Lake Central looking to finish among top 5

Lake Central capped its second consecutive undefeated season with a second consecutive regional title last week. And yet, preseason expectations were so lofty, Indians coach Ron Fredrick has mixed emotions heading into Saturday's state finals.

"We only have one vaulter at state," Fredrick said. "All year we figured we'd get three. That truly is disappointing. That's the difference between having a chance to win state and being in the top five."

Senior vaulter Ericka Markiewicz is making her third trip to state. Fredrick was expecting Markiewicz to be joined by younger sister Alyssa Markiewicz and Gianna Mirabelli, both of whom battled injuries all season. Mirabelli, who placed third at state last year, failed to make it out of the regional. Alyssa Markiewicz missed the automatic qualifying height by an inch. The Indians also narrowly missed qualifying in the 400 relay.

Still, LC will send two relays, five individuals and 14 total athletes to Bloomington.

"It's fewer than last year, but it's a good number," Fredrick said of his state qualifiers. "That's pretty close to what I expected. We can still score about 30 points down there, and that should put us somewhere in the top five."

A top-five finish would be a program-best for the Indians, who sent 20 athletes to Bloomington a year ago and took seventh as a team. Thrower Kate Krull is LC's lone first-time state qualifier.

"I think being down there once or twice before for most of the girls is going to be an advantage," Fredrick said.

The Indians have a chance to bring home first-place medals in the pole vault and the 3,200 relay. Ericka Markiewicz had the state's second best vault at the regional, and LC's 3,200 relay is less than two-tenths of a second off the pace of Bishop Chatard's top-seeded team.

"It's still going to be a good day," Fredrick said.

Bliss seeded first in shot

Portage's Tori Bliss has already shattered Sherri Stamper's school record in the shot put. On Saturday, Bliss will look to become the first Portage girl to win an individual state track title since Stamper placed first in the discus and shot put in 1995.

Bliss, who threw a personal-best 48-2 at the regional, has the best seed distance in the shot by more than a foot.

"From what I can find it's the fifth-best throw in the country for a high school girl," Portage coach Chuck Heimberg said.

Pulling double duty

Several region athletes will be competing in two individual events. That group includes: Merrillville's Rebecca Neville (100 hurdles, long jump); Munster's Whitney Freeman (100 and 300 hurdles); Valparaiso's Stephanie Fisher (100 and 300 hurdles) and Megan Ranegar (1,600, 3,200); Michigan City's Mary Kate Mellen (800, 1,600); Griffith's Stephanie Negrete (shot put, discus); Bowman Academys Chayil Henderson (100, 400); and Calumet's Mercedes Carey (100, 200).