Area’s best at state track
Local athletes who hold state track meet records:
Division I boys
200*: Chris Nelloms, 20.47, Dunbar, 1990.
400*: Chris Nelloms, 45.59, Dunbar, 1990.
1,600 relay*: Trotwood-Madison, 3:13.32, (Paschal, Henry, