COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lexington’s Nick Stricklen capped his career in style during the second day of the state track and field meet Saturday at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
A senior, Stricklen won a Division II state title in the 3,200 meter run a day after anchoring Lexington’s championship 4×800 relay team. He finished in 9 minutes, 25.61 seconds, a whopping 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Noah Perrin of Woodridge.
Stricklen wasn’t the only area athlete to shine over the weekend.
Division I: Ashland’s Cirrus Robinson took runner-up honors in the high jump. The senior cleared 5 feet, 7 inches, good for second behind Strongsville’s Cassie Martin.
Mansfield Senior’s Alaya Grose was eighth in the 100 hurdles (15.06) while cousin Alaysia Grose was ninth in the 100 dash (12.80). The two teamed with Natasha Franklin and Makenna Hawk to finish eighth in the 4×100 relay (48.65). Senior High’s boys 4×100 team of Brian Benson, Jornell Manns, Davis Chapman and Joe Ellis was ninth in 42.87.
Ashland’s Edmund Coleman was ninth in the 3,200 in 9:19.47.
Division II: The Galion boys 4×100 team of Jacob Fryer, Colin McCullough, Houston Blair and Drake Barnett finished second in 42.81, just ahead of the third-place Lex quartet of Jake Goettel, Tony Gerrell, Hunter Biddle and Colin Christman (43.07).
Galion’s Colton Moore tied for fourth in the high jump (6-4). Lexington’s Ryan Johnston was fourth in the 1,600 (4:21.91).
Galion’s 4×200 team of McCullough, Caleb Ivy, Blair and Barnett took fourth in 1:29.83. Individually, Barnett was sixth in the 200 (22.295).
Ontario’s Rachel Miller took fourth in the 300 hurdles, finishing in 44.55, while teammate Nashail Shelby was seventh in the 100 hurdles in 15.36.
Shelby’s Kennadie Goth took fifth in the long jump with a leap of 17-8.75. Teammate CeCe King was eighth in the shot put (39-0.5).
The Clear Fork girls 4×100 and 4×200 teams both finished fifth. The 4×100 foursome of Cassandra Vaughn, Lauren Callen, Brittney Hart and Jordan Helinski finished in 49.33 seconds. The 4×200 quartet of Callen, Hart, Amelia Moore and Helinski finished in 1:44.32.
Lexington’s Abby Miller was eighth in the 3,200 in 11:16.21. Teammate Mackenna Curtis-Collins was 11th in 11:32.22.
Division III: St. Peter’s Alyssa Wade was sixth in the 100 in 12.62 and seventh in the 100 hurdles in 15.46. Mansfield Christian’s Claire Reynolds was ninth in the 3,200 in 11:25.50.
