Indy Star

 

By Michael Pointer

While the Center Grove High School boys and girls continue to dominate the Johnson County track scene on a team level, Wednesday's county meet could be considered Indian Creek freshman Katie Wise's coming out party.

Running in her first outdoor high school meet, Wise won the 100 meters (12.55 seconds) and 200 (27.84 seconds) in clear but cool conditions at Franklin High School. She earned female athlete of the meet honors.

"I knew she was fast," said Indian Creek coach Rose Moore. "I knew way back in sixth or seventh grade she was high-school fast."

Wise didn't run as an eighth-grader because of a hip injury. She hadn't run outdoors on the high school level because nearly every Indian Creek meet has been canceled because of inclement weather.

Turns out it didn't matter much. Moore noted Wise's time in the 200 broke a school record set in 1988.

"I'm interested to see what she can do when the weather turns warm," Moore said.

"When you watch her run, she's really tight. We're doing a lot of flexibility stuff with her because she's so tight. If you watch her run, she doesn't strike you as fast because of that until you look back and see everyone behind her."

Wise also ran on two second-place relay teams.

Center Grove, as expected, easily won its sixth consecutive team title with 221 points. Arielle Knafel won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles and ran on the winning 400 relay team. Katy Watson won the shot put and discus.

In the 3,200, state cross-country champion Sarah Higgens of Center Grove won in a meet record 11:13.54.

In the 1,600, Franklin's Lyndsey Wall beat longtime Center Grove rivals Shelbi Burnett and Higgens to win in 5:15.18.