From the May 29 Edition of The Bridgeport News BMS County Championship by Jeff Toquinto Editor of The Bridgeport News Bridgeport Middle School’s boys and girls track teams captured the Harrison County Middle School championships held May 20 at the Bridgeport High School track complex. The teams got their crowns in two different manners. For the girls, the going proved relatively easy. In fact, the Braves amassed 232 points, which was nearly triple the total of the runner-up. South Harrison was second with 85 points. BMS finished first or second in 16 of 18 events. "The girls turned out to be a little more one-sided that I thought," said BMS coach Rob Riley. "The difference was the quality and depth of this year's team." On the boys side, the meet proved much more difficult as BMS won by 7 points. Bridgeport totaled 156.75 points to edge out South Harrison, which had 149.75 points. WI was third with 100.75 points in the 6-team meet. Bridgeport’s girls won 9 events, including 3 relay events and 3 first place finished by Jenna Fogg. Fogg also finished second in one event to help her earn high point honors. Wins by Fogg came in the 800 meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 42.96 seconds; the 3200 in 14 minutes, 21.37 seconds; and the long jump, where she finished with a new county record of 4 feet, 10 inches. In the 1600 meter run, Fogg, who finished with 38 points, was second by less than 3 seconds as she finished the event in 6 minutes, 2.43 seconds. "Jenna Fogg performed like she always does - outstanding," said Riley. The Indians also rolled to the win thanks to a strong showing in the relays. The 4x400 team of Sarah Claprood, Megan Dent-Carmen, Jennifer Alastanos and Cassie Schneider won in 4 minutes, 41.36 seconds. The 4x800 team of Alastanos, Dent-Carmen, Whitney Rhoades and Schneider posted a winning mark, while the team of Brandi Findley, Kendall McCaugherty, Tiffany Oldaker and Haleigh James won the 4x60 shuttles event with a time of 44.23 seconds. McCaugherty also took a win in the long jump. Her jump of 15 feet, 0.25 inches easily won her the title and was a new school record. In the discus, Kasie Carbacio came up with a winning throw of 76 feet, 11.5 inches, which was more than 3 feet further than the runner-up. In the solo sprints events, Schelby Bordner managed the Braves only win. She won the 200 meter event with a time of 28.61 seconds. For the boys the difference was placing several individuals in events, as well as another strong showing in the relays. The Braves had 5 first place finishes, 3 of those came in the relays. But, it came down to the final event to determine a winner. In fact, with three events to go BMS found itself down by three points. "A combination of sheer will and a break that went our way put us over the top," said Riley. The number one seed in the 200 meter high hurdles from South Harrison was tagged with a false start. That, said Riley, proved to be the difference. Bridgeport’s 4x200, 4x800 and the 65 meter shuttles team all took first place. The 4x200 team of Tanner Moore, Jeremy Sheppard, Alec Taylor and Mitch Strader won with a time of 1 minute, 49.86 seconds. The 4x800 team of Justin Elliott, Erik Green, Matt LaRosa and Andrew Hoover posted a winning mark of 9 minutes, 57.7 seconds, while the shuttles team of Zach Wright, Taylor, Strader and Nicholas Sellas won with a time of 42.57 seconds. Wright also took won of the two individual first places. He won the 200 meter hurdle even in 30.15 seconds. "Zach came up big for us," said Riley. "He was seeded fourth, but ended up winning the 200 meter hurdles." Another key moment came in the 3200 meter where Heath Haws placed second, just ahead of another Hawks runner. Haws, said Riley, was tripped up in the race and last several seconds before recovering for the win. The other first place went to Nathan Schwenk, who helped lead a 1-2-3 sweep in the pole vault. He cleared 10 feet, 6 inches, which was a new meet and school record. Green and Sellas finished second and third, respectively. "Not every school has pole vaulters so it is less competitive than some of the other events," said Riley. "It's something we take seriously and that the kids love doing."