Coach Randy Fife had high hopes for this spring’s Seymour boys track and field team for this recently completed season, and the Owls surpassed his goals.

“I knew we were going to have a better team than last year,” he said at the awards program in the auditorium last week. “I was surprised with our success. What we did at the sectional surprised me. We can only control what we do. We scored in six events at the regional.”

The Owls were 19-1 during the regular season and placed first in the New Albany Relays and first in the Seymour Invitational. They finished second in the Hoosier Hills Conference meet and second in the Bedford North Lawrence Sectional and were 34-3 through the sectional.

“We did enough in the sectional,” Fife said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Jude Bane won the 3200 at the sectional, and Seymour’s 4×400 relay team of Devon Jackson, Michael Brooks, Josh Rennekamp and Jaylan Johnson placed first in the sectional and third in the regional to qualify for the state meet, where they placed 17th with their best time of the year at 3:25.66.

Bane was named the Owls’ most outstanding runner this season, and Fife said he had an excellent season running the distance races.

Bane and Rennekamp are seniors, while Johnson, Jackson and Brooks are sophomores.

Johnson was named the most valuable member of this year’s team.

“He always gave us everything he had,” Fife said of Johnson. “He did whatever we needed from him in the individual events and in the relays.”

He won the 400 in the HHC with a time of 51.57. Johnson ran the open 400 and competed in the high jump and long jump in addition to the relay throughout the season.

Bryson Darlage was a two-time regional qualifier in the high jump and long jump and was named the outstanding field events person for the season.

“I always knew Bryson was going to get us big points,” Fife said.

Fife also named an outstanding runner, and that plaque went to Brooks, who ran the 800 and 1600 and in the 4×400 and 4×800 relays throughout the season.

Fife also announced Bane, Lucas Jablonski and Sam Baker were academic all-state first team and Rennekamp was honorable mention.

“At practice, we had a lot going on at the same time,” Fife said. “Parents, you should be proud of your sons.”

Fife presented varsity awards to 31 athletes and JV awards to 32 athletes.

Fife said the seven seniors are going to leave some big holes to fill, but “We’ve got a lot returning. I’m excited about next year.”

Fife said this was his 38th year in track, including 20 as head coach of the Owls.