Franklin County track and field earned a fourth place (boys – 64.33) and seventh place (girls – 38.5) at the Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference championships hosted by South Dearborn last Tuesday … but that wasn't the full story, according to head coach Joe Davidson.

“Our goal this year was to continue to improve and break personal records,” he said. “In doing that, we were able to earn some conference championships.”

Junior Christian Stortz asserted himself as one of the league's best sprinters by capturing both the 200 and 400-meter dashes.

“Christian stormed onto the scene this season,” said his coach. “After missing his freshman (Covid canceled) and sophomore (injury) seasons, he's been itching to prove himself as FC's next great sprinter. Tuesday was his turn.”

Stortz got separation from Batesville's Eli Pierson before the halfway point of the 400 and cruised to the win with a PR of 51.37 seconds, just off the school record. Pierson came in at 52.18.

Pierson was the favorite in the 200 and had defeated Stortz earlier in the spring. “(Revenge) talk is cheap … to do it is much, much more difficult,” Davidson added.

Stortz was quick out of the blocks and held off Pierson by a fraction, 22.81-22.83. His 22.77 time in the preliminary race ranks 4th all-time at FC.

The first event of the night was boys long jump. Senior Jacob Schatzle has been dominating this event for about as long as he's been doing track, won the EIAC last year and made the state finals last spring.

His coaches were concerned due to Jacob's coming off a nagging injury. They should have feared not. Schatzle needed just one leap to win the event, his 20 feet, 9.25 inches clearly ahead of Rushville's Carter Tague (20-2.5). Anticipating the win, the FC staff passed Jacob on the remainder of his jumps.

In the 100, Schatzle won the prelims, but an injury slowed him in the finals to 4th place (11.39). Greensburg's Matthew Stewart won in 11.2.

Over in the high jump arena, senior Chad Cox decided it was his turn for the hardware. But it took some work.

Lawrenceburg sophomore Kasey Sharpshair matched Chad jump for jump until Cox cleared 6’ 4” on his first try. Kasey scratched three times from there and Chad was crowned the champ. Not done yet, Cox had the option to choose his next height. He cleared 6-5 in two jumps, then moved to 6-7 – which would establish an EIAC record held since 1983. Chad had been just one of five in the state to clear the mark this year.

Anticipation building, “Chad left no doubt and cleared it 'easy'”, according to Davidson. Record in tow, Cox had a few tries at 6-9 but tipped the bar each time.

Jenna Bruns was runner-up in high jump (5 ft.) and Ella Flannery tied for 6th (4-6). Harmon Marshall was 6th in the 800 and Owen Harvey 7th. Phoenix Simons took 5th in 300 hurdles and 7th in 110 hurdles (17.8). Dalton Ward tied for 8th in high jump (5-4). Madison Merritt was 7th in the 200. Audrey Harper was 3rd in long jump (14-0.5) and 8th in the 100 (13.66). Esther George was 7th in the 400 (1:05.56) and Kamryn Dozier 8th (1:06.62). The 4x100 girls team of Harper, Flannery, Merritt and Emma Rosenberger was 3rd (51.8). Kaitlyn Brunemann was 8th in discus. Rosenberger was 4th in long jump (13-10).

Other PRs: Pierre Demol- 100 (12.19); Merritt- 200 (27.69); George- 200 (28.75); Ha. Marshall- 800 (2:09.98; 4th at FC); Harvey- 800 (2:11.71); Alyssa Rapp- 100 hurdles (20.17); Simons- 300 hurdles (45.35), discus (113’ 11”); Audrey Weaver- 300 hurdles (54.90); Clayton Bolser- shot put (37’ 2”), discus (112’ 7”); Brunemann- discus (88’ 2”); Cole Freese- pole vault (9’ 0”).

Girls sectional was Tuesday (results not available). The boys go to East Central Thursday for their tourney.