Frustration is a motivating force for Natalie Uy.

The Fairmont High School junior cleared 5-feet, 6-inches in the high jump at her first indoor track meet of the season.

She didn’t come close to that height in any other indoor meet nor has she been close in the outdoor season.

“I’ve hit 5-4 pretty easy in a lot of meets, but I just nick the bar every time I’ve tried 5-6,” she said. “I know I’ll probably have to go 5-6 or higher at the conference meet to win it.”

Uy will be one of the few athletes competing in four events in the Greater Western Ohio Conference meet today and Friday at Piqua High School.

Field events begin today at 1:30 p.m. and running finals in the Central, North and South Divisions go at 4 p.m. The top two finishers in each divisional final plus the next two fastest overall times in the 100, 200, 400 and 800 meter races, the 110 and 300 hurdles and 400, 800 and 1,600 relays advance to the overall GWOC championship Friday.

The 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and 3,200-meter relay will be run as finals Friday when field events go at 5:30 p.m. and running events at 7.

Along with the high jump, Uy will compete in pole vault, long jump and 100-meter hurdles. The high jump is her speciality. She won the GWOC as a freshman. Last year she and Jasmine Glover of Sidney both cleared 5-6. Glover was the conference champion in fewer misses.

“I like being in a lot of events,” Uy said. “It keeps me busy and I like the challenge of trying to master each technique. My goal is to compete in the heptathlon in college.”

Going into the 18-team GWOC meet, Uy is tied for the best height in the high jump, has the second-best long jump (16-6.50), third-best pole vault (10-0) and fifth-best hurdle time (15.72 seconds).

The only dominant girl this season has been Beavercreek junior Sydney Leiher in the 800 (2:14.57), 1,600 (4:59.84) and 3,200 (11:00.04). She is five seconds faster than her closest competitor in the 800 and seven seconds faster in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Lebanon is the defending girls overall team champion. Wayne and Centerville are the favorites.

Unlike past years, there have been few state-caliber performances from individuals in the overall boys competition. In the 100 and 200, Wayne’s Javan Richardson and Toney Peters and Nick James of Troy have been the most consistent.

Jordan Redd of Fairborn, Josh Steible of Centerville and Jacob Brumfield have posted the best times in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs.

Trotwood-Madison, usually one of the favorites to win state titles in the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relays, has yet to post any attention-grabbing times in those events. Wayne is the favorite to win the boys team title.

• The Southwestern Buckeye League prelims are Thursday at Preble Shawnee. The finals are Saturday. The Central Buckeye Conference finals are Friday evening at Urbana.