INDIANAPOLIS — Danville senior Collin Bumgardner stood at the top of the podium as the 200-meter dash state medal dangled from his neck.
He radiated championship glow during his post-win photo op, occupying space reserved for the state’s best for the second time that night.
No one, besides his true believers, could’ve seen this coming.
The Indiana State commit placed eighth out of the 10 qualifying times in the 100 prelims (10.85) before he blazed to first place on the outside lane of the finals with a time of 10.58 (the state meet record is 10.31).
After Bumgardner placed fourth in the prelims, he took home the first-place crown with a time of 21.15 in the 200 meters.
“I thought the 200 was within reach, but the 100 took me by surprise for sure,” Bumgardner said. “Obviously (winning state), is always the goal but what I was expecting was not winning both.”
Bumgardner proved to be the best sprinter in the state. He plucked two state titles from the well-known favorites and carved his own name into the state history books.
His postseason until Saturday made him an underdog. He placed sixth in the 100 at regionals, turning in a state-qualifying time of 10.81. That ranked 18th among all state qualifiers entering the grand stage.
Come Saturday, Bumgardner answered the call. He edged out Hammond Morton sophomore Michael Walker Jr. (10.65) and Jeffersonville senior Elijah Cheeks (10.69), and other speedsters, for the top spot in the 100 finals.
After he took fourth place in the 200 prelims and an ensuing weather delay allowed him to refuel, he laced his spikes back up and outran the opposition in the finals.
“He’s one of the most driven kids that I’ve ever been around,” said Danville coach Andy Wise. “He watches what he eats, makes sure he gets plenty of sleep. He’s always hydrated. He takes care of all the little things that many teenagers skate by on a lot of the time. He’s just really attentive to all those kind of details.
“You can’t be the best sprinter without being blessed with talent … the work Collin puts in is unmatched. I think that’s why he’s here today.”
It’s safe to assume that Saturday’s crowd saw the best version of Bumgardner on the oval. He felt like he didn’t hit his stride when it mattered most last year — a mistake that he wasn’t going to pay for as a senior.
Last season, he qualified for state in the 100 and placed 31st as a junior. He didn’t qualify in the 200 meters. That paled in comparison to what Bumgardner cooked up in his final IHSAA races this season.
“Last year, I peaked way too early and then I just plummeted from sectionals all the way through nationals,” Bumgardner said. “I tried my best this year to peak around state and nationals.”
Bumgardner, who will compete at Nike Outdoor Nationals later this month, achieved superstar status at state. His club work over the last few years with Coach Sho (Aboshioma Obemeata) of ATA Ignite paid dividends.
His goal was to beat the 200 state record but achieved a time that warrants respect.
He was happy either way.
His champ-champ status is an accomplishment rooted in discipline. He stepped up when the lights were the brightest and the competition was turned up a notch. His workhorse mentality led him to the promise land of Indiana track and field.
“I knew I had potential (in the 100-meter dash),” Bumgardner said. “I eased up at regionals. I knew I had something in me. I did not think I was getting first, but overall I thought it was a pretty good start.”
Brownsburg sets new state record in the 4×100-meter relay
Brownsburg’s Emmanuel Armstrong, Jordan Redmon, Kingston Thompson and Jaxson Pierson called their shot in the 4×100-meter relay at state.
Powered by a season-long manifestation, the Bulldogs claimed a state record time of 40.60. That beat their old state-meet record of 40.70, which was set in 2023.
Brownsburg’s vision of success met reality.
“We have a lot of speed at Brownsburg,” said Brownsburg coach Casey Popenfoose. “There’s probably no one around that practices that event as much as we do. We care tremendously about that event. We pour a lot into it, so our kids should believe in themselves.
“Not cocky, but confident. Speak it into existence. That’s our big thing. Put a number out there, we’re going to go get that number.”
Saturday’s win marked the third time in the last five years that the Bears won the 4×100. It was their first win in the event since 2023.
What’s even more impressive is the fact that Armstrong, a sophomore, was inserted into the 4×100 in place of an injured Deji Adesoji, the usual lead-off runner who strained his hamstring last week.
Armstrong placed seventh in the 100-meter dash before he helped lead the 4×100 team in victory.
“It was his first time running that event probably in two months, so for him to lead us off and for us to run 40.60 is really awesome,” Popenfoose said. “We have a lot of speed on the west side of Indianapolis.”
Armstrong, Redmon, Thompson and Pierson took sole position of the state’s No. 1 time in the 4×100, which is the product of their grind, hustle and self-belief on the oval.
Champions are crowned in Unified track and field meet
Before the start of the boys state track meet, the Unified track and field meet took center stage at North Central on Saturday.
Penn, who took home the team title, repeated as state champion in the girls 4×100-meter relay. The quartet of Payten Blatz, Alina Blackwell, Lillian McMillen and Mollianne Snyder clocked in a time of 56.40. Carson Bryce, Robert Shelton, Jarvis Banner-Saurel and Braylon Morris took home the boys 4×100 for South Bend Adams.
Fishers junior Aaron Schooley won gold in the mixed 100-meter dash (11.46), while Elhart junior Samarcus Gipson won the mixed 400 at 52.80. Gipson edged Schooley (53.94) in the event.
Caleb Milner, a Fishers junior, secured gold in the mixed long jump (20-03.75), while Carroll senior Brenden Koons earned a first-place throw of 57-06.25 in the mixed shot put.
Notes
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Danville senior Collin Bumgardner springs upset, wins double state title in sprints
Reporting by Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Marc Ray, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
