Irby blitzes sprints for third straight year

By Bryan Sweitzer for DyeStat

Lynna Irby's performance at the Indiana Girls State Track meet would seem incredible to most. Yet to her, it was all routine.

Irby, a junior at Pike, won the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes at state for the third straight year, tying her own meet record in the 100 with a time of 11.50. She ran 23.53 in the 200 and 53.71 in the 400.

"I told myself to shut it down and save it for the 400 but I saw (Warren Central senior Bryeana Byrdsong) right behind me. She definitely pushed me. Hopefully next year I can get the all-time state record," said Irby on running the 100.  Byrdsong finished second in the 100 in 11.80. The state record is 11.46.

Irby also anchored her 4x400 team from the back of the pack to a second place finish. Irby has won 10 state titles in total, including a team state title last year.  She will compete at New Balance Outdoor Nationals in two weeks.

"My team worked so hard this year, I felt like I owed it to them to give it my all," said Irby on her anchor leg.

 Pendleton Heights senior Alex Buck used a strong kick to edge Carmel senior Stacy Morozov in the 3200 meter run, running 10:28.97.  Buck and Morozov were in a pack of eight girls that led the majority of the race, but with about 600 meters to go it was those two that began to separate themselves from the pack. Morozov took the lead at the bell lap and stayed out front until 100 to go, where Buck powered past her to claim victory.  win was years in the making for Buck. After missing last track season to injury, she had a strong cross country season, finishing 32rd at Nike Cross Nationals. However,  at the state meet she collapsed on the final stretch, falling from second to 70th.  Her win Friday was her first state title.

"This is a dream come true, it's surreal, it's the Lord's hand at work," said an emotional Buck after the race. "I just wanted to be smooth and strong, and I said 'you can hang with anyone for seven and a half laps.' With about 300 to go, I was thinking '(Morozov) is hammering; stick with her, stick with her,' until the last turn; I'm so glad (how it turned out)."

Homestead senior Grace Walther got a big win in the 1600 meter run,  kicking past Avon junior Taylor Nicholson in the final 50 meters to get the win in 4:48.68.  Nicholson, who had led most of the race, ran 4:49.23.

"My goal was 72, 73 (per lap); I brought it home the last 400, so I'm pretty happy with that win," said Walther, who has committed to Indiana University to run next year. "I was just thinking 'drop the hammer,' and hug the rail," she added on closing on the final stretch. Walther also ran 2:12 in the 800 meter run, good enough for third.

Pike had another solid performance from senior Sandra Brown, who won the pole vault in 12-9. The Penn 4x800 team got a big win in 9:01.41, the fourth fastest time in state history. The scariest part about that? All runners from that team are returning next year.  Second place Noblesville ran 9:05.78, and they also return all their runners next year. Portage junior Victoria Farley won the shot put for the second straight year with a throw of 46-11.75.

Warren Central used depth in the sprints and big wins in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays to get the team victory with 70 points. Pike was second with 48 points.