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MISHAWAKA — After the 100-meter hurdles sectional championship Tuesday, May 19, South Bend Washington senior Adriana Swanson sat on the turf field at Steele Stadium with her shoes off and her eyes closed. The Indiana University commit came into the event having won a sectional title in it the previous three seasons, including a 2025 state championship.
Swanson later said she was praying in that moment, trying to move on from what she felt was a disappointing race. One that she won in 14.21 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than when she won it last season.
This is the expectation to which elite, state-best athletes hold themselves. It worked for Swanson, too, as she set a personal record (PR) in her second race of the evening, the 300-meter hurdles. Swanson won that sectional championship in 43.29 seconds, cementing her legacy as an eight-time sectional champ with much larger goals in mind.
However, after having not put much thought into monumental “lasts” like the South Bend City Meet or the Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) meet, Swanson finally admitted to being sentimental in the lead up to her final sectional.
More: All South Bend area IHSAA girls tennis sectional results, stats
“I literally just go out here and do my best every time,” Swanson said. “I’m working hard and knowing that I’m capable of doing so … It’s so bittersweet, but it’s a blessing to be able to run, to even have the ability to do so, so I’m grateful it’s my last one. I’m happy and excited to move on to what’s next.”
The future of South Bend area girls track and field was on full display Tuesday, too, as Adams sophomore Jaidyn Kimbrough was a part of three sectional championships to boost her two-year total to five. After winning the 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay last season, Kimbrough won both and added the 100-meter dash to her trophy case this year.
Even the humidity couldn’t stop the speedy Kimbrough, as she said vomiting after the prelims helped her run faster once the finals came around. Always social and confident yet humble, Kimbrough let herself soak in the importance of her decorated career so far for just a moment.
It was a full circle moment for Kimbrough, her first meet back at Mishawaka High School after tearing her ACL during last year's sectional.
“[It’s] amazing,” Kimbrough said. “Sometimes, I’m like, ‘You could’ve done better,’ but sometimes I have to also think that I did this right off of an injury. Last year I did it [with] an injury. I’m also thinking, ‘Some people haven’t even made it to sectionals.’ You have to be grateful for what you have done so far, because you know you can do way more.”
More: Adams track star Jaidyn Kimbrough not deterred by injuries, heartbreak
Fellow sophomore Shreya Nayee helped Penn win its sixth straight team sectional championship by being a part of two first-place finishes of her own — the 1,600-meter run and the 4x800-meter relay. Nayee, who also finished 11th in the 2025 cross country state finals, is now a four-time sectional champion as she took home titles in the same events last year.
Her efforts were a key piece of Penn’s eight total event wins, leading to 150 team points. Nayee was emphatic that celebrating all of her teammates, whether they’re distance runners, sprinters, field athletes or anyone in between, makes for a more successful program.
Perhaps the biggest example of that was the joy Nayee and her fellow Kingsmen got out of senior Zoya Turk winning the 400-meter dash in a PR of 57.49 seconds.
“Everybody’s just so supportive, so positive and working so hard,” Nayee said. “It’s huge; that’s a great team aspect. Everybody cheers for each other … We’re just so bonded and so close together, so it’s cool that we all get to run different things but support each other and treat each other right, because they’re all hard.”
More: Penn uses depth to win 2026 NIC girls track and field meet
South Bend Saint Joseph junior transfer Lydia Goodsell became a back-to-back sectional champion in the long jump with a 19-1.5 finish this time around after claiming the crown last season with Glenn at 18-0.05. Goodsell was all over Steele Stadium Tuesday, competing not just in the long jump but also the 100-meter dash, 4x400-meter relay and other running events.
Although she didn’t take home a championship in any track events, Goodsell said she was able to not let those races distract her focus from long jump through proper hydration and nutrition. So much so that when she’s in the air during her jumps, there’s no thoughts in her head until she hits the sand.
“I’d like to say there is, but really there isn’t,” Goodsell said. “Usually, it’s the run up before and when I’m about to run usually, I have stuff going through my mind.”
This includes sectionals that took place at Bremen, Warsaw and Chesterton.
