COLUMBUS — The state track and field championships concluded its four-day run Sunday afternoon with a number of local having achieved podium finishes.
Division IV
Amanda-Clearcreek had two runners in three events and got three podium finishes – by finishing in the top nine.
Samantha Buckley was the first area athlete to compete at the state when she ran in the 100-meter hurdle preliminaries Thursday afternoon. She ran a school-record time of 15.48 seconds to have the sixth-fastest qualifying time to advance to the finals.
Buckley ran even faster on Friday as she finished with a time 15.20 seconds to finish fourth in the state.
Gavynn Sowers qualified to the state in two events.
In the 1,600 meters, she ran a time of 5:03.50 to place fifth.
Alanna Williams (Martins Ferry) won the race in 4:55.17 while Huron’s Rylie Towns was second in 4:58.51.
Sowers also podiumed in the 800 meters where she was seventh in 2:19.71.
Valley View’s Addyson Abner won in 2:11.00 and Alanna Williams (Martins Ferry) was second in 2:12.62.
Division II
Teays Valley’s 3,200-meter relay team placed seventh on Saturday.
Addison Keplar, Khloe Maxwell, Grace Thanasack and Reese Galinger ran the eight laps in 9:32.90.
Loveland won the event in 9:05.14 and Big Walnut was second at 9:08.30.
Galinger competed in the 1,600 meters Sunday afternoon where she placed 15th in 5:10.13.
Lindsey Cochran (Big Walnut) won the event in 4:54.45 and Maya Gonzalez (Bay) was second in 4:54.90.
Abby Henderson ran in Saturday’s 100-meter hurdle semifinals. She had the 12th-fastest time of 58.93 seconds, failing to qualify to the finals.
Division III
Circleville’s Liam McConnell took part in the discus Friday.
McConnell, a senior, had a best throw of 146’ 3” to place 15th in the state.
Brett Beury (Firelands) won the competition at 188’ 8” while Ursuline’s Connor Crilley second at 173’.
Logan Elm’s Claire King competed in the pole vault Saturday.
The LE senior cleared 10 feet to place 16th in the 18-competitor field.
Oakwood went 1-2 in the event as Mila Gelbart and Addie Kash each cleared 12’ 10” with Gelbart winning the tiebreaker to be state champ.
Logan Elm’s 1,600-meter relay team of Andrew Pryor, Ayden Hartley, Owen Russell and Dane Liggins ran a time of 3:29.79 in Friday’s semifinals. It was the 16th fastest time that day, but the top nine advanced to the finals.
Click here for team scores and complete state championship results.