COLUMBUS, Ohio — Galion was as good as advertised. Dayton Chaminade-Julienne was a fraction of a second better.
The Eagles took advantage of a slightly botched Galion handoff and held off the Tigers for a Division II state title in the girls 4×100 relay.
Chaminade-Julienne finished in 48.70 seconds. Galion was second in 48.94.
The Tigers were trying to defend the relay gold they won last spring.
“We had a rough handoff. That didn’t go as well as planned but we made up ground and were able to get back into the race,” senior Michaela Slone said. “We didn’t even know if we’d be making it back to state, so runner-up is pretty darn good.”
Galion’s 4×200 relay team finished eighth.
“It was great just to be back down here having the opportunity to defend our title from last year,” said senior Clair Erlsten, who ran in both relays. “We still got second and I can’t complain about that.
“Any time you end your track career on the podium at state, you can’t complain.”
Reunion: For the second straight year, Shelby’s Cody Stine took second in the Division II high jump competition. And for the second straight year, he was joined atop the podium by state champ Jeffery Floyd of Columbus Linden McKinley and runner-up Zach Robbins of West Branch. The same three jumpers finished in the same order last year.
Floyd won the title with a leap of 6 feet, 10 inches. Both Robbins and Stine cleared 6-9.
“I’m friends with all of them,” Stine said. “It’s a cool experience.”
Stine was hoping for a personal best but came up just short. He cleared 6-10 earlier in the season.
“It’s not exactly what I wanted, but I can’t complain,” Stine said. “You can’t complain about third at state.
“It was a really cool way to end my career.”
Stine said nerves got the better of him.
“Early on I was really nervous, more nervous than last year,” he said. “I ended up getting it together.”
Out in Style: Crestview’s Ben Olewiler was disappointed with his fifth-place finish in the Division III high jump Friday. His mood changed Saturday.
Running out of Lane 1, Olewiler took fourth in the 400 dash in 50.19 seconds.
“I’m really excited about this one, especially being seeded eighth going into this and ending up fourth with my PR,” Olewiler said. “That’s just a great feeling. That’s how I wanted to end my season off.”
Running from the inside lane, Olewiler had a good look at everyone in the field.
“A lot of people don’t like it, but I like it,” Olewiler said. “It felt good, especially the last 200 meters. That’s when the curve starts to come into play and you start catching everyone.”
Olewiler’s Crestview teammate, A.J. Trent, took eighth in the 1,600 in 4:28.91. The conclusion of the race was marred by controversy when Belpre’s Cray Sistrunk was disqualified. Trent was involved in the incident.
“I was running in eighth place coming in and (Sistrunk) pushed through me and the seventh place runner,” Trent explained of the incident. “The three of us were right there and the guy just pushed us out of the way.”
Trent figured he had finished ninth, but stayed near the awards tent just in case.
“To be sitting in that tent … knowing I had just barely missed All-Ohio my senior year and then the attendant walked over and called my name, that moment was so awesome,” Trent said. “I held on to that tiny bit of hope, but I couldn’t imagine it happening.”
Other Placers: Ontario’s Lenell Shelby capped his career with a third-place finish in the Division II 110 hurdles. It was Shelby’s third trip to state and his best finish in Columbus.
“I’m never satisfied with what I do, but it’s a good accomplishment,” Shelby said.
Ontario teammate Rachel Miller was eighth in the 400 dash, while Brett Cortelletti was eighth in the 3,200. Lexington’s Nick Stricklen finished sixth in the two mile.
Madison’s Frank Douglas finished third in the Division I 300 hurdles. Mansfield Senior’s girls 4×100 relay team was a surprising eighth. The team features three freshmen and a sophomore.
“We just started running together at the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship,” sophomore Alaysia Grose said. “We didn’t even think we’d make it here. It’s just crazy.”