100-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (12.25 seconds)
Emma Walter, Fairfield junior (12.02 seconds)
Alana Allen, Plymouth senior (12.14 seconds)
200-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (No time recorded)
Amari Lind, Goshen sophomore (24.98 seconds)
Alana Allen, Plymouth senior (25.48 seconds)
More: Stars shine at Lady Kingsmen track invite Saturday
400-meter dash: Zoya Turk, Penn senior (57.49 seconds)
Kristina Petkova, Goshen senior (57.03 seconds)
Emma Kincaid, Bremen senior (58.63 seconds)
800-meter run: Audrey Lee, Trinity Academy junior (2:21.16)
Kate Kincaid, Bremen sophomore (2:25.32)
1,600-meter run: Shreya Nayee, Penn sophomore (5:11.58)
Vivy Miller, Plymouth junior (5:24.38)
3,200-meter run: Lila Van Hoveln, Penn junior (11:03.48)
Dakotah Moore, Northridge senior (11:02.59)
Vivy Miller, Plymouth junior (12:10.01)
100-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, Washington senior (14.21 seconds)
Isis Robbins, Elkhart sophomore (15.18 seconds)
Jersey Hunter, Plymouth senior (14.99 seconds)
300-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, Washington senior (43.29 seconds)
Isis Robbins, Elkhart sophomore (46.40 seconds)
More: Plymouth girls track and field's 4x100 relay team is making history
4x100-meter relay: South Bend Adams (49.39 seconds)
Goshen (48.59 seconds)
Plymouth (49.61 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: Penn (4:00.21)
Goshen (3:53.32)
Bremen (4:07.11)
4x800-meter relay: Penn (9:37.73)
Northridge (9:42.71)
Plymouth (10:05.94)
High Jump: Daniela Bolster, Penn freshman (5-02)
Claira Foust, Fairfield junior (5-04)
Long Jump: Lydia Goodsell, Saint Joseph junior (19-1.5)
Brynn Weirich, Concord freshman (17-3.5)
Pole Vault: Lauren Arevalo, Penn sophomore (10-06)
Shelby Miller, Fairfield junior (11)
Discus: Arianna Stanley, Glenn senior (116-03)
Brooklyn King, Jimtown senior (126-09)
Cali Miller, NorthWood senior (105-10)
Shot Put: Haley Savannah, Penn junior (37-05)
Brooklyn King, Jimtown senior (41-08)
Team Champions: Penn (150 points)
Plymouth (at Bremen; 163.5 points)
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at [email protected] or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend area standouts at IHSAA girls track and field sectionals
Continue reading...
Swanson later said she was praying in that moment, trying to move on from what she felt was a disappointing race. One that she won in 14.21 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than when she won it last season.
This is the expectation to which elite, state-best athletes hold themselves. It worked for Swanson, too, as she set a personal record (PR) in her second race of the evening, the 300-meter hurdles. Swanson won that sectional championship in 43.29 seconds, cementing her legacy as an eight-time sectional champ with much larger goals in mind.
However, after having not put much thought into monumental “lasts” like the South Bend City Meet or the Northern Indiana Conference (NIC) meet, Swanson finally admitted to being sentimental in the lead up to her final sectional.
More: All South Bend area IHSAA girls tennis sectional results, stats
“I literally just go out here and do my best every time,” Swanson said. “I’m working hard and knowing that I’m capable of doing so … It’s so bittersweet, but it’s a blessing to be able to run, to even have the ability to do so, so I’m grateful it’s my last one. I’m happy and excited to move on to what’s next.”
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The future of South Bend area girls track and field was on full display Tuesday, too, as Adams sophomore Jaidyn Kimbrough was a part of three sectional championships to boost her two-year total to five. After winning the 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay last season, Kimbrough won both and added the 100-meter dash to her trophy case this year.
Even the humidity couldn’t stop the speedy Kimbrough, as she said vomiting after the prelims helped her run faster once the finals came around. Always social and confident yet humble, Kimbrough let herself soak in the importance of her decorated career so far for just a moment.
It was a full circle moment for Kimbrough, her first meet back at Mishawaka High School after tearing her ACL during last year's sectional.
“[It’s] amazing,” Kimbrough said. “Sometimes, I’m like, ‘You could’ve done better,’ but sometimes I have to also think that I did this right off of an injury. Last year I did it [with] an injury. I’m also thinking, ‘Some people haven’t even made it to sectionals.’ You have to be grateful for what you have done so far, because you know you can do way more.”
More: Adams track star Jaidyn Kimbrough not deterred by injuries, heartbreak
Fellow sophomore Shreya Nayee helped Penn win its sixth straight team sectional championship by being a part of two first-place finishes of her own — the 1,600-meter run and the 4x800-meter relay. Nayee, who also finished 11th in the 2025 cross country state finals, is now a four-time sectional champion as she took home titles in the same events last year.
