IHSAA girls state track: Bloomington South 'crushes it' for best finish ever at finals
INDIANAPOLIS — Everything had been building toward a big finish like this. Then again, Bloomington South coaches and athletes looked around them and realized they're just getting started.
No Panther team has ever performed like this at the IHSAA Girls State Track and Field Championships, held at North Central High School this year. Most points ever scored? Check. Highest finish ever? Check.
Advertisement
Two state champions, one with a state record. Two mauled school records bookended the day as South won five state medals and took third place with 37 points Saturday, June 7, all scored by sophomores and juniors.
"We've had such a really amazing season," South coach Jill Rensink said. "The challenge in my brain do we get to the state meet and are we still at that level? And man, they came out and they did exactly what we needed them to do. They surpassed what we thought we could do.
"I'm kind of speechless. Third is amazing. Off-the-charts crazy. I'm proud of how they came in and competed and fought for every single spot and every single second. And they're all coming back."
Boys state track: Record-setting day leads to trophy for Bloomington North boys
Advertisement
Junior Ellie Barada was the star of the show and about the only thing that went wrong all day for her was the pronunciation of her last name when she took to the medal stand. She won the open 800 and anchored the 3,200 relay to a win and the 1,600 to fourth by winning the second heat.
"It was a great day," Barada said. "Walking away with two state championships and a fourth place in the four-by-four and third place as a team is pretty dang good. Don't know if I could ask for more."
The Bloomington South 3200 meter relay team celebrates taking first place Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the IHSAA annual girls state track and field finals in Indianapolis.
Her co-stars had a day, too.
Sophomore Lexi Kollbaum was fourth in the 1,600 and on both relays while sophomore Mary Asplund had a career best in the first heat of the 800 to earn a surprise eighth. Aurelia Martoglio was 10th in the 3,200 with twin sister Jasmine posting a career best for 12th and her all-important third leg of the 3,200 gave Barada plenty of cushion between her and Carmel.
Advertisement
South's two titles were the school's first on the track since 1989, with only two field event titles in 2002 and 2012 since then.
"It didn't feel real most of the time," Kollbaum said. "But I'm glad we came in and got it done. We stayed consistent and got better."
Bloomington South's Ellie Barada crosses the finish line in first place for the 3200 meter relay Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the IHSAA annual girls state track and field finals in Indianapolis.
Indoors or out, South relay ruled
Barada anchored the 3,200 relay to a comfortable win in an incredible 8:51.35 that took 21 seconds off the old outdoor record and took down Eastern Greentown's mark of 8:53.74 in 2013.
"Each of those legs, all three of the girls before me, really pushed the pace," Barada said. "They were up there with the front pack, made it their goal to pass the baton off first. So, when I got it in first, I was feeling really good and knew we were going to put down a fast time.
Advertisement
"I just didn't know how fast it would be. It was crazy."
It certainly helped the team's confidence that South had beaten the Greyhounds at indoor state in that race while going a 9:06.
"I think those four stepped on the track knowing what we ran at indoors to beat them, that we were faster now," Rensink said. "And they crushed it."
South and Carmel were neck-and-neck after Kollbaum and Asplund posted a pair of 2:12 splits and handed off to Jasmine Martoglio. When she took off and gave the Panthers a three-second lead, no way was Barada going to lose that race, winning it by 2.1 seconds.
"I felt like I knew when the Carmel girl went out really hard, I was like, 'Just stay with her, she's going to come back,'" Jasmine said. "And, she did. I was happy I got to surge past her. It felt really good."
Advertisement
Barada was after the state record in the 800 (2:04.95) but still won in 2:07.30, four seconds ahead of the pack.
"My goal was to get the record but not knowing what the competition was going to look like, just pushing myself," Barada said. "I didn't get that but I'm happy with the win. Hopefully, I can come back in two weeks at nationals and get that time that I want."
The 1,600 relay also blew away its previous best mark of 3:56.67 as Barada took care of business again, pulling South into the lead and a 3:53.02.
