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GOSHEN — As the sun peaked out and cast a bright light upon Foreman Field Saturday at the Goshen Relays, a few select beams found a pair of schools to crown as well.
Concord (Class A champs) and Westview (Class B champs) claimed titles early Saturday afternoon after the 82nd running of famed relays that took an estimated time of six hours and 30 minutes to complete, down two hours from last year. NorthWood (Class A) and Angola (Class B) were both honored as runner-ups.
“I think it means something to us for sure,” Concord head coach C.J. Shafer said. “We put an emphasis on competing in the events we were in and we didn’t put anybody in four events, but the events that you’re in, you need to compete. I thought we did a good job of that today.”
A common theme among the 82nd running was the often-fresh faces included on the track. Several top runners from (and outside) the coverage area took a backseat, or had a smaller workload. That left a window open for schools with depth to capitalize. Concord did by winning five events, including individual winners in Jack Jewett (high jump), Ernest Jennings (110 hurdles) and Donovan Arnold (discus)
“Prelims after the race I felt pretty bad but once I got to stretching and warming up I felt good,” Jennings said after executing a win with room to spare in the hurdles. “My blocks were set right and the mentality was to just get out past the group and that’s what I did.”
“It’s the time of year where you are trying to stay healthy and get healthy,” Shafer said. “We try to treat this as, I don’t want it to sound wrong, but we treat it as a good, solid practice. It’s more fun than a practice so we kind of utilize it as that and not try to overdo it with some of our kids and then work around prom too.”
While some top racers from the state were absent, one refused to be. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it was Noah Bontrager stepping in for Westview.
After winning the heavily-attended Carmel Distance Showcase on Friday with a 3,200-meter time of 8:55.79, the junior went to work one day later in Goshen, helping turn two narrow Westview relays into routs and eventually, a title. His teammates said “He’s just that guy.”
“I would say we don’t have the blessing of as much depth because our school is smaller so I ran today just because we don’t have as many guys,” Bontrager said. “Don’t get me wrong, we have a bunch of guys that can run fast, but [head coach Matt Jones] wanted me to do this so we could get scoring in.”
With two events remaining, Westview (65 points), Fairfield (62.5) and Angola (62) were all vying for the Class B crown.
Westview knew about its position heading into the next event: the intermediate medley relay. Asher Kennedy handed the baton to Bontrager after teammates Dallas Yoder and Kaiden Liechty began the race, but the Kennedy-Bontrager handoff was faulty.
“The handoff, it was a little rough because I kept on moving my hand so he couldn’t get it,” Bontrager said while Kennedy added that he was “dead tired.”
Still, Bontrager gathered the baton and didn’t play with the lead, extending a side-by-side lead into one of eight seconds.
Now up on the Hornets by eight, Westview needed one more win in the 4x400-meter relay to secure the title. Yoder and Liechty got out to another lead that Ian Bontrager held before giving it to Noah Bontrager to once again secure the top spot. It was a title well-enjoyed by the Warriors.
“We didn’t really expect [the title],” Ian Bontrager said. “We knew we were going to be up there, but we didn’t really expect it.”
The success came along with a Westview sprint program that has not just competed better with its competition this year, but has also beaten it.
“He’s actually trying this year,” Kennedy said, pointing to Liechty.
“I’ll be honest, the last few years I’ve kind of slacked but this year I locked in,” Liechty responded.
“I’d say a good portion of it comes down to our training,” Kennedy continued. “We changed our routine this year so we’re focusing just on longer distances and more intense [workouts], which, at the end of the day kills us, but it’s worth it. You’re seeing it pay off.”
Westview came close to winning a third relay as well. In the first heat of the 4x100-meter relay, Liechty led a furious comeback on the final leg of the relay. He crossed the line less than a millisecond before West Noble did. In the second heat, Oak Hill was just three milliseconds faster, taking the top spot from the Warriors.
“I’ve got the school record for the 200 and the 4x400 and now we’re going for the 4x100,” said Liechty, who thinks the Warriors can knock off the school record before he aims for the 100-meter time of 10.8 seconds. Liechty’s best is 11 seconds.
Individual winners from the area in Class A included Wyatt Mast (NorthWood, 100-meter), Ernest Jennings (Concord, 110-meter hurdles), Daniel Knisley (Goshen, long jump), Jack Jewett (Concord, high jump), Joe Mitschelen (NorthWood, pole vault), Donovan Arnold (Concord, discus) and Colson Yoder (NorthWood, shot put).
