Curtis Burke throws the shot put during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Evan Royer throws the shot put in the final round during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Seymour’s Jude Bane, right, running to a second place finish in the 1600 during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night. Bane won the 3200 later that night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Jaylan Johnson on his way to a second place finish in the 400 meter dash during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Jaylan Johnson, left, and Kylan Ellerbe walk off the track after their race during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Nikky Wheeler clears the hurdle on his way to third place in the 300 hurdles during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Bryson Darlage clears the bar during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Jaylan Johnson long jumps during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Bryson Darlage long jumps during the Seymour Invitational on Tuesday night.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
The Seymour boys track and field team hosted four teams for the Seymour Invite at Bulleit Stadium on Tuesday night, and the Owls had a competitive showing.
Complete results for the meet were not available at press time, but Seymour took home three first-place finishes.
Jude Bane won the 3200 meter run, breaking 10 minutes and setting a new personal record. Bane was even with a Jennings County runner the whole way and was able to beat him in the final 100.
“The 3200 was just an excellent race,” head coach Randy Fife said. “They were just neck and neck the whole way. It came down to the final stretch, and they just battled. Both kids PR’ed and both were happy with their effort. It was an exciting race.”
Bane also placed second in the 1600 and was part of the 4×800 team that took second.
The 3200 was the second to last meet of the night, and the final won had a similar sprint-to-the-finish ending.
Seymour’s 4×400 team of Michael Proffer, Josh Rennekamp, Kylan Ellerbe and Jaylan Johnson took home a first-place finish.
All four Owls handed the baton off in the lead despite the race being so close, and Johnson anchored it home. Johnson was passed down the back stretch, but he regained the lead in the final 100 meters and never looked back.
“That was very fun, very exciting,” Johnson said. “Whenever he got in front me, I was like he’s using a lot of energy there, so I stayed calm and waited until the last 100 and really kicked it in.”
The opposite happened a couple meets ago when Johnson was passed and he tried to get back the lead too early. Fife was happy Johnson learned from his mistake and it paid off on Tuesday.
“The 4×400 was a heck of a race as well,” Fife said. “Jaylan got passed, and he was patient this time. He had that same experience earlier in the year and he got beat, this time he showed good maturity.”
On what it’s like when the crowd is going wild at the end of the race, Johnson said, “It’s crazy. I can hear everybody. It’s just crazy.”
Johnson also ran the 100, 400 and did long jump. He was second in the individual 400 meter dash.
“I did pretty good,” he said. “I just need to learn how to pace myself a little bit better.”
Johnson was third in the long jump, and Seymour’s Bryson Darlage took home first place. Darlage was a regional qualifier last year for the Owls.
“It’s very competitive,” Johnson said on jumping with Darlage. “We can make each other better a lot. It’s fun.”
“They’re both capable of being 20-foot jumpers,” Fife said of Johnson and Darlage.
Next up, both the Seymour boys and girls teams will be in action on Thursday at the Golden Bear Invite at Shelbyville High School.
Overall, Fife was pleased with the way his team competed on Tuesday at home.
“All the kids competed hard tonight,” Fife said. “We’re very young. We’re learning and we’re getting better. We have to continually work to get better all the time.”