"I've been so excited to get a race like that where I'm being pushed," Barada said. "I'm coming from behind. I really wanted to win that second heat because it would give us the best opportunity to place. If there's anybody in front of me, I do my best to gut it out."
Advertisement
Those relays are only getting faster.
"It's so exciting," Asplund said. "Especially knowing none of us are seniors, so we'll be back next year and we can break that record again. It's so rare to have this great of a team."
Carmel's Annabel Pollert, Bloomington South's Mary Asplund, and Lake Central's Brynn Hayes run in the 3200 meter relay Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the IHSAA annual girls state track and field finals in Indianapolis.
Group effort for South
Kollbaum went on to turn a 4:54.31 for fourth in the 1,600. She was in eighth at the halfway mark in 2:30.
"I feel like it probably maybe went out a little slow, so it was more technical," Kollbaum said. "But that's fine, I'm fine with that. I'm happy that I still got it done."
Asplund went out quick in the 800 with a 64-second first lap and finished in 2:12.89 and on the heels of North Central's Kaelina Matthews, who wound up sixth overall.
Advertisement
"People told me if I won my heat, I'd have a chance at being podium," Asplund said. "And I knew that in my head, but I wasn't sure that I'd be able to win. I was close. This finish line is so far back, oh my gosh, it just kept going, and she barely got me.
"But I was so happy. That was my goal. I was glad I could stand on the podium with Ellie even though I wasn't right next to her."
Jasmine Martoglio ended up 12th in the 3,200 in a career best 10:43.54.
"It was really fun the whole time," Jasmine said. "I just wanted to come in here and have a good time and that's what I did."
The Bloomington South 3200 meter relay team celebrates taking first place Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the IHSAA annual girls state track and field finals in Indianapolis.
Aurelia Martoglio took a most patient approach to the 3,200 and it may have cost her.
Advertisement
She was still 21st halfway through, then started her move. 17th, then 15th and 11th going into the final 400. Runners started to drop off and moved all the way up to ninth before Ava Jarrell of Pendleton Heights came out of nowhere to nip her at the line by .13 for the last medal.
"I was definitely trying to make up ground," Aurelia said. "I was going for it even though I didn't know if I'd get a medal or anything, but I'll stay hungry."
So will all her teammates.
Carmel won the team title 54-46 over Hamilton Southeastern and let out a big yell when it was announced, momentarily interrupting South's post-meet huddle.
Advertisement
"Next year," Rensink promised. "That's going to be us."
Eastern Greene star goes out in a Blais
Senior Lilyanna Blais wasn't caught up in the moment of his first and only run at the state finals. She embraced every bit of it, including a few flying elbows in a slow-starting 1,600.
She got outside the fray and carried it through for a 5:04.57 that took another small notch out of her school record before she heads off to run at Southern Indiana.
It was an interesting day all around. The 1,600 had to be restarted after a Carmel runner was tripped on the opening curve and needed treatment. But Blais got off to another good start and navigated the crowd by running the first lap in Lane 2 and eventually finishing 14th.
Advertisement
"It's just so awesome," Blais said. "It's been my biggest dream since I was a freshman. I actually never thought it was possible then. I looked to those people and thought it was so cool.
"And then this year I came in and saw what Ellie Barada was running and thought, I had no chance. I thought last year was my year and I missed it. But once I saw all the cards align, I was like, 'This is my year.' And I am so beyond blessed and lucky that God led me here and I got this opportunity to run."
Edgewood juniors Hannah Crane finished 25th in 11:19.95.
Bloomington North's Hayden McGuire and Homestead's Domenica Casini run in the 3200 meter relay Saturday, June 7, 2025, during the IHSAA annual girls state track and field finals in Indianapolis.
South, BNL compete in Unified
Bloomington South finished sixth in its first trip to the IHSAA Unified Track state finals, while Bedford North Lawrence was ninth.
Advertisement
Elkhart was first with 123 points to top Penn (119). South had 97 and BNL 88.
