Regional Track: John Glenn girls finish as team runner-up

NEW CONCORD — It was another strong day for the John Glenn girls during Saturday's Division II regional track and field meet at Muskingum University.

The Muskies tallied 57 1/2 points to finish as the team runner-up to champion Fairfield Union, which scored 72 points.

Along with the team scores, the top four finishers in each event earned berths to compete in next week's state meet at Dayton's Welcome Stadium.

Brayden Snider won the pole vault, clearing 11-feet-6 and finished fourth in the girls long jump (16-10 1/2) to highlight the Muskies' effort. Jessica Church placed second in the 400 (58.12), Ashlynn Kuklica finished third in the 1,600 with a school-record time of 5:10.46, and the girls 4x400 of Faith Saxton, Brea Wilfong, Kuklica and Church came in fourth (4:08.67).

They joined Chelsea Sotherden (shot), Ava Hoffman (high jump) and the girls 4x800, who qualified for state on Thursday.

"We've run well and set so many school records this season," John Glenn coach Doug Joy said. "The bar is set high for the girls program. They have an expectation of success, and the girls buy in to what we want to do. They work hard, and they've been rewarded."

Snider expected to advance in the pole vault, but she used that knowledge to also excel in the long jump.

"I just started the long jump this year so it's unexpected. I wasn't sure I'd make it to the regionals, but the running and jumping from pole vault helped me," she said. "I can go higher in the pole vault. I need to get my run right and use the bigger poles to launch over. Last year's state experience will definitely help me this time."

There were plenty of other top showings from area athletes.

Sheridan's Beckett Strong won the girls 800 in a school record time of 2:13.11, while Hunter Adams took second in the boys 400 (50.75), Tate Ruthers finished second in the boys 3,200 (9:28), Lily Dennis came in second in the girls discus (128-10) and Claire Shriner was fourth in the girls 300 hurdles (47.77) to round out the Generals' qualifiers.

The boys 4x800 of Ruthers, Simon Conrad, John Skinner and Adams came in third (8:04.64) to advance on Thursday.

Strong had been running the 400, but she used that experience, as well as being a strong sprinter, to collect the title.

"This is only the sixth time I've ran the 800 so I was nervous. I stayed on the heels of the faster girls and gave everything I had in the last 100," Strong said. "There was strong competition in the 800 and that pushed me to do well. It hasn't really set in that I'm the regional champ, but I'm excited to compete at state."

Dennis also gets to return to state and is focused on reaching the finals after finishing 12th in the state last season.

"I was really nervous last year, but I know what to expect," she said. "I will focus on being lined up, and I'm going to practice throwing at the time I'm scheduled to go. I also need to do my stretches, stay hydrated and get my rest. I have a good plan in place."

Adams credited his coaches in earning this opportunity in his first track season.

"The coaches made me believe in myself and helped me so much," Adams said. "There's a great atmosphere around the team. We push each other to keep going and aiming to do better."

Coshocton's Israel Rice moved on with a second in the 100 (11.06) and a third in the 200 (22.49). He also anchored the 4x100 with Antwone Johns, Riley Woodie, Logan Wince to take fourth (43.18), while Aiden Braxton also moved for the Redskins with a fourth in the boys high jump (6-4).

"I wasn't even top 3 in the MVL in the 100 or 200 so to be that at the regional in one year is such an improvement," Rice said. "It means everything to go with my people. We spend so much time together, and our hard work has paid off."

Coshocton coach Larry Peterson noted the pieces were in place for success, and qualifying for state was the group's focus all season.

"Being fourth today is like being first. We wanted to be able to run at state," he said about the relay. "I couldn't be more proud of this group, and the hard work they've put in. They've definitely earned it."

Maysville's Bella Van Wey followed up her shot put berth from Thursday with a third in the discus (127-5). She credited Coach Dustin Young, among others, for putting her in the position to reach state in both.

"It's really exciting to get there. Coach Young knows what he's talking about and focuses on the good things I can do," she said. "He told me I could do this. I will show up next week and aim to do the best I can."

