The higher the fiberglass bar was elevated Tuesday evening, the more Kylie Falcone appeared up for the challenge.
In time, what began as an attempt to advance to the State Finals turned dramatic as Falcone, Center Grove’s senior pole vaulter, continued to one-up herself.
Falcone established both a new personal-best and regional standard by clearing 12 feet at the Franklin girls track and field Regional on Tuesday. It was one of three records set on a night where top-ranked Warren Central dominated the team standings with 133.83 points.
Placing a distant second was Franklin Central with 76, while Center Grove took third with 71 points.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryTen of the Trojans points were from the efforts of Falcone, who can’t wait to match her talents against the best vaulters in the state on June 3 at Indiana University.
“It feels so overwhelming,” Falcone said. “I didn’t think I was going to get 12 feet. My goal was that I wanted to get 11-8. It was so incredible, and I just feel so blessed.”
Falcone was one of four Johnson County athletes to win events.
Center Grove freshman Kiyah Yeast took first in the 100-meter dash in 12.18 seconds. The other two local triumphs occurred in field events with Whiteland junior Reagan Emberton winning discus with a best toss of 120 feet, 7 inches, and Greenwood junior Olivia Weston remaining poised to win the high jump.
A state finalist in 2016, Weston missed her first two attempts at 5-2, but convincingly cleared the third to remain in the hunt.
She would go on to win with a personal-best of 5-4¼.
“At 5-2, I was thinking if I didn’t clear it that I wouldn’t advance,” Weston said. “I was pretty nervous, but I think it helped, too. It helped me focus.”
Yeast finished the night a three-time state qualifier as she also took part in Center Grove’s runner-up 400 relay. The same can be said for Trojans junior Haley Goines, also a member of the relay and a second-place finisher in both the long jump and 100 hurdles.
Goines’ best jump was 17-5¾, which placed her behind only Roncalli senior Paige Saylor. In the hurdles, Goines’ time was 14.93 seconds. She also came close to advancing in the high jump, placing seventh with a best effort of 5-1.
“I was pretty confident coming into the hurdles,” Goines said. “It’s after the 4×100 that if I’m not done with long jump or high jump, that’s where I worry about my energy level.”
Along with Yeast and Goines on the 4×100 relay for Center Grove were senior Allison Utterback and sophomore Julia Riley. This foursome combined to run a time of 48.68 seconds.
Greenwood junior Hanna Anderson punched her ticket for a trip to the State Finals in the 400 by placing third. Likewise Center Grove senior Val Clark in the 1,600-meter run. Also third was Whiteland’s Michaela Adams in the discus and her Warriors teammate, Chloe Sanders, in the pole vault.
