MONROE — The South Hamilton track and field teams know that they’ll take eight events, at a minimum, to next week’s state meet. And that number could very well increase by Saturday.

The Hawk girls’ team automatically pushed five events through at last night’s Class 2A State Qualifying Meet, while the boys’ squad is assured of three events, all of which are medal favorites.

All in all, not too shabby.

Austin Busch, a senior and Iowa recruit, continued his season-long domination in the throws for the South Hamilton boys’ team. The Drake Relays shot put champion won his favored event easily with a throw of 57 feet, 2 inches, and also added gold in the discus with a heave of 157-2.

He’ll enter next week among the favorites to win state titles in both events.

Tanner Blue certainly has his eyes on a state medal in the 110-meter hurdles as well and with good reason. Blue ran under 15 seconds for the first time and broke his own school record last week, and he followed it up with another sub-15 clocking to dust the field last night. His winning time was 14.89 seconds.

The South Hamilton girls’ team has four individual automatic qualifiers and one relay, with as many as four other events that will be in the running for wildcard entries.

Ashlyn Erickson put together one of her finest 400-meter dash races, as she was the first to the finish line in 1:01.72.

Kate Barkema, Kelbe Krumm and Mackenzy Grady all advanced as state qualifier runners-up. Barkema captured silver in the 100 in 12.90 seconds, while Krumm punched her ticket in the 200 with a time of 26.67. Grady made it through a difficult night in the discus with a toss of 112-9.

Barkema, Krumm and Erickson were joined by Makena Galetich on the second-place 4×100 relay (50.99).

Grace Neuberger was third in the high jump (4-10), as were the sprint medley (1:56.50), 4×200 (1:48.70) and 4×800 (10:33.89) relays. They’re stuck in limbo until the wildcards are announced.

Barkema, Krumm, Galetich and Erickson ran the sprint medley. Tanna Thompson joined Barkema, Krumm and Galetich on the 4×200. Anna Lammers, McKenna Miller, Kailyn Northrop and Madison Beaune comprised the 4×800.

South Hamilton finished fourth in the girls’ team standings. The boys’ team was eighth.