By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Did anyone watch the fascinating viral video of the teen turkey hunter in Wisconsin who discovered an adult bobcat, stalking and poising to pounce, just a few feet behind him? When the cat lunged, it got a souvenir piece of the teen’s arm before taking off.
Bedford North Lawrence distance runner Eli McFarland was the bobcat on the track Tuesday night. He stalked, he pounced, clawed past his target and took off to win the most interesting race of the meet with Jennings County and Edgewood.
The Stars won seven events, including McFarland’s strategic win in the grueling 3200 meter race, but BNL couldn’t overcome Jennings County’s speed depth as the Panthers scored 70 points to clip the Stars (59) and Mustangs (33) in the boys meet. In the girls meet, Edgewood dominated with 80 points, followed by Jennings (55) and BNL (27).
In the 3200, the lead pace was set by Jennings County’s Cash Summers, who took command early. McFarland settled in right behind him, and that duo pulled away to a two-man duel. Summers took the lead, but for five laps in the eight-lap grind, McFarland lurked a step behind on the right flank, allowing Summers to act as a windbreaker.
Finally, on the backstretch of the final lap, McFarland made his move, zipping around and pulling way to win in 10:22.21.
“I was sitting on him, seeing if he was tired, and made a move,” McFarland said. “That’s what I like to do. I was watching for signs of weakness. I sat behind him and let him do the work for me, let him do the dirty work to block the wind, set the tempo.
“I knew it was my race. I never believed it was not my race. I believed I could win.”
“He’s been our strongest distance runner all year,” BNL coach Brett Deckard said. “And he’s getting stronger and stronger.”
BNL’s other victories were double-duty champs. Tripp Stahl took the discus (157-10) and shot put (50-6), while Luke Morris sailed to wins in the 110 high hurdles (15.65) and 300 low hurdles (42.72). Ben Conner also won twice, taking the long jump (18-9.5) and high jump (5-6).
”The solid ones are doing what they’re supposed to,” Deckard said. “With the competition level of those teams, that’s not bad. Jennings is strong in places we’re not. All in all, the kids did pretty well.”
In the girls meet, BNL’s lone victory was posted by Paige Voigtschild, who cruised to the line in the 400 in 1:01.44. She’s normally a fixture in the longer races, but she chose to add the tough 400 to her lineup card.
“She wanted to do it,” BNL coach Jason Webb said. “Now we don’t know what the plan looks like in the future. She wanted to try four things in the sectional last year and ran out of gas. But she runs hard. She has the heart to do it.”
Points were precious for the Stars. Alaina Fish was second in the high jump, Madison Chandler was third in the 1600 and 3200, Voigtschild was third in the 800, Avery Brown was third in the pole vault, Emma Heinzman took third in the long jump, Clara Lumpe was third in the discus, and Madalyn Mason was third in the shot put.
”Those are teams we will see in the future,” Webb said. “We were not at full strength, but you still have to compete.”
BNL will compete in the Seymour Invitational on April 28.
BNL, Jennings, Edgewood results