Area section winners included Allie Dodds of South in the 100; Patric Matson of BNL in long jump and South's James Tirey in shot put. Runner-ups were s 100: Christian Lawalin, South (100); Trevon Murphy and Jaida Mason of South in long jump and South's Ben Godar and BNL's Sam Bartley and Tori Logsdon in shot put.
IHSAA STATE FINALS
TOP TEAM SCORES: Carmel 54; Hamilton Southeastern 46; Bloomington South 34; Brownsburg 31; FW Carroll 31; Zionsville 26; Greenwood 22; Heritage Christian 21; FW Concordia 20; Bishop Chatard 20; North Central 18; Whitko 17; WL Harrison 15; Center Grove 14; Chesterton 13; Evansville North 13; Franklin 13; New Albany 13; Pike 13; Whiteland 13. 56. Martinsville 3.
Advertisement
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (State record in parenthesis)
100 (11.41, 2017): 1. Nadia Ford, FWCar 11.68; 2. Kenedi Bradley, Chest 11.75; 3. Nife Ogunleye, Brwnbrg 11.80.
200 (23.12, 1986): 1. Ford, FWCar 24.20; 2. De'Janey Layne 24.21; 3. Omema Anyanwu, Zion 24.22; 15. Violet Hall, BSouth 25.66.
400 (52.42, 1986): 1. Anyanwu, Zion 53.77; 2. Anissa Lammie, HSE 55.37; 3. Kristina Petkova, Gosh 55.87; 24. Lucah Feagans, BNorth 1:01.39; 25. Maya Jackson, BSouth 1:01.89; 26. Avery Rayl, Edg 1:02.83.
800 (2:04.95, 2023): 1. Ellie Barada, BSouth 2:07.30; 2. Savannah Nuetzel, Muns 2:11.55; 3. Emily Baxter, Culv 2:12.11; 8. Mary Asplund, BSouth 2:12.89.
Advertisement
1,600 (4:38.69, 2022): 1. Mallory Weller, FW Conc 4:49.06; 2. Anyz Zoeller, PenHts 4:52.05; 3. Savana Miller, FnkCent 4:52.90; 4. Lexi Kollbaum, BSouth 4:54.31; 7. Laura Barco, Mart 4:57.02; 14. Lilyanna Blais, EG 5:04.57.
3,200 (10:03.16, 2021): 1. Weller, FW Conc 10:28.26; 2. Julia Score, BChatard 10:28.64; 3. Annabel Pollert, Carm 10:28.99; 10. Aurelia Martoglio, BSouth 10:42.00; 12. Jasmine Martoglio, BSouth 10:43.54; 25. Hannah Crain, Edg 11:19.95.
100 hurdles (13.38, 2023): 1. Adriana Swanson, SB Wash 13.83; 2. Jai Brown, Pike 14.01; 3. Isabella Sotelo, EastHan 13.30.
300 hurdles (41.36, 2014): 1. Jada Harper, NAlb 41.52; 2. Chloe Senefeld, HSE 42.62; 3. Sophia N'Gbesso, Brwnbrg 42.84.
Advertisement
400 relay (45.75, 2003): 1. Brownsburg 46,55; 2. FW Carroll 46,68; 3. Carmel 46.83; 25. Bloomington South (Adrienne Shaevitz, Chlor Gautier, Anna Bunnell, Hall), 50.17.
1,600 relay (3:43.99, 2019): 1. Hamilton Southeastern 3:46.26; 2. Carmel 3:48.27; 3. Brownsburg 3:49.93; 4. Bloomington South (Kollbaum, Asplund, Hall, Barada) 3:53.02 (school record; old record; 3:56.67); 26. Bloomington North (Emma Rice, Rilynn Williams, Hayden McGuire, Feagans), 4:17.00.
