MANSFIELD, Ohio — A close call in the high jump was just what Mansfield Senior’s Joe Ellis needed to get locked in at Saturday’s 84th Mehock Relays.
After missing his first two attempts at 6-foot-6, Ellis cleared the height on his final try then easily went over 6-8 on his first try to win a gold medal.
“He was thinking about it too much,” said assistant coach Damon Butts, who offered some advice to the junior after he twice approached the bar on his third attempt at 6-6 but didn’t jump.
Ellis would go on to take second in the 200 meter dash in 22.55 seconds and anchor Senior High’s runner-up 4 x 100 relay team (43.47).
“I’m pretty happy with the way the day went,” Ellis said. “I think we can go way faster in the four-by-one. We’ve got some work to do, but overall it was a good day.”
The Tygers finished fourth in the 30-team boys field with 49 points.
Keshawn Jones was second in the 800 in 1:59.66, while Jornell Manns was third in the long jump with a leap of 21-4. Davis Chapman (11.52) and Brian Benson (11.62) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 100 and Tyrese Long was eighth in the 100 hurdles (15.81). Senior High finished sixth in the 4 x 200 relay in 1:34.74.
Running With the Best: Jones finished runner-up to Watkins Memorial’s Andrew Jordan in the 800. One of the most highly-regarded prep distance runner in the nation, Jordan broke a meet record in the 1,600 in 4:10.20.
“I talked to some of the guys to find out who I was going up against,” Jones said. “I knew he is a great runner, so to compete with him feels good.
“I just went out and tried not to go too fast on my first lap, then bring it home on the second lap.”
Better Late Than Never: Manns had signed in for the long jump competition, but then had to report for the 4 x 100 relay before taking a single jump in the preliminaries. He got back to the long jump pit just in time to complete his preliminary jumps.
“They were finished (with the prelims) before I even got a chance to jump,” Manns said. “Because I had already checked in, they let me jump.”
But Manns didn’t get a chance to warm up. He struggled with his steps, never hitting the board.
“I don’t get a chance to practice that much because I do so many events,” Manns said. “I don’t work on long jumping at practice.”
Boys Placers: Crestview’s Michael Kochenderfer was the area’s only other gold medalist. The senior took first in the pole vault (13-6). Shelby’s Brayden Burkhalter (12-0) was sixth and St. Peter’s Thomas Schlitt (12-0) was eighth.
Galion’s Jacob Staiger was third in the shot put (49-0.5) and teammate Gavin Ratcliff was third in the discus (149-10). Ontario’s DeAndre Jones was seventh in the shot (47-8), while Shelby’s Ethan Waldruff was fourth in the discus (148-11).
Galion’s Houston Blair was fifth n the long jump (20-9.25). Shelby’s Devin Tuttle was sixth (20-4.75).
Galion’s Colton Moore finished runner-up to Ellis in the high jump, clearing 6-6. Shelby’s Cameron Stine (5-10) was sixth.
Galion’s Colin McCullough placed in both hurdle events. He was second in the 300s (39.48) and fifth in the 100s (15.37).
Galion’s Drake Barnett finished fourth in the 200 (22.79). Madison’s Hunter Hartshorn was sixth in the 400 (51.42).
Crestview’s 4 x 200 team was fifth in 1:33.30. The Cougars finished sixth in the 4 x 100 (44.92). Galion’s 4 x 400 team was fifth in 3:33.32 and Shelby’s 4 x 800 team was seventh in 8:23.29.
