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Lehman senior earns honor of being individual triple winner at regionals

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By Dave Long, Contributing Writer 12:35 AM Saturday, May 28, 2011

TROY — There was little time for Gretchen Walter to rest Friday night in the finals of the Troy Division III regional track and field meet.

The senior sprinter from Lehman Catholic High School was either running a race or walking to and from the awards stand.

“It was a great night but it was tough with so many races,” she said.

Walter swept the 100 meters (12.33 seconds), 200 (25.64) and 400 (58.42) and ran anchor on the Lehman 800-meter relay team that came in fourth. Michaela Nelson of Xenia Christian was second in the 400 (59.16). The top four finishers in each event advance to the state meet next week in Columbus.

This is the second straight year Walter has been an individual triple winner at the regional. She won the 100 and 200 as a sophomore. Last year at state she won the 400 and second in the 100 and 200.

“I running pretty well right now considering how bad the weather has been,” said Walter who will run track for Miami University. “If it’s real hot at state next week, I don’t know how it will affect all of us who have to run so many races.

• Cedarville’s Zeke Young had the step he needed in the boys 400 while teammate Troy Parrett didn’t in the 800. Young won the 400 in 49.56, nipping season-long rival Alex Peoples of Mechanicsburg, who ran 49.64.

Parrett chopped five seconds off his career best time in 800 at 1:53.47. But he couldn’t beat New Bremen’s Dillon Webster at the line at 1:53.38.

“When (Webster) started to break away I just went with him,” said Parrett. “I didn’t want to get him too far ahead. I was with him all the way, but he’s got a big stride that made the difference at the line.”

Parrett and Young joined Gabe Sayers and Jordan Rogers on the second place 800 and 1,600 relay teams, which qualified to state.

• Versaillles was the girls team champion with 83 points to 49 for Minster. Minster (63) topped Anna (53) in the boys meet.

• Dexter Bensman of Anna won the boys 100 (11.07) and 200 (22.26) and anchored the winning 400 relay (43.36) and second-place 800 relay (1:31.63). Mario Cosey of Yellow Springs was second in the 100 (11.17).

• Miami Valley School long jumpers Keta Burke-Williams and Laurel Cooney both qualified to state. Burke-Williams was second in the event (17 feet, 8 inches) while Cooney was third (17-6). Cooney was also on the third place 800 relay team along with Marissa Peppel, Caitlin Pohl and Shelby Carpenter.

• Practice time has been at a premium this spring for Miami East pole vaulter Kyle Roeth.

“Our pit and runway have been under water the whole season,” he said. “Meets have been my practices.”

The 60-degree temperatures weren’t ideal for the completion of the vault, which was suspended Wednesday, but Roeth managed to clear 13-10 to repeat as the regional champion. He was fifth at state last season.

“I hope its 85 and clear at state,” he said. “It would be nice to have at least one nice day to vault this season.”

Roeth will be vaulting at Division II Ashland University in the northeastern part of the state next year.

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