OHSAA State Track and Field Championships

(Columbus, OH, June 6-7, 2008, Matt McGowan )The 101st Boys and 34th Girls Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships saw numerous outstanding performances, including seventeen State meets records. For the fifth year The Ohio State University Jesse Owens Memorial Track was the site of the largest high school track and field meet in the country. Dayton Welcome Stadium was the site of the Championships for three years after the track was removed from Ohio Stadium. Many fans wished for Ohio Stadium to escape the heat as athletes and fans looked for shade and water on a very hot and humid weekend.

The Division III Championships started the day of competition.

Barnesville’s junior Stephanie Morgan who set the Division III State 1600 meters record last year with her 4:45.21 easily defended her title with her 4:49.58. Last year Morgan also won the 3200 meters. However, this year she tried the 800 meters and fifty minutes after winning the 1600 meters she established a new Division III 800 meter State record with her 2:09:87 clocking. Warren John F. Kennedy’s Audrey Maheu set the record last year with her 2:12.39. Versailles’ junior Mary Prakel won the 3200 meters after finishing fourth in the 1600 meters. On Friday Gates Mills Gilmour Academy won the 4 x 800 meter relay with a 9:24.21.

Dayton Christian’s senior John Luttrell who placed second last year in the 1600 behind Yellow Springs Sam Borchers won the 1600 meters in 4:20.65. Findlay Liberty-Benton’s sophomore Seth Butler won the 800 meters in 1:52:54. Dayton Christian’s senior Walter Luttrell (twin brother of John) defended his 3200 meter title with a new Division III State record of 9:16.29. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy won the 4 x 800 on Friday with their 7:57.99.

The following athletes also set Division III State records: Girls - Bellaire St John Central in the 4 x 200 meters – 1:43:21; Elmore Woodmore’s Erin Pendleton in the Discus – 168’ 10”, Anna’s Laura Gehret in the high jump -5’ 8.25” and Troy Christian’s Mackenzie Wills 12” 05”. Boys – Bluffton in the 4 x 200 meters – 1:28.47; Bluffton’s senior John Guagenti in the 400 meters – 47.46; and Columbus Grove’s Heath Nickles in the pole vault – 16’ 1.5”.

The Division II Championships was the second Championships of the day.

Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s junior Katie Gillespie picked up twenty points with her win in the 1600 meters in 5:02.42 and the 3200 meters in 11:00.71. Beloit West Branch’s junior Emilee Zets won the 800 meters in 2:16.23. On Friday Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the 4 x 800 meter relay with their 9:27.20.

Sandusky Perkin’s senior Cory Leslie stole the show in the Division II Championships as he defended his 1600 meters title in 4:12.44 and fifty minutes later established a new Division II 800 meter record with his 1:50:77 clocking. Lancaster Fairfield Union’s Rob Myers held the record since 1999 with his 1:52.73. Chillicothe Unioto’s senior Galen Dills won the 3200 meters in 9:22.00. Vincent Warren wn the 4 x 800 meter relay on Friday with a 7:54.86

The following athletes also set Division II State records: Girls – Columbus Bishop Hartley in the 4 x 100 meters relay; Warrensville Heights’ in the 4 x 400 meters relay – 3:51.22 and Gnadenhutten Indian Valley’s Kayla Caldwell in the pole vault – 12’ 4”. Boys – Sandusky Perkin’s Matthew Hoty in the shot put – 62’ 00.25”. Napoleon’s Ryan Fleck set an all time State record in the high jump with his jump of 7’ 1.5”.

Cleveland’s Heights Beaumont’s senior Emily Infeld last year set records in the 1600 – 4:41.37 and 800 meters – 2:08.63. Infeld this year easily defended her 1600 meter title with her 4:47.31 and completed a four-year sweep in the 800 meters with her 2:09.12. Infeld became the 15th girl to win four consecutive events at the state meet. Worthington Kilbourne’s senior Claire Durkin pulled out of the 1600 meter to concentrate on the 3200 meters and her decision paid off with a new State record with her 10:25.95. On FridayCincinnati St Ursula Academy won the 4 x 800 meter relay with their 9:21.44.

Vandalia Butler’s junior Danny Neff won the 1600 meters in 4:15.90. Reynoldsburg’s senior Mike Knisley (1:51:54) nipped defending champion Jared Hall (1:51:83) to win the 800 meters. Mason’s freshman Zach Wills won the 3200 meters with his 9:15.34 clocking. Cleveland Heights won the 4 x 800 meter relay in 7:41.38.

The boys Trotwood Madison 4 x 400 relay team establish a new State record with their 3:13.46

Mark your calendar for the 102nd Boys and 35th Girls OHSAA State Track and Field Championships to be held on June 5th and 6th at the Jesse Owens Memorial Track

Results can be found at: http://www.baumspage.com/ohsaa/tf/2008/index.htm

Don’t for get the 2008 USA Junior Outdoors Track & Field Championships will be held at OSU Jesse Owens Memorial Track June 19th - June 22nd. To check out the 2008 USA Junior Outdoors Track & Field Championships schedule and for ticket information go to - http://www.columbus08.com

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