EC's Bentley, Ringer Named EIAC Track & Field MVPs

East Central's boys and girls both won the EIAC Championship back in May.

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(St. Leon, Ind.) – The Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference has named its top track and field performers for the 2023 season.

The EIAC released their Spring All-Conference Teams on Monday.

East Central led the way with 11 overall selections.

On the girls’ side, the Trojans captured the EIAC Championship behind conference MVP Callie Bentley, and All-Conference selections Rachel Campbell, Jorjia Ferguson, Erika Wells, Ashtyn Gindling, and Rylee Edwards.

Bentley was the conference champion in the 800 Meters, 1600 Meters, 4x400 Relay, and 4x800 Relay. She joined the 4x400 Relay team with Ferguson, Campbell, and Wells. Together, they set a new conference meet record with a time of 4:02.23, breaking the previous record of 4:04.43 set by East Central in 2019.

Wells, Gindling, Campbell, and Bentley then broke the EIAC record in the 4x800 Relay with a time of 9:28.30. The previous record of 9:44.36 was set by East Central in 2009.

Other East Central Individual Champs

• Girls 400 Meter - Rachel Campbell (EC) 58.98
• Girls 100 Meter Hurdles - Jorjia Ferguson (EC): 15.72
• Girls 300 Meter Hurdles - Jorjia Ferguson (EC): 47.40
• Girls Long Jump - Rylee Edwards (EC) 16-06.25

On the boys’ side, East Central was represented on the all-conference team by Chase Bellman, Josh Ringer, Gavin Hicks, Max Geisen, and Will Kemper.

Josh Ringer was named the EIAC MVP after winning three events. He was the 300 Meter Hurdles, Long Jump and 4x400 Meter Relay champion. Ringer was joined on the relay team by Hicks, Geisen and Bellman.

Other individual winners include Bellman (400 Meter), and Kemper (Discus).

Batesville and Franklin County each had five all-conference selections.

The EIAC Track & Field Coaches of the Year are Ashley Andres and Tom Harris, both of East Central.

2023 Boys and Girls Track & Field All-Conference Teams

Girls All-Conference

East Central – Rachel Campbell, Callie Bentley, Jorjia Ferguson, Erika Wells, Ashtyn Gindling, Rylee Edwards

Batesville – Kaylynn Bedel, Ava Hanson

Connersville – Ahniyah Bennett (set meet records in the 100 and 200 Meter)

Greensburg – Emarie Jackson

Franklin County – Audrey Harper, Ella Flannery, Madison Merritt, Mackenzie Brzezinski

Rushville – Cyndi Tush

Boys All-Conference

East Central – Chase Bellman, Josh Ringer, Gavin Hicks, Max Geisen, Will Kemper

Connersville – Mica Buchanan, Mitchell Steele, Parker Sweet, Blaine Hornsby, Carter DeBoard, Owen Baker, Mauro Gonzales, Andrew Isaac

Greensburg – Jake Hawkins, Tyler Biddinger

Batesville – Jake Chapman, Ayden Eckstein, Hudson Kohlman

Franklin County – Christian Stortz