Area track and field teams turned in dominant performances at the Champaign County Championships, with West Liberty-Salem High School sweeping both the boys and girls team titles in impressive fashion.
The Tigers showcased depth, speed, and balance across events to secure convincing victories on both sides.
West Liberty-Salem Boys – 1st Place (143 points)
West Liberty-Salem’s boys squad controlled the meet from start to finish, nearly doubling the score of runner-up Urbana (70) while placing athletes across sprints, distance races, relays, and field events.
Leading the way were multiple first-place finishes, including Taryn Bradley in the 110 hurdles (15.50), Sam Kidd in both the 100 (11.17) and 200 (23.20), and Garrett Wallen in the 1600 (4:53.16). Owen Hardwick added another win in the 800 (2:02.96).
The Tigers were also dominant in relays, capturing the 4×200 title with Jackson Henry, Kidd, Bradley, and Tanner Myers in 1:33.62.
West Liberty-Salem added a strong collection of runner-up finishes to build separation in the team standings. Tanner Myers (100), Gauge Lee (1600), and Jake Lauck (400) each placed second, while the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams also secured second-place points. Field events contributed as well, with Casey Boyer (high jump) and Lucas Merriman (pole vault) both finishing second.
Depth proved to be the difference-maker, as the Tigers consistently scored in nearly every event. Third-place finishes came from the 4×800 relay, James Brehm (300 hurdles), and multiple sprint and relay groups, while additional fourth- and fifth-place finishes added crucial points throughout the meet.
West Liberty-Salem Girls – 1st Place (132 points)
The Lady Tigers matched the boys’ performance with a commanding team victory, finishing well ahead of Urbana (94) and the rest of the field.
West Liberty-Salem’s girls were powered by standout individual performances and strong relay teams.
Chloe Griffith led the way with wins in the 100 (13.02) and 200 (27.43), while also running legs on two winning relay teams. Tori Douthwaite claimed first in the pole vault (11-4) and contributed to both the 4×100 and 4×200 relay victories.
In the field events, Ava Poppe secured first in the shot put (35-6), while Isla Leichty added a distance win in the 3200 (12:55.66).
Relay success played a major role, with the Tigers winning both the 4×100 (50.28) and 4×200 (1:50.77), showcasing their sprint depth.
Second-place finishes further strengthened the team score, including Rachel Stanford (pole vault), Lyndee Harrison (shot put), and strong performances from the 4×800 and 4×400 relay teams. Individual runners like Malia Miller (1600) and Arianna Weaver (800) also added valuable points.
Additional scoring came from third-place finishes in throwing and sprint events, along with multiple fourth- and fifth-place efforts that highlighted the team’s overall balance.
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West Liberty-Salem returns to action Friday at home for the Tiger Invite. Senior Night recognition is scheduled for 4:45 p.m., with field events beginning at 5:00 and running events at 5:45 as the Tigers continue building momentum toward the postseason.
