Sunny and warm June weather greeted the athletes and fans at Ohio High School Athletic Association 115th annual Boys and the 48th annual Girls Track & Field Championship after three years returned to Ohio State University Jesse Owens Stadium.
Division III
On Friday Minster repeated as the girls Division III 4 x 800 meter relay champions winning by nearly twenty seconds. Saturday morning Norwayne’s senior Jaylee Wingate took home the gold in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:56.05. Minster’s senior Taylor Roth repeated her gold in the 800 meters with a time of 2:11.72. Maplewood’s junior Caleigh Richard added the 3200 crown (10:53) to her 2022 1600 title.
Woodmore took home the Division III girls crown with 37 points with Norwayne capturing the runner up trophy with 34 points.
Bluffton won the boys 4 x 800 meter relay on Friday with a time of 7:52.13. East Canton’s senior Brylan Holland who won the 2022 Division II Cross Country crown added the 1600 meter gold with his 4:13.51. Hanoverton United’s senior Kaleb Nastari lowered his Division III State 800 meter record (1:49.56) he set last year with a new record of 1:48.31. Kaleb time is the top time in the Nation this year. East Canton’s Brylan Holland won his three state crown this school year with his win in the 3200 meters with a time of 9:24.25.
Marion Local won their first track trophy with 38 points while Paint Valley and Columbus Grove tied for runner up honors with 30 points.
Division II
On Friday Waynesville captured the Division II 4 x 800 meters title with a 9:17.62. 2022 Cross Country State Champion Oakwood’s senior Bella Butler won the 1600 meter crown in 4:49.01. Thirty five minute after winning the 400 meters in 56.65 Ottawa-Glandorf’s senior Alexa Fortman repeated her 800 meter title with a clocking of 2:09.97. Oakwood’s Bella Butler who finished second last year to former teammate Grace Hartman in the 3200 meters won her second title of the day with her 10:49.66.
Marengo Highland's senior Juliette Laracuente-Huebner won four state championships with three division records at the Division II OHSAA State Track & Field Tournament. She is one of only six girls to ever win four gold medals at one state meet without being part of a relay team. She established three new Division II records* on her way to four golds; long jump*- 19-11, high jump*-5-10.5, 100 meter hurdles* – 13.64 and 200 meters – 24.23. Her 40 points also earned the Fighting Scots the runner up team trophy
Peninsula Woodridge took home the girls team title with 45 points. Highland took home the runner up trophy with 40 points.
Marlington repeated as the boys 4 x 800 meter champions with their 7:50.98. Marlington’s junior Colin Cernansky who won the 2022 cross country title repeated as the 1600 meter champion with his 4:14.57. Fairless’s senior Brody Pummeo who place second last year in the 800 meters won this year in 1:53.03 less than a half a second to Chardon NDCL’s senior Brian Bates 1:53.52. West Geauga’s senior Daniel Kearns won the 3200 meters in 9:25.60.
Glennville won their 18 team tile with their 60 points. Peninsula Woodridge added another trophy to their school’s trophy case with the runner up trophy with their 34 points.
Division I
2022 Division I bronze medalist Westlake in the 4 x 800 meter earned the top spot this year with their 9:04.74. Saturday afternoon Division I had to deal with two lighting delays with much of the races running under the lights. 2022 cross country champion Olmsted Falls’ senior Katie Clute won the 1600 meters in 4:45.89. Stow-Munroe Falls’ junior Jayla Atkinson took home the 800 meter title in 2:10.74. Olmsted Falls’ Katie Clue returned to the top of the podium repeating her 3200 meters title in 2022 with a time of 10:18.50.
Gahanna Lincoln defended their title winning this year with 50 points. Cross country champions Mason finished second with 43 points.
Last year’s runner up in the 4 x 800 meter relay St Xavier won in 7:45.21 edging Medina 7:45.80 for this year’s title. This year’s Division I cross country champion and last year’s runner up in 1600 meters Hilliard Davidson’s senior Connor Ackley won the gold in 4:07.10. Olentangy Liberty’s senior Jaxson Eckert hit the finish line in 800 meters in 1:50.973 nipping Lancaster’s senior Colton Thress 1:50.975. Hilliard Davidson Connor Ackley returned to the top of the victory stand with his 9:05.50 run in the 3200 meters.
Toledo St. John’s Jesuit won the Division I crown with 35 points while last year’s team champion Pickerington Central took home the runner up trophy with 29 points.
Check out this year’s RUNOHIO’s photos - https://www.runohio.com/index.php/photos/2023 and last year’s RUNOHIO photos on https://www.runohio.com/index.php/photos/2022, 2021 photos on https://www.runohio.com/index.php/photos/2021