By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Blue was the color of the night. Bedford North Lawrence, paced by senior Makena Moore’s two individual wins and comeback performance during the anchor leg of the final relay, collected eight blue ribbons.
For a team short on numbers but not on talent, that was an impressive haul of hardware.
While the Stars dominated at the finish line, Eastern Greene displayed superior depth as the Thunderbirds (66 points) clipped BNL (57) and Springs Valley (30) during Thursday’s three-team girls meet.
BNL won the boys meet, scoring 64 points to edge the Blackhawks (60) and Eastern (37).
Moore flashed her brilliance in the 400-meter race, winning in 1:04.82, and during the last lap of the 1600 relay, when she took over facing a considerable deficit and roared down the final straight to catch and pass her Eastern competitor. Moore also won the high jump at 4-10.
“Makena is just an awesome athlete,” BNL coach Jim Lewis said. “She puts her mind to anything and she does it. A lot of times, she’s her own worst enemy, she reaches a plateau and thinks she’s terrible. Then she comes out of it. She always does.”
Moore and the Stars won the 1600 relay in 4:33.75.
BNL added wins from Lindley Steele (13.21 in the 100), Autumn Spence (6:01.05 in the 1600), Grace Tanksley (13:39.29 in the 3200), Kalyn Ritz (6-6 in the pole vault) and Autumn Hall (100-2 in the discus). That’s getting the most from the least.
“With what we have right now, five girls are injured and three of them are out, that puts us down to seven girls who can run 400 and below,” Lewis said. “So they all have to step up. I’m proud of the fact these girls are coming together and still doing well.”
Eastern’s Anna Tieman was a double winner, taking the 200 (27.70) and the long jump (16-0).
In the boys meet, the Stars swept the relays for huge points to offset Valley’s superior speed in the sprints and longer distances. Those three victories accounted for half of BNL’s blue ribbons.
“We’re getting better,” BNL coach Brett Deckard said. “Every time they run, they get a little better and learn a little more.”
BNL’s Zane Thompson won the 400 (53.94) and anchored the victorious 1600 relay (3:42.76). Stephen Carter took the 110 high hurdles (16.38) and Brecken Helsley won the shot put (38-10 1/2). Isaac Williams had a productive night (second in the 800 and key contributions in the relays).
”They ended the night on a positive note,” Deckard said of the final race. “That’s why that race is one of the biggest of the night. Isaac had a great night, with three gutsy races in hard races.”
Valley’s Connor Grimes won the 100 (11.42) and 200 (23.04), and freshman Alan Marshall was fantastic in the 1600 (5:05.34) and 3200 (10:42.20).
The Stars will return to action on Tuesday at Edgewood.
