race earned the team valuable points.
Middle and Long Distance: Consistency Pays Off
Layna Marshall led the distance squad with a 2nd-place finish in both the 800 meters (2:41.5 SR) and 1600 meters (6:00.1). Teammate Lily Yager was also a force in the 800, placing 3rd with a personal best of 2:58.9. Shay Bennett and Avery Geier added key finishes in the mile.
Hurdles and Relays: Dominance on Display
In the hurdles, Newton continued their success. Freshman Stella Schackmann (2nd, 17.9) and Morgan Schafer (3rd, 18.6 SR) stood out in the 100m hurdles, while Schafer also took 2nd in the 300m hurdles with a season record of 52.9 seconds. Senior Karasyn Martin was close behind in 3rd place.
Newton’s relay teams put on a clinic. The 4×100 and 4×200 A-teams, featuring Schackmann, Schafer, McVicar, and Kinder, won both events with times of 51.6 and 1:50.2, respectively. The 4×400 A-team placed 2nd (4:44.6), and the 4×800 team also took 2nd (12:31.5), showcasing Newton’s depth and versatility.
Field Events: Flying High and Throwing Far
Newton excelled in the field, capturing multiple top spots. Audrey Beals won the high jump with a personal best of 4’10”, while Karasyn Martin soared to victory in the pole vault (11’0”), followed closely by Camryn Martin (2nd, 10’6” SR). In throws, Shay Bennett took the discus crown (85’6” SR) and placed 8th in shot put. Freshman Maddie Brummer and Ava Earnest also contributed strong throws.
Jumps: Newton Leaps to Podium
Stella Schackmann placed 2nd in the long jump (15’10.25”), while Isabel Meinhart leapt to 3rd in the triple jump (31’3.75” SR). Meinhart also finished 4th in the high jump with a personal best.