Mast won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.23 seconds, better than South Bend Saint Joseph’s Richard Halliburton (11.26) and Panther teammate Gavin Rulli (11.27). Initially, it was too close to call.
“My mom had a video of the end so I went and looked and I thought I had it and then they announced who had it and I was a little surprised, but I thought I won,” Mast said.
Individual winners from the area in Class B included Curtis Miller (Westview, pole vault) and Nick Hofer (Fairfield, shot put, discus). It was Hofer’s first time winning both during the same running of the Relays. After close calls the last few postseasons, Hofer is eyeing his first outdoor state appearance in his senior season.
“It’s 100%,” Hofer said on how much his near-misses during the postseason are playing into this season. “Making it to regionals all four years, shot [put] freshman year, discus just my sophomore year, junior year getting both opportunities, it’s been driving at me, just driving me crazy not being able to go and being so close to all those guys in sectionals and regionals this year, it’s going to be tough.”
Ray Hedstrom was this year’s honorary referee. He is in the midst of his final season of being a track and field official, marking 50 years of service. Saturday was his 30th time working the Relays.
Seven teams made up Class A, 17 made up Class B for a total of 24 boys teams. There were 34 last year.
------------
2025 GOSHEN RELAYS — Event winners and final team standings
Honorary referee: Ray Hedstrom
CLASS A
4x100-meter relay: SB St. Joseph (Samuel Harshman, Richard Halliburton, Cle Kimbrough, Antwone Ross; 42.70 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: SB St. Joseph (Will Elick, Le’Bralyn Booker, Raul Lara, Jack Moran; 3:32.75)
4x800-meter relay: Concord (Reid Sollars, Jake DeShone, Jaxson Meyer, Jackson Yoder; 9:08.20 minutes)
Sprint medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800): Northridge (Tre Copeland, Preston Ritchie, Jaden Fisher, Joe Keyser; 3:42.58)
Distance medley relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600): Concord (Reid Sollars, Bo Brunner, Jackson Yoder, Jaxson Meyer; 11:01.27 minutes)
100-meter dash: Wyatt Mast (NorthWood, 11.23 seconds)
110-meter hurdles: Ernest Jennings (Concord, 15.71 seconds)
1,600-meter run: Gavin Good (Columbia City, 4:33.59 minutes)
Long jump: Daniel Kinsey (Goshen, 20’5”)
High jump: Jack Jewett (Concord, 6’0”)
Pole vault: Joe Mitschelen (NorthWood, 12’0”)
Disus throw: Donovan Arnold (Concord, 158’1”)
Shot put: Colson Yoder (NorthWood, 52’7 1/2”)
Final Class A team standings:
1. Concord (114)
2. NorthWood (86)
3. SB Saint Joseph (77)
4. Columbia City (72)
5. Goshen (71)
6. Northridge (59)
7. SB Riley (17)
CLASS B
4x100-meter relay: Oak Hill (Reese Hernandez, Jesse Zwirn, Seth David, Jalen Scott; 44.35 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: Westview (Dallas Yoder, Ian Bontrager, Kaiden Leichty, Noah Bontrager; 3:27.73 minutes)
4x800-meter relay: Angola (Grady Hoover, Kaden Klink, Ayden Copeland, Trey Soulliere; 8:21.40 minutes)
Sprint medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800): Westview (Dallas Yoder, Kaiden Leichty, Asher Kennedy, Noah Bontrager; 3:35.86 minutes)
Distance medley relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600): Westview (Bentley Ryall, Asher Kennedy, E.J. Watts, Cole Bontrager; 11:04.68 minutes)
100-meter dash: Coleson Kugler (Wabash, 10.98 seconds)
110-meter hurdles: Benjamin Thomas (Angola, 15.90 seconds)
1,600-meter run: Jace Bullins (Wabash, 4:32.94 minutes)
Long jump: Luke Elzinga (Oak Hill, 20’5 1/2”)
High jump: Dustin Richardson (West Noble, 6’0”)
Pole vault: Curtis Miller (Westview, 13’0”)
Disus throw: Nick Hofer (Fairfield, 152’8”)
Shot put: Nick Hofer (Fairfield, 52’8 1/2”)
Final Class B team standings:
1. Westview (85)
2. Angola (70)
3. Fairfield (62.5)
4. West Noble (58)
5. Wabash (51)
6. Oak Hill (51)
7. LaVille (38)
8. Bremen (31.5)
9. Mishawaka Marian (18)
10. Prairie Heights (11)
11. Trinity Greenlawn (6)
12. Whitko (5)
13. Kouts (4)
14. St. Thomas More (4)
15. Central Noble (3)
16. Bethany Christian (1)
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Concord (Class A champs) and Westview (Class B champs) claimed titles early Saturday afternoon after the 82nd running of famed relays that took an estimated time of six hours and 30 minutes to complete, down two hours from last year. NorthWood (Class A) and Angola (Class B) were both honored as runner-ups.
