With a couple of key runners out, the Seymour boys track and field team still managed to perform at a high level on Tuesday night and win the Seymour Invitational at Bulleit Stadium.

The Owls scored 186 team points. Jennings County was second at 129, Columbus East third at 77, Bedford North Lawrence 67 and Madison 32.

Seymour had a lot of top-five finishers on the night to help the team score the victory.

The 4×800 relay team of Ty Tormoehlen, Carter Murphy, Jude Bane and Michael Brooks took home first place with a time of 8:29.72.

Bane was second in the 1600 at 4:33.71 and Brooks was third in 4:43.13. Alex Franklin was third in the 110 hurdles in 16.90, and Jordan Quick was fifth in 18.49.

Mason Nugent was third in the 100 at 11.97 and Kyle Hileman was fourth in 11.98. Josh Rennekamp was second in the 400 in 53.19, Hileman was third in the 300 hurdles in 45.57 and Alexxander Milliken was fourth in 46.04.

Jesse Mellencamp was third in the 200 at 24.14, Bane won the 3200 in 10:09.28 and Micah Jablonski was third at 10:35.98.

Bryson Darlage was second in high jump at 5-10 and Ethan Silcox was third at 5-8. Darlage won long jump at 19-8 and Ben Marks was third at 18-5.

Curtis Burke was second in shot put at 41-10 and Owen Kruse was third at 41-6.75. Kruse was third in discus at 131-3 and Burke was fifth at 119-2, and Jadrix Zumhingst was second in pole vault at 11-6.

Seymour’s 4×100 relay was second (45.09) and the 4×400 relay was also second (3:34.60).

The Owls and Panthers were close in scoring toward the end of the meet, but a big swing came in the 800-meter run when Seymour swept it. Brooks won in 2:06.55, Murphy was second in 2:10.68 and Tormoehlen was third in 2:11.72.

Seymour got 24 points from that race alone to create some separation.

“We wanted to go 1-2-3 because we knew Jennings County was close with us in scoring,” Brooks said.

Brooks’ best 800 time is a 2:03. It looked as if Tormoehlen was closing the gap on him at the start of the second lap, but with about 200 meters to go, Brooks kicked it into high gear.

“After the first lap when I was still in the lead, I felt like I could hold the lead and I did,” Brooks said. “I always just tell myself on the last 100 I can always find some more in me. When I hear someone’s spikes behind me, that makes me want to go faster.”

He wants to break two minutes in the 800 and get under 4:40 in the mile.

Brooks is also part of Seymour’s talented 4×400 squad, who was without Jaylan Johnson. Johnson is a high point scorer for the Owls in the 4×400, the 400 and long jump.

He was sick on Tuesday and couldn’t compete, and Seymour sprinter Devon Jackson was also limited on Tuesday due to injury.

Brooks said he was happy to see the Owls win the meet on Tuesday, and he’s excited to see what the team can do when fully healthy.

The Owls have a deep team and feel like they can make some noise in the Hoosier Hills Conference and at sectionals.

The HHC meet will be the next one for Seymour, and it’s not until May 11 at Floyd Central.