{"id":26197,"date":"2025-05-11T21:24:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T01:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=26197"},"modified":"2025-05-11T21:47:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T01:47:29","slug":"freshmen-lead-scoring-for-braves-at-ne8-meet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/11\/freshmen-lead-scoring-for-braves-at-ne8-meet\/","title":{"rendered":"Freshmen lead scoring for Braves at NE8 meet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RANDY HISNER & DANE FUELLING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WZBD.com<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bellmont girls\u2019 track team finished eighth in the NE8 meet at Columbia City Friday night, but 12 of their 21 points came from freshmen, brightening the future of veteran coach Carl Risch\u2019s squad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Braves got sixth-place finishes from rookies Ashley Bleke (400 meters), Kaitlyn Barton (1600 meters), and Braelyn Radecki (discus). Bleke and Barton also made up half of the fourth-place 4X400 relay (4:22.07), along with senior Khia Cannon and junior Quinn Buchan.  Barton and classmate Grace Ruble each ran a leg on the seventh-place 4X800 relay (11:15.69) with Buchan and sophomore Lilly Franz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bellmont head coach Carl Risch knows that his team has a lot of promise over the next couple of years after Friday’s performance. (Photo by Tara Riehm)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The East Noble Knights edged Columbia City for the team title, 141.5 to 136. Norwell was third with 101. Bellmont was just one point away from seventh-place New Haven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

East Noble had only one individual champion\u2014Lillian Crow in the long jump\u2014but won the 4X100 relay and had seven runner-up finishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ashley Bleke turns the corner in the 4×400. (Photo by Tara Riehm)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n