Bloomington South dominates IHSAA sectional with record-breaking performance

The Bloomington South girls track team secured the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) sectional title on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, in Bloomington. The Panthers scored 207.5 points, defeating Bloomington North (116.5) and Edgewood (103.5). Bloomington South won nine individual events and swept all relay events, breaking five meet records and one school record. Key performances included Ellie Barada setting a school record in the 1,600 metres and winning the 800 metres, Adriene Shaevitz winning the 100 and 300 metre hurdles, and Helena Cutshall winning the 100 metre dash and long jump. The top three finishers in each event and those meeting state standards advanced to the regional championships.

The meet was interrupted by lightning on Tuesday, with the Panthers resuming competition on Wednesday, 20 May. Ellie Barada set a new school record in the 1,600 metres (4:43.73) and won the 800 metres (2:11.86). Adriene Shaevitz won the 100 metre hurdles (meet record 14.05) and the 300 metre hurdles (46.46). Helena Cutshall won the 100 metre dash (12.59) and the long jump (16-10½), overcoming previous knee and back injuries. Jasmine Martoglio won the 3,200 metres in a meet record time of 10:38.70.

Edgewood senior Macey Crider won the shot put (38-2) in addition to finishing second in the 100 metre dash and anchoring the second-place 4x100 relay team. Edgewood also secured titles in discus (Mikayla Prater) and pole vault (Ella LaRoche). Bloomington North’s sole individual sectional champion was sophomore Lucah Feagans in the 400 metres (59.96). Eastern Greene’s 4x800 relay team broke the school record to finish third.

Coach Jill Rensink highlighted contributions from freshmen Reese Robertson (high jump winner) and Claire Hill, as well as sophomore Edith Long. The team’s victory was marked by nine individual event wins and a sweep of all relay events, resulting in five meet records and one school record being broken. The meet was briefly interrupted by lightning on Tuesday, with competition resuming on Wednesday. Advancement to the regional championships is determined by finishing in the top three of each event or meeting state standards.

Bloomington South’s dominance was evident in their point total, which surpassed the previous sectional record of 189 set by North in 2019. The Panthers went 1-2 in five events, including the 800 metres and 1,600 metres where Barada and junior Lexi Kollbaum finished first and second respectively. The team’s relay squads also set meet records in the 4x400 metres (3:59.09) and 4x100 metres (48.38), while the 4x800 metres team finished in 9:21.27.

Edgewood’s performance was anchored by Crider’s versatility, as she managed to compete in multiple events despite scheduling conflicts. Coach Kyle Walter noted that Crider’s success in the shot put was a recent development, spurred by a recommendation from assistant coach Scott Fischer. Edgewood’s other champions, Prater and LaRoche, also delivered strong performances in wet conditions, with Prater throwing 127-8 in the discus and LaRoche clearing 10-0 in the pole vault.

Bloomington North’s results were led by Feagans’ victory in the 400 metres and strong showings from Sophie Winkle and Ashley Greer. Winkle, a sophomore, improved significantly in the long jump, securing a second-place finish and likely advancement to regionals. North also saw progress from junior Ashley Greer, who placed second in both the shot put and discus, and junior Jossilyn Draughn, who finished third in the 200 metres.

Other teams in the sectional included Brown County, Martinsville, Eastern Greene, and Owen Valley. Eastern Greene’s 4x800 relay team broke their school record to take third, while Owen Valley’s 4x400 relay team finished third in their event. Martinsville’s Laura Barco secured third-place finishes in both the 800 and 1,600 metres. The top three finishers in each event, along with those meeting state standards, will advance to the regional championships next week.