3,200 relay (8:53.74, 2013): 1. Bloomington South (Kollbaum, Asplund, J.Martoglio, Barada), 8:51.35 (state record; school record); 2. Carmel, 8:53.45; 3. Hamilton Southeastern, 9:01.45; 22. Bloomington North (McGuire, Lilah Reed, Ellie Patrick, Feagans), 9:50.55.
High jump (6-0, 1985): 1. Kya Crooke, HeritChr 6-0¼ (state record); 2. Karsyn Buck, Nview 5-8; 3. Kira Smith, WarrC 5-8; T11. Callie Alston, Orl 5-4.
Advertisement
Long jump (20-4, 1986): 1. Crooke, HrtgeChr 20-4¾ (state record); 2. Elnora Stevenson, Whtlnd 18-9¾; 3. Milyn Kirsh, Avon 18-6¼; 19. Nellie Standeford, Monr 16-11; 22. Emily Fluke, Mart 16-9½; 27. Hall, BSouth 15-11¼.
Shot put (51-11, 2024): 1. Gwen Howard, Whitko 46-11; 2; Alexa Walker, Heritage 44-4¾; 3. Emma Gardner, Gwood 42-9¾.
Discus (169-6, 2024): 1. Garner, Gwood 152-7; 2. Luci Barile, CG 146-5; 3. Howard, Whitko 143-11.
Pole vault (13-6½, 2023): 1. Jane Paddock, LawN 11-9; 2. Emma Baker, Nwestn 11-9; 3. Addison Martin, Frnk 11-6; Ella LaRoche, Edg NH.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: South has record day, finishes 3rd at IHSAA girls track state finals
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
2 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Lizzy Sinders caps Clay City career at state with dad, sister in dugout. 'It means so much.'
WEST LAFAYETTE — Tears streamed down Lizzy Sinders' cheeks as she shared a few final moments on the softball field with her older sister, Clay City athletic director Harley Skinner (née Sinders), and their dad, head coach Jason Sinders. Friday's 2-0 loss to North Newton in the IHSAA Class A softball state championship game concluded a prolific four-year run for the senior pitcher and an unforgettable couple years for the Sinders family. Not many people can say they coached their daughters, Jason pointed out. Not only did he have the chance to coach both daughters, he got to coach with Harley for a season — and is now working for her. "That's exciting for everybody," the longtime coach smiled, pulling his daughters in closer as he continued. "It means a lot to me and their mother," Jason said. "I'm just very thankful, very thankful." IHSAA softball state championships: Schedule, ticket information, complete coverage 'Welcome to Indiana basketball.' A night with state's top-ranked small school a reminder Outcome aside, this is what Harley envisioned when she returned to Clay City. The Eels were never far from mind for the 2017 grad, who kept a Clay City visor attached to her backpack during her six-year run as Avon softball coach and would sneak updates on the Eels during the state tournament. She's a homebody, Lizzy grinned as she waited for her family members to finish other interviews. "I wanted to get them back to state," Harley later added, explaining how the last time Clay City reached this point (2021), the game was played at Center Grove, she was still coaching at Avon and Lizzy was in eighth grade. "It's just really, really special that we got to do this all together," Harley said. "It's just amazing (having Harley back)," Lizzy added. "It's nice seeing her and her kids' faces — I'm very close with both of (my nieces) and her husband, as well. It just all means so much." The Eels nearly punched their ticket to state last season, but fell short in the semistate semifinals to eventual state runner-up Tecumseh. They broke through this season, stringing together 21 wins, including a 10-inning regional thriller vs. Orleans and a weather-postponed semistate championship game vs. Indianapolis Lutheran. And leading the way both in the circle and at the plate was their senior pitcher. Lizzy constructed another prolific campaign this spring, going 14-5 with a 1.74 ERA and a career-high 197 strikeouts, while also batting .469 with 45 hits and stealing 10 bases. The three-sport standout went the distance in all six state tournament games, spinning a one-hit shutout of Cloverdale (17 strikeouts, zero walks), a 10-inning shutout of Orleans (14 strikeouts) and a two-hit shutout of Lutheran (six strikeouts). "She's not very big and for (her size), she packs a big punch," Jason said of Lizzy, who boasts a career 1.60 ERA with 612 strikeouts and 49 wins. "For her career stats — she's just been phenomenal to coach and the amount of stuff she's done is just crazy. Her mother, Amber, and I, we just love watching her play. And we're going to love watching her play in college." "It's been really amazing getting to watch her grow up and getting to see her on the field and mature," Harley beamed. "I was never a pitcher. I couldn't take that pressure. And she's had the world on her shoulders for a while. She's handled it well." As North Newton was presented the championship trophy, Lizzy, Jason and Harley shared one last group hug in the outfield grass, all three overcome with emotion. "These past two years are some of the best times I've ever had," Lizzy said. As they splintered off and returned to the third-base dugout, Jason brought a smile to his daughters' face in a way only a dad can. Lizzy just needs a hamburger and she'll be fine, he called out, grinning from ear-to-ear. "A bacon cheeseburger cures a lot of pain," Jason later explained.
