Photos by: Ava Earnest, Damien Hartke, Heather Martin, and Mindy Hartke
The Newton Lady Eagles track and field team delivered an outstanding performance at the recent varsity meet, earning a well-deserved second place overall with 112 team points. The event, which brought together top high school athletes from across the region, saw Newton trailing only Olney (Richland County), who captured first with 121 points. Newton’s consistent scoring and impressive showings in both track and field events solidified their spot near the top.
Standout Performances Across the Board
Freshman Sprinter Stella Schackmann continues to make a name for herself, grabbing second place in the 100 meters (12.76) and fifth in the 200 meters with a personal record (26.91). She also anchored the 4×200 relay, helping Newton claim a first-place finish with a stellar team time of 1:50.79.
Senior Sydney Kinder added crucial points in the sprints, placing 7th in the 200 meters (27.00 PR) and contributing to both the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. She also secured third place in the triple jump (10.44m), demonstrating her all-around athleticism.
Karasyn Martin, another senior standout, led Newton in the field by winning the pole vault with a height of 3.35 meters. Her sister, Camryn Martin, took second (3.20m), making it a 1-2 sweep in the event for Newton.
Distance events were another strength for the Eagles. Layna Marshall placed 4th in the 1600 meters (6:02.52) and 2nd in the 3200 meters (12:56.74), while Grace Schumacher took 5th in the 800 meters (2:33.59). Freshman Avery Geier also impressed with a 7th-place finish in the mile and helped Newton secure third in the 4×800 relay (10:52.68).
Relay Dominance
Newton’s relay squads came through big, bringing in major points:
- 1st in 4×200 (McVicar, Schafer, Kinder, Schackmann) – 1:50.79
- 3rd in 4×100 (McVicar, Duncan, Schafer, Kinder) – 53.00
- 3rd in 4×400 (McVicar, C. Martin, Schumacher, K. Martin) – 4:24.97
- 3rd in 4×800 (Geier, C. Martin, K. Martin, Schumacher) – 10:52.68
Field Event Success
In addition to the pole vault and triple jump, Newton scored well in several field events:
- Stella Schackmann captured 1st place in the long jump with a leap of 4.79m.
- Ava Duncan (7th, 8.84m PR) and Ava Earnest (15th, 8.10m) both contributed in the shot put.
- Maddie Brummer (6th, 27.91m) and Shay Bennett (12th, 24.43m) placed in the discus.
A Strong Team Effort
From freshmen to seniors, Newton’s girls showed depth, talent, and resilience. Their success across so many events — sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps, throws, and relays — is a testament to their work ethic and team unity.
With this performance, the Lady Eagles have firmly established themselves as a powerhouse on the track. As the season progresses, Newton looks poised to keep building momentum and chase even greater achievements.
