By GREG KEIM
Most members of the Northridge High School boys track and field team were not yet born the last time the Raiders won a Northern Lakes Conference championship in the sport.
The Raiders, paced by double winner senior Seth Virgil, totaled 143 points to win their first ever meet championship and its first NLC title since 1990 Tuesday night at Warsaw High School.
Concord was second at 97, followed by Plymouth 91, Elkhart Memorial 88, Goshen 60, Warsaw 59, NorthWood 45 and Wawasee 39.
“The margin of victory was a lot more than I thought it would be,” Northridge coach Ryan McClane said. “I had this figured to be a 7 to 10 point meet. But we came in and performed.
“The NLC meet is one of our main focuses of the season and the guys really wanted it.”
Virgil finished first in both the 400-meter dash (48.82) and long jump (22-0). His time in the 400 broke of the Northridge record of 49.64 by Shin in 1996.
“Coach McClane wanted this so bad. I’m glad we were able to give it to him,” Virgil said.
“It’s a great feeling to be the first Northridge team to win the conference. This team has a lot of depth. We have more guys coming out for the sport. We have had some success and now more kids want to be part of the program.”
Also winning events for Northridge were senior Mitchel Keyser 800 (1:56.57), senior Jordan Hofman discus (158-11) and sophomore Malcolm Thurmond high jump (6-1). Senior Andrew Albert, sophomore Trevor Moore, senior Jake Meier and Keyser captured the 4 x 800 relay (7:59.77).
“Just like we have been most of the season our team was very balanced tonight,” McClane said. “Field events are an area Northridge has never really been known for, but tonight we were strong in those events. Everyone who competed in the field events for us is a reason why we won the meet.”
Other area winners were NorthWood senior Danzele Johnson in the 100 (11.57) and Concord sophomore Anthony Yoder in the 300 hurdles (40.00).
Goshen was led by its 4 x 800 relay foursome of junior Austin Hodge, senior Clark Warner, sophomore Tyler Wynn and senior Cameron Miller who were second in 8:02.71. Senior Thomas Gingrich was the runner-up in discus (149-9) and sophomore Aaron Krabill in pole vault (13-8).
“It was a good night for the Redskins,” Goshen coach Brock Maust said. “Our seniors gave us great leadership. Miller did well in the 4 x 800 relay, placed fourth in the 1,600 (4:31.35), fifth in the 800 (2:01.22) and just ran a 50.0 split on the 4 x 400 relay passing three teams in the closing meters.
“Krabill had a good night in pole vault, Gingrich in discus and (sophomore) Brian VanHook in the high hurdles (seventh in 16.98).”
Memorial senior Peter Roach set the only meet record in pole vault with an effort of 15-3.
