By Sam Brauen www.blufftonpirates.com
(SPENCERVILLE) - Bluffton’s track teams got off to a strong start at the Northwest Conference Championships held at Spencerville.  A few final events took place Thursday with the remainder of the finals on Saturday.  The meet was held in perfect conditions with sun, mid 70’s temperatures and a slight breeze.  

For the boys, Kaleb Jefferson turned in his best high jump performance of the season.  The returning state qualifier tied his personal best of 6’2” as he won the event. The boys picked up another event victory in the 4x800.  Asher Antrim, Christopher Harnish, Luke Young and Baylor Garmatter finished in 8:34 and won by six seconds. Deandre Nassar and Chad Veit picked up points in the Shot Put as well.  Nassar threw 42-10.5 for fourth place and Veit tossed 39-9 for eighth.  

The girls had two second place finishes to lead their effort.  Arielle O’Neal was runner up in discus with a throw of 112-04. Kayla Kindle, Sydney Hoff, Olivia Burner and Clara Mathews covered the 4x800 course in 10:38 for second place.  Alyssa Casemier took sixth place in long jump with a 13-10 effort. 

Advancing in the prelims were the 4x100 team of Nassar, Eli Lemley, Veit and Jefferson and they have the top time. Baylor Garmatter is the top seed for the 400 finals after winning today at 54.03. Antrim, Joel Piercefield, Jonathan Shriner and Baylor Garmatter took the top 4x400 time at 3:43.98 although the margin between them and next best Ada is just three hundredths of a second. Xavier Dunifon advanced in the 300 hurdles and has the second best time. Deandre Nassar, the 4x200 team of Garmatter, Lemley, Piercefield and Veit advanced as well.  Jefferson will run the 100 Saturday and Lemley the 200 after finishing in the top eight. 

Abbey Gambrell advanced in both hurdle events finishing fourth in the 100 and fifth in the 300.  The 4x400 crew of Karis Wilson, Lucie Fett, Mathews and Kindle have the third best time and will run Saturday as well.