By Spordie Spyce | Athletics writing consultant
Bass Lake High School girls’ track team has won a regional title.
The Young-Lady Canoes captured the Michiana girls’ Class X track championship less than two weeks ago, according to a team member’s parents.
Senior standout Sallie-Anne KinCaid led the way for Bass Lake, as she and 14 teammates collaborated competitively to edge Prixton Pre-College Prep by 2 single points. KinCaid won individual gold in the 100- and 300-meter dash, anchored the second-place 4×50 relay squad and placed fourth in both the shot put and discus throw, respectively.
KinCaid — a straight-A student in the classroom when she isn’t running laps — is no one-trick filly. During her junior-year campaign, she won Class X gold in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump. The then-11th-grader paralleled that feat two days later when she cleared opening height in a nationwide algebra bee.
She was unavailable for comment about all of this.
For head coach Gabardine Steeple-Chase, winning a regional crown was a triumphant moment, based on quotes gathered when the Beacon finally contacted her after a family get-together picnic.
“What a season for us!” Steeple-Chase noted, putting an exclamation point on it. “These girls have done everything it takes, and so much more.”
Steeple-Chase coached B.L.H. to titles in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, and again in 2013 and 2007. Prior to that, she led the school to trophy-hoisting heights in 2005 and 2006, duplicating the feat again in 2004. Bass Lake also took the crown in 2003, under the direction of Steeple-Chase.