Philo's Aidan Mahon reached state in two more events after qualifying in the long jump on Thursday. He placed second in the boys high jump (6-5) and third in the 400 (50.76).

"This is such a big payoff for everything I've put in," he said. "I felt burnt out last year, but I put everything into it this year. I'm looking forward to the chance."

The Philo girls 4x200 of Makenna Staker, Aubree DeLong, Emily Stockdale and Halli Harris were third (1:46.57). Staker and DeLong return to the state meet after being part of this relay a year ago. Harris, who was injured last season, and Stockdale will make their first appearances.

"We started a legacy last year and built on it. Getting back means our hard work paid off," Staker said. "Being there last year helped us realize we deserved this spot. That experience was more important than where we placed."

Cambridge's Zoey Caldwell qualified in both hurdles, placing second in the girls 100 (15.45) and 300 (46.26), after missing in the long jump, while Bryson Anderson advanced in the boys high jump, taking third at 6-4 for the Bobcats

"There was extra determination and motivation after the long jump," Caldwell said. "My family, coaches and Mark Clifford have pushed me. Mark tells me to go out there each time like I own the place. I'm grateful to all of them and my teammates for their support. I appreciate everyone who has helped me get this far."

Ridgewood's Kenzie Bice came in fourth in the girls 400 (59.02) to make her first state meet. She has been to the regional meets for cross country and track so earning this opportunity was special.

"I knew the girl in front of me was really fast so I just tried to stay close to her," Bice said. "I've been so close so it means everything to finally accomplish this. I want to make the most of this experience and see what I can do."

The West Muskingum boys 4x200 of Jax Prang, Dustin Bowman, Grant Rogers and Lane Kennedy moved on in third (1:29.91), while Morgan's Adam Cooper advanced with a fourth in the 300 hurdles (40.6) to round out area qualifiers.

Kennedy felt commitment pushed the Tornadoes' relay to the state meet.

"We really wanted to go to state, and we worked really hard to take time off," he said. "We improved our handoffs, stayed after practice to work more and texted each other ideas. We put the time in so it means a lot to have this chance."

Area competitors in fifth place and just missing state were New Lexington's Jocelynn Bowen in the girls 100 hurdles, Philo's Deacon Scott in the boys 110 hurdles, the River View girls 4x200 of Cortney Bookless, Alyssa Fox, Annie Killiany and Caily Shriver, Ridgewood's Talon Carnes in the boys 300 hurdles, Sheridan's Conrad in the boys 800 and West Muskingum's Kennedy in the boys 200.

Division I

Tri-Valley's Chris Gargasz will head to the state meet after placing second in the boys shot on Friday at Pickerington North. Gargasz threw a distance of 54-feet-1 3/4 inches.

Mackenzie Harvey fell short in the girls discus, finishing sixth (116-9), Lucca Gargasz tied for 11th in the boys high jump (6-0) and Erin Hogue was 14th in the girls 800 (2:23.51) for the Scotties.

Division III

A trio of area athletes earned state berths on Friday at Heath. Buckeye Trail's Charlie Parry placed third in the boys high jump (6-2) and fellow Warrior, Koen Eagon, finished third in the 300 hurdles (40.17), while Rosecrans' Brody Zemba finished third in the 200 (22.76).

The Warriors' Donovan Geiger finished fifth in the 200 (22.89) and sixth in the 100 (11.31), the 4x200 of Mason Todd, Parry, Eagon and Janson Alloway was sixth (1:32.89), and the 4x100 relay did not finish.

The Bishops' 4x100 relay of Evan Backus, Conner Wells, Tizian Schmelzer and Zemba came in sixth (44.61) and Zemba was seventh in the 100 (11.32).

Crooksville's 4x200 relay of Brayson Hill, Riley Wagoner, Hunter Hurst and Grayson Houk finished fifth with a school-record time of 1:32.41, and Hannah Sheets was 16th in the 3,200 (12:23).