Oak Hill High School

The Golden Eagle Track & Field teams got their 2026 seasons off to a strong start Saturday at Indiana Wesleyan competing in their first Hoosier State Relays Series Qualifier. The HSR is the indoor state series that sees qualifying meets held every week and weekend in March leading up to the HSR Indoor State Finals at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday March 28th. Saturday's event included over 20 schools of all sizes. The top program finisher on the day was Junior Golden Eagle Kyle Brower who won the Pole Vault in 13-6. A height that matches his own indoor program record. Brower was a IHSAA State Qualifier in the event in 2025. Classmate Jalen Scott also had a solid day as the 2025 IHSAA Sectional and Regional 100 Meter Champion took 4th overall in the 60 Meter Dash in a time of 7.15. Just .1 off his own indoor program record. Both Brower and Scott were indoor HSR All State Medalists in 2025. When it came to the relay events the best on the day for either team was the Golden Eagle's Distance Medley Relay which took an impressive 5th behind 4 much larger programs. The foursome of Seniors Marc Caritos, Caden Myers, and Corban Tippey along with Junior Wyatt Hart covered the 4,000 Meters in 11:17. A time that ranks 5th all time in program history for indoor or outdoor DMRs. The Lady Eagles DMR would have posted the ladies best overall finish of the day in the event after clocking an 13:45 in the event good enough for 7th overall but were disqualified after the event for a lap infraction. Seniors Biruk Travis and Audrey Rex along with Junior Quinn Brunner and Lilly Hunt matched the boys posting the 5th best time in program history in the event prior to being DQ'd. The Golden Eagles posted two additional 12th place finishes in the 4x400 Meter Relay and by Senior Thane Jones in the Shot Put. Jones recorded a throw of 42-2 while the foursome of Caritos, Sophomores Noah Wagner and Chris Smiley, along with Freshman Graham Arrendale clocked a 3:56 a time just outside the Top 10 all time in program history. After the DQ of the DMR the Lady Eagles best overall finish on the day was the 4x200 Meter Relay of Rex, Junior Annie Hale, along with Sophomores Emi Babinski and Alexei Butche who were 11th overall in 1:58.54. The time is Top 10 all time in program history. The teams will compete again next weekend at Taylor University on Friday March 13th and Saturday March 14th back at IWU. All times and marks are entered into a ranking system in which the Top 24 in the State in each event are HSR Indoor State Meet Qualifiers. Golden Eagle and Lady Eagle athletes that competed Saturday now wait to see where they rank after the weekend and or look to better their marks next weekend.