LAKEVILLE - Sarah Tharp has been thinking about this moment for a long time. Like so many other high school track and field competitors, setting goals, looking at a time or distance has been there for some time. Wednesday night at Lancer Field, LaVille High School hosted the 2nd annual Indiana Northern State Conference Track & Field Championships. Through her time participating in the sport, Tharp has always wanted to be involved in big time meets. Wednesday night she got an opportunity. And, despite chilly and windy conditions, Tharp took advantage of this chance. May 13 started in the 60s, but by the time field events started at 5:30pm EDT, the temperatures were quickly falling into the low 50s and wind chills into the 40s. "It was definitely a rough night, especially with the weather," said Tharp after the meet. "I just felt I had to focus a little bit more because there was plenty of competition. I knew that it was a big goal for me to get first place in big meets." She started with a 14'-4" mark on her first jump. The next jumper - Jimtown's Kylie Wiegand - let Tharp know she was going to tag along for the conference long jump title, leaping for 14'-3.5". "After the first jump, I was definitely not comfortable because I knew there was another girl that jumped in the 15s (feet)," said Tharp, whose best jump is 15'-8". "She was having a bad day, especially with the board and the weather. "I felt really good about (my first jump) because of the conditions, it was very, very windy. On the next jumps (the weather) definitely took distance away. I was very excited to know that my first jump - 14'-4 - got it done for me." With some help from LaVille girls track and field coach Erin Ecker, we asked Tharp if she has ever heard of Olivia Goze? Goze graduated in 2022 and was the last LaVille track and field girl to win the conference long jump championship. "I have heard of her," said Tharp. "Does she hold the school record?" The girls long jump school record is one of the longest running marks in school history, held by Missy Albert in 1985, coming in at 17'-3". Albert also finished in third place in the long jump sectional in 2022. On her final jump Wednesday, Wiegand gave Tharp one last run, leaping an identical 14'-3.5" from earlier in the night, but Tharp's effort earned her first-team all-conference honors. Tharp will now transition to preparations for the Indiana High School Athletic Association sectional. "I do think about it a lot," said Tharp when asked if the sectional is on her mind. "I know that there are a lot of talented people that I will be going against. I'm pretty sure that Lydia Goodsell is going to be there and she is amazing at long jump. There is definitely going to be a lot of competition for that and I have to get myself ready." Overall, the Lancer junior, "... I thought it was a pretty good night. It was very exciting. I am happy with the way things turned out, especially with the conditions." Great work, Sarah!