Boston Globe
12 hours ago
- Boston Globe
North's workmanlike win in 47th Shriners Classic rooted in trenches
'There was no way I was losing this game,' said Walsh, part of a 13-0 Rams squad that Peabody's 6-foot-4-inch defensive lineman Jimmy Festa made several huge plays alongside Walsh. Beverly's Jack Consedine and Winthrop's Gabriel Grein were also stellar on the defensive line with St. John's Prep linebacker Jackson Tucker patrolling behind. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Billerica's Dan Moore (from left), Woburn's Caeden Davis, Haverhill's James Farrell, and Belmont Hill's Dylan Doherty helped the North All-Stars to a 7-6 win. Nate Weitzer Advertisement The South defense also won the line of scrimmage consistently with Lucas Tremblay (Apponequet), Jonathan Balde (Foxborough), and Matheus Cesard (Barnstable) standing out. Coming off 'I haven't seen anything like that,' said Apponequet coach Zane Fyfe, who led the South Squad along with his assistant and former Bridgewater State teammate, Andy Amaral. Related : 'On both sides of the ball those guys [on the defensive line] were just animals. Neither side could be blocked and it's hard to do much when you've got guys like that.' Advertisement Walpole quarterback Noah Mackenzie (committed to Stonehill) opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but South never got back into the red zone. Masconomet's Cash Kornusky blocked the ensuing extra point, which proved to be the difference. Belmont Hill's Nick Pelligrini was honored with the Community Service award. Nate Weitzer Haverhill senior James Farrell (Assumption) finished North's sole scoring drive in the first half with a 26-yard touchdown scamper on a read option. Methuen star Shane Eason (Stonehill) ripped off 53 rushing yards on just three carries, earning offensive MVP honors. All proceeds from the game, which was moved from its usual venue at Bentley due to construction, go to the Aleppo Shriners Children's Transportation Fund. 'It was great to play football in June and for a great cause,' said Revere and North squad coach Lou Cicatelli. 'And it's all about making new relationships, meeting good people, and getting pointed in the right direction, and hopefully these kids go on to do great things in college.' Nate Weitzer can be reached at
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Indiana state track and field hall of fame to add 3 Bloomington standouts
The 2025 Indiana Track and Field Hall of Fame class will have a strong Bloomington flavor with the addition of former South pole vaulting brothers Drew and Deakin Volz and North standout thrower and coach Sara (Fields) Hamidovic. Here's a quick look at their careers as provided by the Hall of Fame. Chris Howell | Herald-Times Dave Volz congratulates his son, Deakin Volz, after he cleared 17' 2" in the pole Vault competition during the IHSAA Boys Sectional Track and Field tournament at Bloomington High School North in Bloomington, Ind. Thursday, May 22, 2014. Volz brothers took it to next level Deakin was the youngest of the three sons of Olympian David Volz. As a freshman, Volz was conference, sectional and regional champ and eighth at the state finals with a PR 14-9. As a sophomore, he was conference, sectional (16-4), regional and state runner-up. In the summer, he was the USATF Youth Champion and the Junior Olympic National Champion. Advertisement During his junior year was recognized as the DyeStat Top 5, MileSplit All-American and Indiana Gatorade Field Athlete of the Year. Volz won the championships at conference (16-6), sectional (17-2, an all-time Indiana prep record), regional (17-3), and finals (17-5). His senior year started off with a bang at his first indoor competition. Deakin vaulted 17-10½, setting the national high school indoor record. At the New Balance Indoor Championship, he won with