McMillian expects at least one state title

After winning the 100, 200 and 400 meters at the Crown Point Sectional, Wirt sophomore Jarvis McMillian boldly proclaimed he'd do the same thing a week later.

After sweeping the same three events at the Valparaiso Regional -- and in convincing fashion, no less -- McMillian stopped short of predicting three more victories at Friday's IHSAA Boys Track and Field State Finals.

"I'd love to do that," said McMillian, the only state qualifier in the 100, 200 and 400. "I'll probably win state in either the 200 or the 400. I'm not too sure about the 100."

McMillian, who has only been running track for two years, said early this season that the 200 was his best race. He placed third in the 200 at the national AAU meet last summer. Wirt coach Leroy Nelson said early this season that McMillian also had a shot at qualifying for state in the 100.

Neither said much about the 400, which is looking like his best shot at a state title.

While he faces stiffer competition in the 100 and 200, McMillian has the top seed in the 400. In fact, he is one of only two runners in the state to run a sub-49-second 400 at the regional. And while his time of 48.36 was a personal-best, McMillian could feasibly go faster. He held back until the final stretch, then blazed past a strong field of sprinters.

Pirates duo learning fast

Based solely on seeding, the hosts were the clear favorites at last week's Valparaiso Regional. But Merrillville made the Vikings sweat out a four-point victory.

"We should have been beaten by about 20 points," Merrillville coach Jim Johnson said. "We had people step up."

Two of those clutch performances came from senior Melvin Davis and junior Byron Ferrell, both of whom advanced to state in events they've been learning on the fly.

Davis jumped 22-2 to win the long jump, an event he picked up when Harold Turner was injured midway through the season. Ferrell, in his first year on the track team, cleared 14-8.5 to take second in the pole vault.

"That's phenomenal," Johnson said of Ferrell's vault. "By far, he is the best (first-year) vaulter we've ever had."

In addition to trying to make the medal stand this weekend, Davis and Ferrell will be gunning for school records that are well within reach. The school's long jump record is 22-7.5. The pole vault mark is 15-3.

"You didn't expect them to be at this point right now," Johnson said. "They should really compete and hopefully come away with a medal."

1,600 relay region's to lose

Chesterton has the top seed time in the 1,600 relay. But the Trojans will have to contend with No. 2-seeded Merrillville, No. 3 Valparaiso and No. 4 Crown Point. West Side and Crown Point advanced via callbacks, giving the region five state qualifying teams.

The Trojans, who entered last week with the state's top time, took first at the regional thanks to Joe Raffin's strong anchor leg. Merrillville finished less than a second behind Chesterton, and little more than half a second separates the seed times of the Pirates, Vikings and Bulldogs.

Contact David Robb at 648-3122, drobb@post-trib.com or visit his blog at blogs.post-trib.com/robb.