Her efforts were a key piece of Penn’s eight total event wins, leading to 150 team points. Nayee was emphatic that celebrating all of her teammates, whether they’re distance runners, sprinters, field athletes or anyone in between, makes for a more successful program.
Perhaps the biggest example of that was the joy Nayee and her fellow Kingsmen got out of senior Zoya Turk winning the 400-meter dash in a PR of 57.49 seconds.
“Everybody’s just so supportive, so positive and working so hard,” Nayee said. “It’s huge; that’s a great team aspect. Everybody cheers for each other … We’re just so bonded and so close together, so it’s cool that we all get to run different things but support each other and treat each other right, because they’re all hard.”
More: Penn uses depth to win 2026 NIC girls track and field meet
South Bend Saint Joseph junior transfer Lydia Goodsell became a back-to-back sectional champion in the long jump with a 19-1.5 finish this time around after claiming the crown last season with Glenn at 18-0.05. Goodsell was all over Steele Stadium Tuesday, competing not just in the long jump but also the 100-meter dash, 4x400-meter relay and other running events.
Although she didn’t take home a championship in any track events, Goodsell said she was able to not let those races distract her focus from long jump through proper hydration and nutrition. So much so that when she’s in the air during her jumps, there’s no thoughts in her head until she hits the sand.
“I’d like to say there is, but really there isn’t,” Goodsell said. “Usually, it’s the run up before and when I’m about to run usually, I have stuff going through my mind.”
All South Bend Tribune coverage area sectional champions
This includes sectionals that took place at Bremen, Warsaw and Chesterton.
You must be registered for see images attach
100-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (12.25 seconds)
Emma Walter, Fairfield junior (12.02 seconds)
Alana Allen, Plymouth senior (12.14 seconds)
200-meter dash: Jaidyn Kimbrough, Adams sophomore (No time recorded)
Amari Lind, Goshen sophomore (24.98 seconds)
Alana Allen, Plymouth senior (25.48 seconds)
More: Stars shine at Lady Kingsmen track invite Saturday
400-meter dash: Zoya Turk, Penn senior (57.49 seconds)
Kristina Petkova, Goshen senior (57.03 seconds)
Emma Kincaid, Bremen senior (58.63 seconds)
800-meter run: Audrey Lee, Trinity Academy junior (2:21.16)
Kate Kincaid, Bremen sophomore (2:25.32)
1,600-meter run: Shreya Nayee, Penn sophomore (5:11.58)
Vivy Miller, Plymouth junior (5:24.38)
3,200-meter run: Lila Van Hoveln, Penn junior (11:03.48)
Dakotah Moore, Northridge senior (11:02.59)
Vivy Miller, Plymouth junior (12:10.01)
100-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, Washington senior (14.21 seconds)
Isis Robbins, Elkhart sophomore (15.18 seconds)
Jersey Hunter, Plymouth senior (14.99 seconds)
300-meter hurdles: Adriana Swanson, Washington senior (43.29 seconds)
Isis Robbins, Elkhart sophomore (46.40 seconds)
More: Plymouth girls track and field's 4x100 relay team is making history
4x100-meter relay: South Bend Adams (49.39 seconds)
Goshen (48.59 seconds)
Plymouth (49.61 seconds)
4x400-meter relay: Penn (4:00.21)
Goshen (3:53.32)
Bremen (4:07.11)
4x800-meter relay: Penn (9:37.73)
Northridge (9:42.71)
Plymouth (10:05.94)
High Jump: Daniela Bolster, Penn freshman (5-02)
Claira Foust, Fairfield junior (5-04)
Long Jump: Lydia Goodsell, Saint Joseph junior (19-1.5)
Brynn Weirich, Concord freshman (17-3.5)
Pole Vault: Lauren Arevalo, Penn sophomore (10-06)
Shelby Miller, Fairfield junior (11)
Discus: Arianna Stanley, Glenn senior (116-03)
Brooklyn King, Jimtown senior (126-09)
Cali Miller, NorthWood senior (105-10)
Shot Put: Haley Savannah, Penn junior (37-05)
Brooklyn King, Jimtown senior (41-08)
Team Champions: Penn (150 points)
Plymouth (at Bremen; 163.5 points)
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at [email protected] or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend area standouts at IHSAA girls track and field sectionals
Continue reading...
