Pleasant's Nick Swartz sets school record at the Marion County Track Meet

CALEDONIA — Nick Swartz ran as fast as he could with fingers crossed.

"I wanted to break 9:49 because that’s our school record. I hope I got it," the Pleasant senior said after stepping off the track in the boys 3200-meter run during Wednesday's venerable Marion County Track and Field Meet at River Valley, an event that goes well beyond the consolidation years of the early 1960s.

More photos from the county meet: Gallery: Marion County's four schools compete in the field at River Valley on Wednesday

More track and field coverage: River Valley's Eva Moran sets pole vault mark during Marion Night Invitational

Swartz needed to break 9:49, so he ran a 9:48.99 to get it by a fingernail. As for the race, there was no drama over the eight laps as he won by 43 seconds over his closest rival.

"This is definitely good. I was alone for much of the race," he said. "I definitely think I have a little more in me for 1600s. I’m not quite there just yet, but for districts and regionals I should be there."

Swartz enjoyed a breakthrough season last year in advancing to the state meet in Division III, but he's feeling further along than he did in 2023.

"I definitely feel like I’m in better shape than I was in last year," he said. "Since I’ve had the experience in the postseason, I’m going to be more acclimated to those higher (level) races, and I should respond to them well."

The county meet is a final tune-up before the season gets serious. League meets will be held next week followed by districts, then regionals and state.

"I’m feeling pretty strong in both events," Swartz said of the 1600 and 3200. "I want to go out and win conference and hopefully make state in two events this year. I’m trying to become more diverse in my events. I just don’t want to be a good 1600 runner. I want to have a good 3200 and 800 in those events."

RV's Gabe Douce equally excited

Like Swartz, River Valley senior Gabe Douce is looking forward to the next month.

"Just do our thing and get the business done. It’s going to be fun going into these last few meets," Douce said of his mindset.

A middle distance specialist in the past, he has diversified his approach this spring, adding the high jump as well as some sprints and relays to the mix. On Wednesday as an individual, he won the boys 800 in 2:01.08 and the high jump at 5 feet, 8 inches.

"This weather has been a big issue," he said. "We ran at the Marion Night Invitational (on Friday), and that was our first good opportunity to get out (in decent conditions). It was a little windy today, but I executed my plan in the race, and it went perfectly."

Team scores

It was a close battle between the hosts and Pleasant in both boys and girls meets.

River Valley's girls edged the Spartans 82-80, buoyed by the 1-2 finish by Erica Mason and and Madison Lust in the next-to-last event with the 3200, clocking 13:01.06 and 13:09.2 respectively. Pleasant won the final event with a 4:32.38 in the 4x400-meter relay, but RV finished second in 4:39.31 to earn the overall first-place trophy.

On the boys side, RV got by Pleasant 102-94.

Ridgedale's girls nipped Elgin for third place 44-43, while Elgin's boys were third with 32 points as Ridgedale picked up 25 points.

Multi-winners

Douce wasn't the only Viking who picked up multiple victories on Wednesday. Madison Ward swept the throws, winning the discus in 110 feet, 9 inches and the shot put in 33-0.25.

"We’ve been working a lot on form and technique in practice. I need help with that at the end with just finishing and having my feet in the right place and pushing," Ward said.

In the boys throws, RV's Ethan Lyon won each, taking the shot put in 56-9 and the discus in 158-8. River Valley's Eva Moran won the 200 in 28.36 and the pole vault at 11 feet.

Pleasant's Hudson Warner was a quarter-inch from being a triple individual winner. He took both boys hurdles, winning the 110s in 16.18 and the 300s in 42.57. He was second behind Ronnie Newman of Elgin's 19-5.75 in the long jump.

Also from Pleasant, Casey Kimball was first in the 800 in 2:35.83 and the 1600 in 5:49.4. For Elgin, Addison Holland won the girls high jump in 4-10 and the 100 in 13.49.

Other winners

For girls, Elgin's Madelynn Casey won the 400 in 1:08.71, Ridgedale's Maddie McKenzie the 100 hurdles in 16.84, Pleasant's Taydon Obenour the 300 hurdles in 49.19 and Elgin's Delainy Boles in the long jump at 15-4.25. River Valley won the 4x800 in 11:15.42 and 4x200 in 1:56.01, and Elgin took the 4x100 in 54.75.

For boys, RV's Zeke Klenzman won the 100 in 11.94, RV's Ian Burns the 200 in 23.93, Pleasant's Will Lichtenberger the 400 in 53.29 (just 0.06 ahead of Ridgedale's Evan Ricketts), RV's Chase Osborne the 1600 in 4:42.95 and RV's Cooper Miller the pole vault at 14-6. The Vikings earned the 4x100 in 45.9 and 4x200 in 1:35.7, while the Spartans earned the 4x400 in 3:44.46 and the 4x800 in 8:51.57.

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Pleasant's Nick Swartz sets school record at the Marion County Track Meet