Westview’s Bontrager wins state in 1,600, 3.200

That’s just what Westview junior distance runner Noah Bontrager did Friday night at the IHSAA state boys track and field meet at North Central High School.

And for good measure, came home with a new state record in the 1,600 at 4:02.60.

Bontrager surged out to an early lead in the 1,600 and had the track pretty much to himself by the 800-meter mark.

The key to Bontrager’s approach, the Warrior harrier said, is dividing his race into 60-second intervals.

“I want to hit 60 every single lap,” Bontrager said. “Then keep doing one more.”

Bontrager said he was hoping to break four minutes but just missed the mark.

“That wasn’t it for me, but that’s okay,” Bontrager said.

He’ll gladly take the state title and new state record, however!

The later 3,200 is a different kind of race, run later in the meet program, in a light rain.

And it was one last chance for Bontrager to match strides with a runner who’s become not just a competitor, but a friend, Fishers’ Sam Quagliaroli, who bested Bontrager for the state cross country title last fall in Terre Haute.

Either way, the 3,200-meter result figured to be a changing of the guard, a passing of the torch — however one might want to characterize it.

Bontrager said he’s enjoys the relationship with Quagliaroli.

“Off the track, we’re best buds,” Bontrager said. “It’s a friendly rivalry.

“The torch has been passed on to me, and I’ll pass it on to someone else next year.”

Bontrager bested Quagliaroli by almost four seconds, crossing the finish line in 8:51.22 to 8:54.99 for the Fishers standout.

Winning the 3,200 is a weight lifted off the Warrior standout’s shoulders.

“I finally got it,” a beaming Bontrager said. “I’ve been working at it.”

Bontrager joins Andrew Begley as the second Westview boy to win two state track and field titles in the same meet. Begley did it in 1995.

For Bontrager, a short summer break will soon give way to a senior season with a target on his back.

The Warrior runner is more than ready to embrace the challenge.

Meanwhile, Churubusco junior thrower Weston Ott also turned in a pair of stellar performances, finishing runner-up in the shot put (62-9 1/2) and the discus (188-02).

West Noble junior Dustin Richardson finished fourth in the high jump at 6-7. Lakewood Park junior Hayden Korte also made the All-State podium, placing ninth at 6-6. Angola junior Keithyn Duncan was 24th at 6-2.

Lakewood Park sophomore Zander Ritenour also made the podium, finishing ninth in the 1,600-meter run (4:12.25).

In the pole vault, Hunter Miller of Churubusco tied for 12th at 14-3 with Curtis Miller 14th (14-3) and Angola’s Daniel Koch 18th (14-0).