JASPER — The boys track record book keeps being rewritten at Jasper, and it’s in large due to a pair of seniors — two different types of runners, but nevertheless a season full of accolades.
Jaryn Weinel came into his senior track season as an established distance runner after qualifying for state in the 1600m run last year as a junior and setting a new record in that event this year with a time of 4:17.91 and also setting the new target in the 800m run at 1:54.49.
Bralen Bair, meanwhile, just keeps on putting on a show in the 200m dash — first breaking a 43-year-old record with a time of 22.24, but he just kept on lowering it down to 22.26 and breaking his own record at 21.99. He also teamed with fellow senior Karmiel Williams and juniors Landon Fleck and Brandon Elizarraras to set a record of 43.51 in the 400m relay — surpassing the 43.60 feat set in 1982.
“Every speed endurance day we have, I work hard and I run as much as I can until I puke or whatever comes out,” Bair said. “I just keep working hard and trusting (Assistant) Coach (Gavin) Lichlyter.”
“It feels good — they hadn’t been around for too long, but I’m just happy to have gotten them,” Weinel said.
Head boys coach Kevin Schipp noted these two seniors have consistently gotten stronger through the years.
“I mean, they both have speed, but Jaryn for a distance runner has tremendous speed and is a super-competitor,” Schipp said. “That end of being able to run the 800 — and he placed in the 200 once this year and placed top three in the meet. So, he can run anywhere from the 200 to...the 3200.
“And then Bralen — he’s done a great job,” he continued. “Starting in the last month, he really started attacking in the 200, especially out of the start on the turn, that’s where it’s paid dividends for him, definitely.”
The event in which Weinel competed in the 200 came April 24 during the Wildcats’ home dual against Southridge. He came in second place at 24.63, but Bair still bested him with a time of 22.66.
“Obviously, I got some more speed than Jaryn — he would whip me in anything more than a 200,” Bair said. “He would probably beat me in the 400 or anything like that, but basically just trying to stay in front of him.”
“I mean, I got some solid top speed, but I can’t match what he does,” Weinel said. “His speed endurance is much higher than mine.”
Both Bair and Weinel have their go-to events — the 200 for the former, the 800 for the latter, in spite of him being a state qualifier last year in the 1600.
“I still think I can run a really fast mile, but unfortunately, I’m not going to get that chance during season — probably 800 as of right now,” Weinel said.
“I think I can just hold my top speed a little longer,” said Bair, who also competes in the 100m dash. “It takes me a while to build up to my top speed usually, so I’d say that’s why I’m better at the 200. But I’m also alright at the 100.”
Indeed, he was the sectional champion in the 100 with a time of 11.55, but his time of 22.18 in the 200 set a new sectional record — edging Tell City sophomore Noah Terry by less than a full second.
“(The competition) was actually a lot better than I was expecting,” he said. “I didn’t feel the best that night, and I’m not going to blame it on that, but I don’t think I ran that well. And the Tell City kid...he ran pretty good in the 200 and to be honest, I didn’t expect him to be in front of me. He was in front of me pretty much the whole race until the last 50 meters — he really helped me step up because I knew I had to push harder.”
Both have aspirations for today’s scheduled regional meet at Central Stadium in Evansville. Bair thinks he can get top three in all three of his events — thinking he might get second in the 200 because of how good senior Xavier Thomas of Evansville Reitz is. But he thinks he can win the 100 and the 400m relay can get top three if they all step up.
Meanwhile, Weinel is not only looking to win the 800, but will try for a new regional record.
“I’m treating (this week) more of like a tune-up week almost — get ready for the race and almost all the training’s been done,” Weinel said. “So, we’re kind of just trying to keep it steady.”
“The last hard day, sprinting-day wise was yesterday,” Bair said on Tuesday. “So today, it’s just like technique and coming out of the blocks and working on the drive phase and stuff like that.”
“Yesterday, we did a 200 workout, today we’re going to do more of a cruise 400 run — and then easy day tomorrow and make sure we’re fresh for Thursday,” Schipp said.
Should Weinel, Bair or somebody else make top three in a given event today, they’d be scheduled to compete June 2 at the State Finals in Bloomington.
“I want to qualify for the finals in the 200 for sure,” Bair said if he makes it to state. “And then, just run the 4x100 — I don’t think I’ll be running the 100 at state if I make it.”
“Just try to go for the win — 800’s so close at the top that it’s kind of anybody’s race,” Weinel said.