ELKHART — Through the first three legs of the 4×400-meter relay, South Bend Adams narrowly led Penn. Kingsmen senior Zoya Turk eagerly awaited her teammates’ handoff before the final leg, and she exploded off of the line once the baton was in her hand.
A 400-meter run is all about striking the perfect balance between the runner going as fast as they can while making sure they don’t use all of their energy too quickly so they can make it to the finish. Turk executed this plan perfectly, sealing a victory for Penn in 4:08.44.
It capped off another team championship for the Kingsmen at the Northern Indiana Conference championship meet Tuesday, May 12, at Elkhart High School.
“No matter what, for me, on that last 200 [meters], I just have to go,” Turk said. “I tell myself, ‘You have to give it everything; leave no regrets on the track.’”
This win was the last of six out of 16 events for the Kingsmen, helping secure their sixth consecutive NIC meet championship with 145 points. Joining Turk on the 4×400-meter relay team were senior Kami Bauer, junior Quinn Driscoll and freshman Aubrey Pfeiffer.
Other winners for Penn included junior Lila Van Hoveln in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter runs, senior Arianna Balinnang in the 800-meter run, junior Haley Savannah in the discus throw, and the 4×800-meter relay team of Balinnang, senior Gabby Smith, freshman Riley Holland and sophomore Shreya Nayee.
“We are the most well-rounded and deepest we’ve ever been in my eight years here,” head coach Melissa Danner said. “We aren’t relying just on certain events; we’re relying on the entire team to do well. It’s exciting for the girls to see that as a family, we’re able to do this.”
Danner was particularly impressed by Turk’s resilience in the final race. She said Turk has been dealing with a hamstring injury since January, with the discomfort particularly flaring up within the last week. The Kingsmen’s coaching staff had Turk go through most of her workouts in the buildup to the NIC meet in a pool so as to build strength and cardio without wearing as much on her hamstring.
Turk, who was also a standout for Penn’s sectional championship-winning girls soccer team in the fall, said her performance at her last-ever NIC meet helped put the last four years into perspective.
“I’m not running in college, but I love this sport and I want to give it everything I can these last couple of meets,” Turk said. “Going into it my freshman and sophomore years, I thought this was only an individual sport — you have to worry about yourself — but in the relays and even out of the relays, you’re getting support from every single person. As much as people say it’s an individual sport, it’s not. It’s a team sport.”
Elkhart’s Collins even shocks herself with performance
The performances at Rice Field were particularly impressive all-around thanks to a constant rain that, while it produced a rainbow by night’s end, certainly didn’t make things easy on the participants. Elkhart junior Madi Collins didn’t let it get in the way of her making history.
Collins has only been pole vaulting since her freshman season, and in her first-ever event, she made seven feet. Even at last season’s NIC meet, Collins finished at 9-09. A year later, she improved by more than a foot to set an Elkhart record and win the event at 11 feet.
That’s the fourth time this season Collins has set a new school record in the pole vault; pretty good for someone who came into the season just wanting to surpass 10 feet.
“I was not expecting to make it today because it’s such horrible weather,” Collins said. “I’m just amazed I did it. I’ve been wanting this for so long. This is crazy.”
Collins, like many pole vaulters, said almost nothing is going through her head when she’s competing. Aside from pumping herself up before she takes off on the runway or telling herself to get her hips up while in the air, all was calm before she one-upped herself again Tuesday.
Not so much once the new record was official and she came crashing down to the mat.
“I can’t always see the bar, so I was like, ‘Did I make it?’” Collins said. “After I saw it, I was just ecstatic. It was insane.”
Collins’ victory, along with fellow juniors Rylee Drummond and Rosell Robles winning the high jump and 400-meter dash, respectively, and senior Brynlee Jellison winning the shot put, helped the Lions finish in third place with 117 points. Just ahead of them was South Bend Adams with 125.5, highlighted by wins in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash as well as the 4×100-meter relay.
Senior Getsemani Cruz was a part of the latter along with junior Ester Jacobs and sophomores DiMayah Marsh and Jaidyn Kimbrough. Cruz, who was the Eagles’ biggest cheerleader at the NIC meet, said she was always shy to step into a leadership role up until her junior season.
She viewed her teammates as just friends, not people she could potentially motivate. Over the past two seasons, especially her senior campaign in which she has been named the Eagles’ captain, Cruz has conquered her fears and been the most vocal person on the Adams girls track team.
Cruz was even scared to run track in high school to begin with because she knew how big of a jump the competition was going to be from her eighth grade to freshman year. Thanks to urging and support from her coaches and former upper-class teammates, Cruz is a four-year member of the program and integral to an Adams squad that looks to do real damage in the upcoming IHSAA state tournament.
“We have always made sure that we’re all holding each other accountable,” Cruz said. “Coming to practice, giving it 100%, never skipping reps, making sure to stretch, we communicate. We’re just giving it our all.”
Cruz’s mentality was on full display across all eight programs Tuesday evening, helping to form a bond even between rivals.
“That’s what is great about this conference,” Danner said. “We’re not just watching girls from our school; we’re watching all of the girls and excited for everybody’s wins and accomplishments. That’s what’s so fun about a meet like this.”
2026 NIC girls track and field championship meet results
4×800-meter relay: Penn (9:37.35)
100-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, South Bend Washington senior (14.19 seconds)
100-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (12.56 seconds)
4×100-meter relay: Adams (49.64 seconds)
1,600-meter run: Lila Van Hoveln, Penn junior (5:12.18)
400-meter dash: Rosell Robles, Elkhart junior (58.90 seconds)
300-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, Washington senior (44.61 seconds)
800-meter run: Arianna Balinnang, Penn senior (2:23.16)
200-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (25.65 seconds)
3,200-meter run: Lila Van Hoveln, Penn junior (10:59.83)
4×400-meter relay: Penn (4:08.44)
Pole Vault: Madi Collins, Elkhart junior (11 feet)
Discus Throw: Haley Savannah, Penn junior (119-01)
High Jump: Rylee Drummond, Elkhart junior (5-03)
Long Jump: Lydia Goodsell, South Bend Saint Joseph junior (18-06.5)
Shot Put: Brynlee Jellison, Elkhart senior (38-07)
FINAL TEAM SCORES
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at ksmedley@usatodayco.com or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn uses depth to win 2026 NIC girls track and field meet
Reporting by Kyle Smedley, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
