Harrison high jumper Makayla Ketterer leads Lafayette area at IHSAA girls track regional

LAFAYETTE Harrison junior Makayla Ketterer kept the same approach she always uses.No matter what hole she finds herself in, nothing changes in her form when leaning over the high bar or her steps.With her last jump to match senior Riley Gardner, Ketterer dug in and made the vertical leap without touching the bar, allowing Ketterer one more opportunity to capture the regional title in the high jump.Ketterer cleanly landed five feet and seven inches to capture her first regional championship as Harrison placed fourth at the IHSAA girls track and field championships at Lafayette Jeff Tuesday, May 27 with 51 points.More: Beating the storm: Harrison girls track and field shred two records, win sectionalsVOTE: Make your pick for track-and-field-driven Journal & Courier Athletes of the WeekCarmel captured the IHSAA regional crown with 157 points, Hamilton Southeastern placed second with 100 points, Noblesville placed third with 54 points and Fishers finished fifth with 45 points.Ketterer was the lone Lafayette area champion from Tuesday."I just stayed silent and stayed focused in my head," Ketterer said.Ketterer was among 11 athletes in eight separate events to qualify for the IHSAA state championships.

The Jeff regional was reconfigured after last season, making one of the toughest regionals in the state.Here are some key storylines from the IHSAA girls track and field regional championships.Local support boosts confidence of ReifNorth White junior Autumn Reif remembered the frustration she felt after a fourth-place finish in discus during the IHSAA regional meet last year.Reif missed reaching state by four inches.

Now, she was setting foot upon once the same sand and circle where heartbreak occurred a year ago.

But this year was going to be different."Knowing I was that close was a real nail biter, but it lit a fire in me to come back this year and try my absolute best," Reif said.

"Every single drill, every single rep counted for this moment to be at that next level."Reif whirled her first throw of the final round 129 feet and nine inches to earn second place and was among four discus throwers who advanced to the IHSAA state meet with qualifying throws.It didn't come easy.

Self-doubt crept into the mind of Reif during her preliminary tosses.More: Drought over: Lafayette Jeff boys track and field reigns supreme at IHSAA sectionalsHer first two throws were out of bounds.

Two scratches.

Now, Reif was throwing for her season.

"But I said my prayer and I went in there, slowed my thoughts and let God guide me through that circle," Reif said.Reif's third throw hit the mark at 119 feet and nine inches just enough to put her over into the finals of the regional meet.With coaching from her father, David, and her throwing coach North White School Corporation superintendent Nick Eccles, Rife delivered the throw to push her ticket to state for the first time.

The finals will be held Saturday, June 7 at North Central High School in Indianapolis.Rife being a proud representative of North White, located in Monon with a population of 1,938 residents."To be able to come here and do this, it's not just for me," Rife said.

"It's for my family, it's for my school and for my community."Gary native Byrd reflects on growth after qualifying for stateLafayette Jeff senior Amani Byrd reflected on her own personal growth having moved to Lafayette from Gary in the fifth grade.She attended an all-girls school at Frankie Woods McCullough Academy and had never attended a co-ed school before her move south to Tippecanoe County.Byrd's energy, athleticism and resilience became part of the fabric of Lafayette Jeff athletics.

She is a four-year varsity member of the basketball team, 2024 sectional champion and a Franklin College signee who aspires to become an attorney and judge.Byrd is now state-bound one last time in the 100-meter dash having taken over the leadership of Lafayette Jeff's girls track and field program."I made our team grow and told them before the season started that track is what you make of it," Byrd said.

"Everybody listened, followed the plan and I believed in them, and they believed in me."Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette.

He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson"This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: IHSAA girls track and field regional results 2025 at Lafayette Jeff.

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