The last time a Pirate has advanced to the OHSAA STATE Track Meet was 2014 when Paige Ordway made the trip to Columbus and pointed for the Pirates on the big stage. 2018 State Track meet will feature a pair of Pirates as Katie Keller advances to the Girls State Meet in the 300M Hurdles while Eli Troyer will jump in the Boys State Track Meet High Jump. Both Pirate Tracksters advanced by placing in the top 4 at the Division III Tiffin Regional Track Meet. Cameron Mason also long jumped at the Tiffin Regional but did not advance.
Katie Keller
Keller went into the Regional Meet with the second seeded time based on her effort at the Archbold District. Keller ran a 47.07 at the Prelims on Wednesday to move to Friday’s final with the best time. A 47.20 effort in the finals was good enough for second place and a trip to Columbus. Maryonna Cathey of New London won the meet with a time of 46.10. Megan Carey (Upper Scioto Valley 47.50) and Claire Rothert (Woodmore 47.50) also advanced. Keller is a Sophomore at Continental High.
Eli Troyer
Troyer went into the Regional Meet with the 3rd best jump at 6’1” at the Archbold Regional. Two jumpers entered the Regionals clearing a 6’2” height at Districts. A 6’1” effort at Regionals would garner a 7th place in the standing while 6”2” would not advance to the next level. Troyer would not have a miss till he jumped at 6’1” where he cleared on the second jump. Seven jumpers cleared 6”1” with Troyer sitting in a 5th place tie for second on misses. Troyer would clear 6”2” on his second attempt, being one of 6 to make this height. Troyer was in a third place tie with 3 others with 2 misses. At 6’3” one jumper cleared the height on his first jump, a second cleared on their second jump and two more cleared on their third and final jump to decided who advances to State. Troyer and eventual Regional Champ Seth Stoner (Mansfield Christian) both cleared 6’3” on their final attempt. Troyer would not clear 6’4” and would finish in 4th behind Champion Seth Stoner 6’5”, Will Poling (Liberty Benton) 6’4” , and Elija Cobb (Mansfield St Pete) 6’3”. Cobb took third place on misses 1 to 4. Troyer is a Sophomore at Continental High.
Cameron Mason
Mason went into the Regional Meet with a 15th best Long Jump at 19’2”. Mason almost matched that on his first jump as he went 19’1.75” good for 9th place after 1 jump. Mason would not better that jump on attempts 2 (18’ 5.75), or 3 (18’9.5”). Mason would end up 14th. Angelo Frias (Margaretta) would win the Long Jump with a 22’4.25” effort. Cameron Reed (Edon 22’), Will Poling (Liberty Benton 21’9.75), and Eliot Cummings (Ottawa Hills 21’6.75”) also advanced. Mason is a Senior at Continental High.
2018 State Track and Field Schedule
Division III State Prelims start on Friday June 1 at 9:30. Girls 300M Hurdles Prelims are scheduled to be ran at 11:20. The top 2 in each heat will advance to the finals with the next 5 being chosen by time. Boys High Jump Prelims and Final start at 1pm on Friday June 1. Finals for Division III track events will be held on Saturday June 2 starting at 9:30. The Girls 300M Hurdles are scheduled to be ran at 10:40. The State Track meet is held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State University Campus.
Other events to watch at State with Putnam County League tracksters:
Girls
4×800 Relay Columbus Grove
100M Hurdles Carlee McCluer CG
100M Alaina Basinger PG, Rylee Sybert CG
1600M Taylor Lucke Kalida, Alyssa Ellerbrock CG
200M Hannah Berheide Kalida
3200M Taylor Lucke Kalida
Shot Put Grace Rigel Leipsic
300M Hurdles Carlee McCluer CG
100M Rylee Sybert CG
Discus Brynlee Hanneman Ottoville, Madisyn Maag CG
Boys
100M Josh Verhoff Kalida
2x200M Relay Kalida
400M Grant Laudick Kalida
200M Josh Verhoff Kalida
1600M Brendan Siefker Ottoville
800M Brendan Siefker Ottoville
3200M Brendan Siefker Ottoville
Additional PCL tracksters may advance if they make the top 2 times of the remaining competitiors.
Team Standings
Liberty Benton swept both the Boys and Girls Tiffin Regional Track Championships. The Eagle won the Girls portion with 62 points while Swanton was third with 46 points. Kalida placed 6th with 36 points, Pandora Gilboa 17th with 15 points, Leipsic 19th with 14 points, and Continental 24th with 8 points. The Boys meet was decided by the final event 4x400M as the Eagles needed a second place in the race to garner the win with 58 points. Ashland Crestview was second with 57 points, Kalida 4 with 38 points and Continental 33rd with 5 points.
–Mike Jones, Sportswriter
