FORTVILLE—In one week, Pendleton Heights senior Parker Jones will return to Mt. Vernon High School to begin his quest for a state championship. After this week’s performance in the Hoosier Heritage Conference track meet, he looks to be hitting his stride at the right time.
Jones collected three wins — and three HHC meet records — to lead the Arabians to a strong second-place finish in the boys’ final meet before next Thursday’s sectional.
New Palestine won the meet with 132.50 points, while Pendleton Heights finished with 118 — nine better than third-place Shelbyville.
But this night belonged to Jones.
Jones ran the 800-meter run in a new record (1:56.81), nearly five seconds better than runner-up Samuel Voelz of New Palestine, who edged Arabian senior Wren Parker for second.
Jones then knocked nearly a half-second off the record in the 1,600, a record that had stood for 364 days, when he ran a 4:18.90.
Christian Noble of Mt. Vernon had established what turned out to be a short-lived meet mark at the 2016 meet.
Jones held off teammate sophomore Luke Upton by just under two seconds for the win.
Upton would have his moment late in the meet when he collected a win in the 3,200. His time of 9:41.84 was seven seconds better than Caleb Eagleson of New Palestine.
Jones then returned to the track for the 4×400. Once again, the record was established in 2016 by Delta, but the Pendleton Heights runners obliterated the old mark, running a 3:27.12 which was nearly seven seconds faster than last year’s record. Jones ran the anchor leg and his brother, sophomore Milan, ran the opening leg. In between, junior Thomas Quiroga and sophomore Eli Pancol helped Parker pick up his third record-setting win of the night.
Arabian senior Dawson Farrer gave the Arabians their fifth and most convincing win of the night in the discus throw.
Farrer’s winning throw of 146 feet 2 inches was 18 feet better than his nearest competitor, Josh Rawls of Delta. Farrer also claimed third place in the shot put.
Other Arabian individuals with strong placings include; senior Brody Hogan with a third place in the 300 hurdles; Pancol with third in the high jump; and senor Payton Huth second in the pole vault.
The Pendleton Heights 4×800 relay team of sophomores Seth Leicht, Jayden Wenning and Caleb Martin, and senior Nolan Cauley, added a third-place finish.
The Arabians will return to Mt. Vernon Thursday for sectional.
