WARSAW — Adversity would not define eventual champions at Thursday’s IHSAA boys track and field regionals.
Namely Elkhart senior Alonzo Newbern, who has known nothing but obstacles his entire life. Literally. He and his twin brother, Alfonzo, were born prematurely at just 24 weeks.
On Thursday, both qualified for the IHSAA state finals Saturday, June 6.
And still, the meet was not what Alonzo Newbern had hoped it would be. In his first race of the evening, he false started in the 100-meter dash and was disqualified.
So, Newbern made up for his disappointment by helping the Lions win the 4×100-meter relay and winning the 200-meter dash.
“I was very upset, but it only put a fire in me,” Newbern said. “I can’t let my team down by my failures, so I still have to go out and run my race. Maybe that was the key to us winning … I’ve been through a lot in my life. I can’t let one thing push me back and set me back further. You have to just keep going. It is what it is.”
With Newbern out of the 100-meter dash, Penn senior Ricky Rutland took advantage and won the sprint himself.
Rutland keeps his motivation close to him. He lost his grandfather six years ago, but his impact is still felt today. Rutland has a cross with his grandfather’s name written on it tattooed on his left lower leg. On his left upper arm above that, Rutland has a tattoo of the hands from Michelangelo’s iconic “Creation of Adam” painting.
Rutland said he dedicates everything in his life to his faith, which he felt propelled him to victory in unique circumstances at regionals.
“It means everything,” Rutland said. “I wrote down on a piece of paper, ‘Win regionals,’ and that’s just a blessing. All glory to God that I was able to come out here and run it.”
South Bend Saint Joseph junior Will Elick may have qualified for state in the 110-meter hurdles, but he walked off the track disappointed in his second-place finish.
As was the evening’s theme, Elick refused to dwell on his first outcome and later won the 300-meter hurdles regional title.
“I used it to fire me up, give me more energy, and pump me up for the race so I could come out here and beat them,” Elick said. “It sucks to lose, and it just fires you up to come race again.”
Although he’s certainly aiming for another crown at North Central High School next week, Elick said he’s already got his eyes set on next season, hoping to capture regional championships in both hurdle races.
The same mentality applies to Mishawaka junior Leon Fowler, who won the long jump regional championship at 23-05 feet. As he hopped to his feet and walked off the sand pit, Fowler could be heard softly telling himself, ‘I’m special.’
“My dad wanted me to say that; My dad is a man of God, so He knew I was capable of doing what I needed to do and getting the job done,” Fowler said. “I know I’m special, and I know I can push my limits to be even better.”
In the bio section of Fowler’s Instagram and X accounts, he proclaims himself the No. 1 long jumper in Indiana. That’s yet to be decided, but his confidence and his genetic abilities may well prove him right.
Forty of Northridge boys track and field’s 72 points at the IHSAA regional championship May 28 came from the Raiders’ four first-place finishes. Senior Harvard commit Baylor Miller was involved in three of them.
In the very first event of the evening, Northridge set a new regional record with its 7:46.92 4×800-meter relay regional championship. The Raiders’ anchor was none other than Miller, and he was just getting started.
Miller finished second in the 1,600-meter run to Westview’s state champion senior Noah Bontrager, but it would only get better for Northridge’s star. He won the 800-meter run, and his only close competition was his twin, Xavier, who finished in second place.
The brothers hugged almost as soon as they crossed the finish line, yet that wasn’t the last time they would share the track Thursday evening. The two were key in Northridge’s first-place finish in the final race of the night, the 4×400-meter relay.
Miller’s efforts, along with a first-place finish by senior Jaden Fisher in the 400-meter dash, helped the Raiders win their first team regional title since 2015. That’s what mattered most for the future Crimson.
“It’s amazing. Winning is fun, but winning with your brother, its next level,” Baylor Miller said. “Mostly, I just try to lead by example. I try and do everything at practice, do the right things at meets, I try to show my teammates that I’m not the only one out there. We’re all setting the standard for our team.”
South Bend area boys track and field state qualifiers from Warsaw regional
110-meter hurdles
Will Elick, Saint Joseph junior (3rd place, 14.57)
100-meter dash
Ricky Rutland, Penn senior (1st place, 10.73)
Alfonzo Newbern, Elkhart senior (2nd place, 10.81)
Tony Carter-Wortham, Mishawaka freshman (3rd place, 10.90)
1,600-meter run
Baylor Miller, Northridge senior (2nd place, 4:16.60)
4×100-meter relay
Elkhart (1st place, 41.59)
Penn (2nd place, 41.68)
Saint Joseph (3rd place, 42.62)
400-meter dash
Jaden Fisher, Northridge senior (1st place, 48.45)
Braden White, Penn junior (3rd place, 48.88)
300-meter hurdles
Will Elick, Saint Joseph junior (1st place, 37.71)
800-meter run
Baylor Miller, Northridge senior (1st place, 1:52.67)
Xavier Miller, Northridge senior (2nd place, 1:53.38)
Caleb Barnanrd, Elkhart Christian Academy senior (3rd place, 1:53.95)
200-meter dash
Alonzo Newbern, Elkhart senior (1st place, 21.47)
4×400-meter relay
Northridge (1st place, 3:20.41)
Penn (2nd place, 3:21.21)
Elkhart (3rd place, 3:22.70)
4×800-meter relay
Northridge (1st place, 7:46.92)
Penn (3rd place, 7:57.74)
Pole Vault
Matt Champlain, Saint Joseph junior (3rd place, 15-03)
Long Jump
Leon Fowler, Mishawaka junior (1st place, 23-05)
Discus Throw
Donovan Arnold, Concord senior (2nd place, 176-06)
Colson Yoder, NorthWood junior (3rd place, 165)
Shot Put
Colson Yoder, NorthWood junior (2nd place, 57-06)
All South Bend area boys track and field state qualifiers from Valparaiso regional
3,200-meter run
Braden Bachmann, New Prairie junior (3rd place, 9:33.46)
High Jump
Preston Scheidt, La Porte junior (2nd place, 6-02)
Long Jump
Destin Matzke, La Porte junior (22-05 feet)
Discus Throw
Malachi Washington, La Porte senior (3rd place, 143-09)
Shot Put
Casey Cochran, La Porte junior (2nd place, 54-10)
Malachi Washington, La Porte senior (3rd place, 52-06.5)
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleSmedley03.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Northridge boys track and field champions at talented IHSAA regional
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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