With state title on line, Veatch tips scale to Carmel

By Bryan Sweitzer for DyeStat

It was going to be a battle.  The Ben Davis and Carmel boys track teams had been duking it out since indoor season, with Carmel coming across with wins at the Hoosier State Relays and the MIC outdoor conference championship.  On Saturday at the Indiana Boys State Championship, it was Carmel once again that got the team win, using big performances from senior Ben Veatch to edge Ben Davis 43-41. Michigan City tied Ben Davis for second place.

Veatch won the 1,600 meters in 4:08.38 and soon after got the double in the 3,200 meters in 8:58.18 scoring a crucial and emotional 20 points for his team. It was Veatch's second straight year as the 3200 champion and it came just a couple of days after his grandmother passed away.

 "I was sort of feeling out laps 5, 6, 7, and I knew I had a lot left to go around Christian (Noble); I just waited and waited and with a lap and a half to go I went," Veatch said.

Pulling off the double win was no walk in the park for Veatch.  In the 1,600, he held a narrow lead on the field coming into the bell lap. Then, Pendleton Heights junior Parker Jones sprinted out to a lead that he held for most of the last lap, with Veatch and Hamilton Southeastern sophomore Gabe Fendel hanging on.  Veatch and Fendel managed to break away in the final 150 and Veatch held on for the win. Fendel still ran 4:09.18, the fastest 1,600 time in the nation among sophomores.

"I thought I might have to lead the whole thing wire to wire, but there were some guys who pushed hard in the middle," Veatch said.

"It was hard getting out, getting a good spot," Fendel said. "On the last lap, Parker Jones flew by, he probably scared Veatch; he for sure scared me! Two hundred to go, Veatch took the lead, and 100 to go it was Veatch and I neck-to-neck. It was a fun race."

Veatch was at the front of the pack for most of the 3,200.  About five laps in, Veatch and Mt. Vernon senior Christian Noble began to distance themselves from the field, and with about 500 meters left, Veatch took off, unofficially running the final lap in 60 seconds.

Veatch will compete in the 3200 at the Brooks PR Invitational in two weeks.

The other star of the day was D'Wayne Eskridge, a senior from Bluffton.  Eskridge defended his 200 meter dash state title from last year, winning in a  time of 21.54. He also won the 100 in 10.51, placed second in the long jump with a jump of 23-8, and ran a leg on his school's 4x100 team, which did not score.

"It's a great feeling, this is a blessing," said Eskridge, who has committed to play football at Western Michigan. Eskridge scored all 28 of Bluffton's team points, putting them at 7th place out of 74 teams represented at state. Bluffton was one of the few schools competing at state with under 500 students. "I was really excited, I get to bring it back to my small hometown; everyone doubted me; 'if you don't go to Ben Davis you're not this or that,' but I did it today."

West Lafayette senior Cooper Williams anchored West Lafayette's 4x800 team to a their second straight state win in 7:44.45, kicking past Westfield anchor Alec Hartman on the final stretch.

"I was happy that Alec Hartman took the lead through the first lap; I just wanted to stick right behind him, he made a hard move at 300 to go and I just tried to stick with him, and at 150 I (told myself) I had it," said Williams on his strategy in the relay.

After splitting 1:52.5 on his anchor leg, Williams won the 800 open in 1:54.03. He also anchored his school's 4 x 400 team, splitting 47.93 (which would have placed second in the 400 open) to lead his team to ninth place. On top of all that, Williams won the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award. Just the day before at the girls state meet, Williams had sung the National Anthem with three of his classmates to honor Christian Burns. Burns was a junior at West Lafayette that would have competed in the 4 x 100 at state Saturday. Tragically, Burns was killed in an early morning car accident May 31. The quartet all wore Burns' number 40 football jersey while singing to honor his memory.

"We did it for Christian Burns," said Williams on the 4x800 team's motivation.

Ben Davis senior Christian Powell defended his state title in the long jump with a jump of 24-2.25. Powell also anchored Ben Davis' winning 4 x 100 team, which ran 41.60.  Teammate Chris Evans, also a senior, placed fourth in the long jump in 22-7.75 and led off the 4x100 team.

"Chris Evans has been jumping with me since 7th grade; we've gone way back. We've gone 1-2 in most of our meets this year, and the rivalry and the teamwork it takes to keep pushing ourselves is second to none," said  Powell on his bond with Evans.  Powell scratched out on a jump that was unofficially measured over 25 feet, but he wasn't disappointed. "I was a little bummed out that it was a foul, but the fact that I know I can do it is enough for me."

Powell will compete in the long jump at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in two weeks.

Michigan City had the top two high jumpers in seniors Daniel Armstrong and ShanQuan Hemphill. Armstrong jumped 7-0 while Hemphill jumped 6-11.

Carmel senior Ryan Lipe won the pole vault in 17-00. Lawrence North senior DuShawn Tunstall came across with the win in the 300 hurdles in a time of 37.59.

For some athletes, the wins and titles were about more than just trophies.

"My grandma passed away a few days ago, and the timing of (state) was well-needed," said Veatch. "(The races) provided a welcome distraction for my family, and I'm glad I could give something for my grandpa to cheer for."