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Tigers, Bratka take home Champaign boys track title

West Liberty-Salem’s Nate Bratka competes in the discus at the Champaign County track meet at Graham High School on Tuesday, April 28. Bratka won the event. Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic

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By Michael Cooper, Staff Writer Updated 7:13 AM Wednesday, April 29, 2009

ST. PARIS — No one likes rain, especially at a track meet.

While it’s tough on the runners, it can be even worse for the throwers.

But that didn’t stop two of the best in the state — Urbana senior Will Barr and West Liberty-Salem senior Nate Bratka — from competing against each other one last time.

Bratka, who had never beaten Barr in his career, saved the best for last at the Champaign County Track and Field Championships at Graham High School on Tuesday, April 28.

Bratka’s toss of 164 feet, 10 inches in a rain-soaked circle gave him a victory over Mechanicsburg’s Carl Conley, who placed second with a 150-9. Barr, who fouled on three of his four throws, was third with a 148-11 toss.

“When its pouring down rain and you have the circle the way it is, having to blow it out and everything else, it evens out the playing field,” Bratka said. “It was up for grabs for anybody and lucky for me, I was on top of things today.”

Bratka’s victory helped the Tigers win the team competition with 82 points, five better than Mechanicsburg.

“They’ve got a lot of depth and a lot of talent,” said West Liberty-Salem girls coach Shane Godwin, who filled in for the ill Bart Zirkle. “They really came out and performed well. (Bart) will be happy even though he wasn’t here to enjoy to it.”

Entering the meet, Barr had the second-best throw in the state of 174-3, according to the Web site www.milesplit.us.

Bratka, the defending Division III state champion, was third in the state with a 174-1. He said the rain will help him prepare for the postseason, in case it happens again.

He was also happy to get the victory against Barr in their last meet against each other, but he called it “a testament to Will” for all the times he’s beat him in the past.

“He’s a great thrower,” Bratka said. “I love competing against the guy. We push each other.”

Barr, who won the shot put with a toss of 51-6, was disappointed with his performance in the rain, but wasn’t using it as an excuse.

“I had some monster throws, but I fouled all of them by stepping out of the circle,” Barr said. “It was just a bad performance on my part and I wasn’t very mentally prepared.

“Everyone has to throw in (the rain),” Barr continued. “It’s just whoever can rise above it and today I just wasn’t that guy.”

West Liberty-Salem’s Lance Kitchen won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 41.9 seconds. The 1,600-meter relay team of Kitchen, Jake Anderson, Brice Baumgardner and Eric Zirkle also took first place in 3:42.62.

Urbana’s Josh Colbert won the 100 (11.30) and the 200 (24.18).

»WLS girls win Champaign County title on B4

»Check out more photos and video from the meet online at SpringfieldNewsSun.com/sports

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