The Jonathan Alder spring sports teams missed sweeping the county tournaments in baseball, softball, and boys and girls track by half-a-point.

The Jonathan Alder boys track team won the Madison County Track and Field Championships on Tuesday, while the Pioneer girls squad was just a half-point behind champion London.

Last month, the baseball team run-ruled the county competition after the softball team won its county tournament.

As has been the case all season long for the Pioneer boys track team, the field events have carried them. Alder’s Brandon Purdum won the shot and the discus competitions, while Jared Keeney was first in the pole vault.

Alder’s Steven Picklesimon was second only to West Jefferson’s Connor Golden in the long jump.

“It was good to get a win,” Alder boys coach Chad Palenshus said. “I knew we had a really good shot at it because we've been performing so well in the field events this season.

“We've had issues all season trying to put together a full strength squad and last night was the closest we have been to doing so, and the results showed. There were some really good performances last night and our seniors wanted that trophy really badly.

“So they were really happy with the championship. I'm really proud of our guys.”

Golden won two events for West Jefferson. In addition to the long jump, he captured the 110 hurdles and was second only to Madison-Plains’ Derek Dingus in the high jump.

“Justin Hoosier was the only athlete to win three individual events, as well as anchoring the winning 4x400 team,” Red Raiders boys track coach Andy Crawford said. “I would think that puts him in pretty rare company, as far as the history of the county meet is concerned.”

The boys sprints and relays were dominated by London, as well. Hoosier won the 100, 200 and 400. The Red Raiders won the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.

Jonathan Alder won the 4x100 relay.

“We were as healthy as we've been all year, as prepared as we've been all year, as focused as we've been all year, and we played to win,” Crawford said. “Jonathan Alder took our best shot and beat us for the third time in four tries. There's no doubt they're the best team in the county in 2010. Congratulations to them.

“Alder outscored us 44 1/2 to 6 in the field events. We knew coming in that was their strength, as well as our weakness, but we had no clue we were going to get (beat) like that. We came back and outscored them by 20 in the running events, but by then, the damage had been done.”

On the girls side, Jonathan Alder actually left Tuesday thinking it had won. However, after the points were checked and double-checked before being approved by all parties, it turned out the Red Raiders brought home the championship.

In the relay events, the girls results mirrored the boys. Like their male counterparts, the Red Raiders girls won the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays. Jonathan Alder won the 4x100.

London also dominated the sprints with Rachel Eaton taking the 100; Courtney Colwell the 200; and Katelyn Nance the 400.

Red Raider Kayla Crager finished in first place in the 800, 1600 and the high jump.

The field events also were a strength for the Pioneer girls. Kristina Hinch won the shot, while Brittany Kitsos won the long jump and Alana Hanrahan the pole vault.