All-RTC4 boys track: Dunwoody returns to state, returns as Athlete of the Year

Val T.
Jul 24
4 min read

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

**RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year Harrison Dunwoody**

Harrison Dunwoody added the 100 meters and the long jump to his track repertoire in 2026, but the event in which his name will be listed on the record board inside the hallway above the concession stand at Rochester High School is the 110 hurdles.

And thanks to that record-breaking performance, he is our RTC4 Boys Track Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

Dunwoody is a gifted, quick-twitch athlete with an explosive first step and good instincts. His school record time of 14.52 in the 110 hurdles came in the regional race at Warsaw, and that came after a great indoor season that hinted that this would be coming. Any time under 15 seconds in the 110 hurdles means you are in the conversation to make state, and this spring, it was a surprise when Dunwoody was not under 15.

Dunwoody was also a 21-foot long jumper, and he went under 11.7 seconds in the 100 meters.

Rochester finished fourth at a very tough conference meet, and along with Winamac, they were the top two area boys teams.

The trend in the area seems to be geared toward an influx of young discus and shot put throwers. There is a growing fraternity of young throwers, which is a good thing, but it would be even better if some of them can develop to be sprinters. We have a real paucity of sprinters in the area, and that is what stood out against the competition.

The following is our All-RTC4 boys track team. We thank area coaches for sending us their results and sharing their observations with us. Having said that, this list is ours and ours alone, and we take full responsibility for it after shivering through a number of area meets in person.

We place special emphasis on the conference and postseason meets more than weekday dual meets and indoor meets. Those are the meets in which all the athletes participate in their best events and should be in top shape.

We try to put athletes in their best events, but we might move athletes around to different events in order to get the best kids recognized.

Sprinters

Owen Omondi (Tippecanoe Valley) – Omondi was the sectional champion in the 100, and he was also second in the 200. He also won the Indiana Northern State Conference title in both events. He was also first team All-RTC4 in football and basketball.
Ethan Burgess (Winamac) – Burgess was eighth, fifth and second in the 100, 200 and 400, respectively, at the Hoosier North meet, and he was a regional qualifier in the 400.
Braylon Jackson (Culver) – Jackson is both wiry strong, and we think his best event might be the 400. He was the only area athlete to score points in both the 200 and the 400 at the sectional.

Distance runners

Nathan Pierzchalski (Winamac) – Pierzchalski, a senior, had the spring of his life, winning a great showdown with Dane Bowditch in the Hoosier North 1,600 race and getting his time down to 4:42 by the end of the year as he advanced to the regional. He was also the 3,200 conference champion and a regional qualifier.
Grant Bailey (Rochester) – Bailey, a senior, ran a 2:03 in the 800 and got his 1,600 time down to 4:40. Bailey had a cross-country background, so endurance was never an issue for him.
Dane Bowditch (Pioneer) – Bowditch, a junior, played in the golf regional and ran in the track regional in the 800 meters. He also has a cross-country background and can run any distance between 800 and 3,200.

Hurdlers

Harrison Dunwoody (Rochester) (RTC4 Athlete of the Year) – Dunwoody was such a technician going over the hurdles that there was no wasted motion, and he also used that to jump 21-3 to win the TRC long jump title.
Clarence Garrett (Rochester) – Garrett would be the best hurdler in school at most schools the size of Rochester, but he had to settle for second best at Rochester behind Dunwoody. His personal records were 16.00 in the 110 hurdles and 44.28 in the 300 hurdles.
Mack Mappin (Caston) – Mappin, a freshman, has a chance to be Caston’s next great hurdler. He is aggressive attacking the hurdles, and we think his best event might be the 300 hurdles; he is already under 45 seconds in that race.

Jumpers/pole vaulters

Theron Carrington (Culver) – There seemed to be some complaints about the long jump take-off board at the Plymouth sectional, but Carrington sure did not seem to mind, flying 19-9 to make his first career regional as a senior. He was also third in the long jump at conference.
Alex Towles (North Miami) – Towles, a junior, came out of nowhere to win the Hoosier North long jump title with a jump of 18-8 ¼. He was also third in the high jump at conference at 5-8.
Grayson Miller (Rochester) – Rochester had a relatively inexperienced pole vault crew, but Miller stood out after clearing 10-6 and setting a new personal record while finishing sixth at the Plymouth sectional.

Throwers

Mason Hisey (Rochester) – With his long levers, Hisey, a Wabash College recruit, is extremely well-suited to the discus. He won the TRC title, and we think that he will consistently start throwing over 150 feet once he gets to college.
Charles Disinger (Winamac) – Disinger capped his outstanding career by finishing second at the Kankakee Valley sectional in both the discus and shot put after winning conference in both events.
Mikaden Tolosa (Pioneer) – Tolosa, a junior, was second in the discus and third in the shot put at the Hoosier North meet and uncorked a terrific throw of 139-3 at the sectional to advance to the regional.

Honorable mention