“I think it means something to us for sure,” Concord head coach C.J. Shafer said. “We put an emphasis on competing in the events we were in and we didn’t put anybody in four events, but the events that you’re in, you need to compete. I thought we did a good job of that today.”
A common theme among the 82nd running was the often-fresh faces included on the track. Several top runners from (and outside) the coverage area took a backseat, or had a smaller workload. That left a window open for schools with depth to capitalize. Concord did by winning five events, including individual winners in Jack Jewett (high jump), Ernest Jennings (110 hurdles) and Donovan Arnold (discus)
“Prelims after the race I felt pretty bad but once I got to stretching and warming up I felt good,” Jennings said after executing a win with room to spare in the hurdles. “My blocks were set right and the mentality was to just get out past the group and that’s what I did.”
“It’s the time of year where you are trying to stay healthy and get healthy,” Shafer said. “We try to treat this as, I don’t want it to sound wrong, but we treat it as a good, solid practice. It’s more fun than a practice so we kind of utilize it as that and not try to overdo it with some of our kids and then work around prom too.”
While some top racers from the state were absent, one refused to be. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it was Noah Bontrager stepping in for Westview.
After winning the heavily-attended Carmel Distance Showcase on Friday with a 3,200-meter time of 8:55.79, the junior went to work one day later in Goshen, helping turn two narrow Westview relays into routs and eventually, a title. His teammates said “He’s just that guy.”
“I would say we don’t have the blessing of as much depth because our school is smaller so I ran today just because we don’t have as many guys,” Bontrager said. “Don’t get me wrong, we have a bunch of guys that can run fast, but [head coach Matt Jones] wanted me to do this so we could get scoring in.”
With two events remaining, Westview (65 points), Fairfield (62.5) and Angola (62) were all vying for the Class B crown.
Westview knew about its position heading into the next event: the intermediate medley relay. Asher Kennedy handed the baton to Bontrager after teammates Dallas Yoder and Kaiden Liechty began the race, but the Kennedy-Bontrager handoff was faulty.
“The handoff, it was a little rough because I kept on moving my hand so he couldn’t get it,” Bontrager said while Kennedy added that he was “dead tired.”
Still, Bontrager gathered the baton and didn’t play with the lead, extending a side-by-side lead into one of eight seconds.
Now up on the Hornets by eight, Westview needed one more win in the 4x400-meter relay to secure the title. Yoder and Liechty got out to another lead that Ian Bontrager held before giving it to Noah Bontrager to once again secure the top spot. It was a title well-enjoyed by the Warriors.
“We didn’t really expect [the title],” Ian Bontrager said. “We knew we were going to be up there, but we didn’t really expect it.”
The success came along with a Westview sprint program that has not just competed better with its competition this year, but has also beaten it.
“He’s actually trying this year,” Kennedy said, pointing to Liechty.
“I’ll be honest, the last few years I’ve kind of slacked but this year I locked in,” Liechty responded.
“I’d say a good portion of it comes down to our training,” Kennedy continued. “We changed our routine this year so we’re focusing just on longer distances and more intense [workouts], which, at the end of the day kills us, but it’s worth it. You’re seeing it pay off.”
Westview came close to winning a third relay as well. In the first heat of the 4x100-meter relay, Liechty led a furious comeback on the final leg of the relay. He crossed the line less than a millisecond before West Noble did. In the second heat, Oak Hill was just three milliseconds faster, taking the top spot from the Warriors.
“I’ve got the school record for the 200 and the 4x400 and now we’re going for the 4x100,” said Liechty, who thinks the Warriors can knock off the school record before he aims for the 100-meter time of 10.8 seconds. Liechty’s best is 11 seconds.
Individual winners from the area in Class A included Wyatt Mast (NorthWood, 100-meter), Ernest Jennings (Concord, 110-meter hurdles), Daniel Knisley (Goshen, long jump), Jack Jewett (Concord, high jump), Joe Mitschelen (NorthWood, pole vault), Donovan Arnold (Concord, discus) and Colson Yoder (NorthWood, shot put).
Mast won the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.23 seconds, better than South Bend Saint Joseph’s Richard Halliburton (11.26) and Panther teammate Gavin Rulli (11.27). Initially, it was too close to call.