another national indoor record of 17-11¼. He was again recognized as a MileSplit All-American. Outdoors, he broke the IHSAA state finals record with a vault of 17-6 and was given the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award. He was again the Indiana Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year and Indiana USATF Track and Field Male Athlete of the Year. At Virginia Tech, Deakin placed third at the NCAA Indoor Championships and became a three-time ACC champion and six-time All-American. During his freshman year, he qualified for the U20 World Championships with a mark of 18-6½ which would rank him third on the all-time USA list and 11th on the world list. His 18-9 vault in 2020 qualified him for the Olympic Trials. Chris Howell | Herald-Times South's Drew Volz prepares to compete in the pole vault during the IHSAA Boys State Track and Field Finals at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex in Bloomington, Ind. Saturday, June 7, 2014. Drew started his athletic career in the Smithville Little League at age five. He was drawn to the vault by older brother Drake and during his freshman year he split winning every meet with Drake, while also spending time with the JV baseball team. Drake qualified for the IHSAA state finals and Drew missed by a place, putting baseball permanently in the rear-view mirror. Advertisement Now concentrating solely on vaulting as a sophomore, his PR jumped to 15-0, which placed eighth in the IHSAA state finals. As a junior, he won his first of two state championships. His PR 16-8 broke former Panther state champion Dan Burton's record. Volz capped off his excellent high school career with the Robert S. Hinshaw Mental Attitude Award. Drew began his collegiate career at the University of South Florida where he won the Big East Championships and was an Academic All-American. He transferred to Indiana University and reached a career PR of 18-6. Bloomington North's Sara Fields competes in the discus throw during IHSAA state track meet in Indianapolis, June 5, 1999. Hamidovic excels at throws, coaching Sara Fields excelled as a thrower at North, placing in the IHSAA state finals in each of her years 1997-2000, winning the title in 2000 and Mental Attitude Award. She also captained and was All-Conference for the volleyball team. Advertisement She went to the United States Military Academy and excelled in both track and volleyball winning a combined six Patriot Conference titles in the discus and shot put and All-Conference in volleyball as a senior. She broke West Point's school records in the shot put, discus and power clean. Sara graduated in 2004 with a degree in Environmental Engineering. She served a combat tour in Iraq, rising to the rank of captain and was second in command of the 145 Troop in Iraq. Fields founded VET Environmental Engineering in Bloomington and coaches the Cougars' throwers with 24 individual sectional, 14 regional and 11 state medalists, including five IHSAA state champions. Class of 2025 The rest of the class includes Todd Beyerlein of Carmel; William Lightsey of Hammond; Harold Vaughn of Lafayette Jefferson; Rachel Dincoff of DeKalb (2020 Olympic Team); Felisha Johnson of Lawerence North (2012 Olympic Team); Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka; Fred Geswein, coach at Providence; Kevin Horrigan, coach at Brebeuf Jesuit, Bishop Chatard, Lawrence Central, Guerin Catholic and Greenfield-Central; Terry Lakes, coach at Marion and the Gary Tolleston 1962 4-by-440 relay. Advertisement The induction will take place June 21 at the Idle Creek Golf Course Banquet Facilities in Terre Haute at 5 p.m. Tickets are $35. A free reception will start at 1 p.m. at the Indiana Track and Field Museum. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: State track and field hall of fame adds 3 Bloomington standouts
