Columbus East High School

The Columbus East track and field teams lit up their home track—affectionately known as "The Fire Pit"—on Tuesday evening, turning in a dominant performance against visiting squads from Shelbyville and Southwestern Shelbyville. Girls Team Highlights- The East girls put together an impressive string of victories across the board, led by Claire Behnke, who sprinted to first place in the 100-meter dash (13.48), and Carsyn Schlehuser, who took gold in the 200-meter dash (27.39) and tied for second in high jump (4’6”). Kai Scott was electric in the hurdles, winning both the 100-meter (17.45) and 300-meter (50.73) events. Teammate Ainsley Shaw wasn’t far behind, finishing second in both. The Olympians were all in for the distance events. Madison Swartzentruber claimed first in the 1600 (5:59.75) and second in the 800 (2:42.00), while Elizabeth Sztaba cruised to a win in the 3200 (14:08.49). The girls relay teams were flawless, sweeping all three relays: 4x100 (55.79) 4x400 (4:23.58) 4x800 (12:05.29) In the field events, Sophie Glick won high jump(4’6”) and contributed in long jump, while Grace McMahan had a massive day, taking first in both the discus (113-3) and shot put (30-2.5). She was followed closely by Kendall Chapple and Isabella Leonard, who also placed in both throws. Boys Team Highlights The East boys were equally dominant, racking up victories in nearly every event. Kadyn Johnson-Bey sprinted to gold in the 100-meter dash (11.43), and Austin Menefee crushed the 400 meters with a first-place time of 51.52. In distance events, East swept the **800 meters with a 1-2-3 finish led by Liam Witsey (2:18.90), followed by Cullen Fullerton and Eli Ostrom. Chance Knapp and Maddox Hult placed second and third, respectively, in the 1600 meters. The boys relay squads brought the heat: 4x100 (45.15) 4x400 (3:35.26) 4x800 (9:17.45) Keaton Lawson stood out in the field, winning both the high jump (5’10”) and long jump (17’11”). Jared Brooks was a powerhouse in the throws, taking gold in discus (138-8) and shot put (44-11), with Evan Simo close behind in second in the shot put (44-4). In hurdles, Isaac Fields and Henry Eickmeyer finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 110-meter hurdles, with Eickmeyer also placing second in the 300-meter hurdles. Beyond the top finishers, the meet showcased East’s incredible depth. Athletes like Grace McMahan, Emma Christie, Ronan Maier**, Zeke Weatherford, and Zach Foster all scored valuable points across a wide range of events. From throws to sprints to distance races, the Olympians had strong showings at every level. Up Next- Columbus East will look to build on this performance as they continue their season. The boys and girls head to HHC opponent, the Jennings County Panthers, on Thursday, April 17th. Meet time: 5 p.m.