“My mom had a video of the end so I went and looked and I thought I had it and then they announced who had it and I was a little surprised, but I thought I won,” Mast said.
Individual winners from the area in Class B included Curtis Miller (Westview, pole vault) and Nick Hofer (Fairfield, shot put, discus). It was Hofer’s first time winning both during the same running of the Relays. After close calls the last few postseasons, Hofer is eyeing his first outdoor state appearance in his senior season.
“It’s 100%,” Hofer said on how much his near-misses during the postseason are playing into this season. “Making it to regionals all four years, shot [put] freshman year, discus just my sophomore year, junior year getting both opportunities, it’s been driving at me, just driving me crazy not being able to go and being so close to all those guys in sectionals and regionals this year, it’s going to be tough.”
Ray Hedstrom was this year’s honorary referee. He is in the midst of his final season of being a track and field official, marking 50 years of service. Saturday was his 30th time working the Relays.
Seven teams made up Class A, 17 made up Class B for a total of 24 boys teams. There were 34 last year.
------------
2025 GOSHEN RELAYS — Event winners and final team standings
Honorary referee: Ray Hedstrom
CLASS A
4x100-meter relay: SB St. Joseph (Samuel Harshman, Richard Halliburton, Cle Kimbrough, Antwone Ross; 42.70 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: SB St. Joseph (Will Elick, Le’Bralyn Booker, Raul Lara, Jack Moran; 3:32.75)
4x800-meter relay: Concord (Reid Sollars, Jake DeShone, Jaxson Meyer, Jackson Yoder; 9:08.20 minutes)
Sprint medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800): Northridge (Tre Copeland, Preston Ritchie, Jaden Fisher, Joe Keyser; 3:42.58)
Distance medley relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600): Concord (Reid Sollars, Bo Brunner, Jackson Yoder, Jaxson Meyer; 11:01.27 minutes)
100-meter dash: Wyatt Mast (NorthWood, 11.23 seconds)
110-meter hurdles: Ernest Jennings (Concord, 15.71 seconds)
1,600-meter run: Gavin Good (Columbia City, 4:33.59 minutes)
Long jump: Daniel Kinsey (Goshen, 20’5”)
High jump: Jack Jewett (Concord, 6’0”)
Pole vault: Joe Mitschelen (NorthWood, 12’0”)
Disus throw: Donovan Arnold (Concord, 158’1”)
Shot put: Colson Yoder (NorthWood, 52’7 1/2”)
Final Class A team standings:
1. Concord (114)
2. NorthWood (86)
3. SB Saint Joseph (77)
4. Columbia City (72)
5. Goshen (71)
6. Northridge (59)
7. SB Riley (17)
CLASS B
4x100-meter relay: Oak Hill (Reese Hernandez, Jesse Zwirn, Seth David, Jalen Scott; 44.35 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: Westview (Dallas Yoder, Ian Bontrager, Kaiden Leichty, Noah Bontrager; 3:27.73 minutes)
4x800-meter relay: Angola (Grady Hoover, Kaden Klink, Ayden Copeland, Trey Soulliere; 8:21.40 minutes)
Sprint medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800): Westview (Dallas Yoder, Kaiden Leichty, Asher Kennedy, Noah Bontrager; 3:35.86 minutes)
Distance medley relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600): Westview (Bentley Ryall, Asher Kennedy, E.J. Watts, Cole Bontrager; 11:04.68 minutes)
100-meter dash: Coleson Kugler (Wabash, 10.98 seconds)
110-meter hurdles: Benjamin Thomas (Angola, 15.90 seconds)
1,600-meter run: Jace Bullins (Wabash, 4:32.94 minutes)
Long jump: Luke Elzinga (Oak Hill, 20’5 1/2”)
High jump: Dustin Richardson (West Noble, 6’0”)
Pole vault: Curtis Miller (Westview, 13’0”)
Disus throw: Nick Hofer (Fairfield, 152’8”)
Shot put: Nick Hofer (Fairfield, 52’8 1/2”)
Final Class B team standings:
1. Westview (85)
2. Angola (70)
3. Fairfield (62.5)
4. West Noble (58)
5. Wabash (51)
6. Oak Hill (51)
7. LaVille (38)
8. Bremen (31.5)
9. Mishawaka Marian (18)
10. Prairie Heights (11)
11. Trinity Greenlawn (6)
12. Whitko (5)
13. Kouts (4)
14. St. Thomas More (4)
15. Central Noble (3)
16. Bethany Christian (1)
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