PICKERINGTON — The high school sports season officially came to a close for the area’s athletes Saturday with the final three competing at the Division II state track and field championships — with two making the podium.
Circleville’s Colton Pinkerton (pictured below from the Mid-State League championships) had the best showing for area athletes in the meet held at Pickerington High School North.
The senior had qualified to the state finals in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters. He chose to skip the 1,600 and the strategy paid off with a third-place effort in the 3,200. He knocked five seconds off his regional time to finish the race in 9:36.92.
Ryan Champa of Woodridge won in 9:31.03 and Marlington’s Noah Graham was second in 9:33.32.
Westfall senior Marcus Whaley (pictured below in Friday’s prelim) shaved 11 hundredths of a second off Friday’s qualifying time to run the 300-meter hurdles in 39.15 seconds, good for fourth in the state. Perry’s Javin Richards was the state champion with a time of 38.20 seconds.
Logan Elm’s Annie Karshner (pictured from a meet earlier this season) qualified to the state tournament in the shot put. The junior’s best throw Saturday went 34 feet 6 ½ inches. That put her 14th best in the state.
Morgan Hallet of Norton was the state champion with a throw of 43 feet and 7 ½ inches.
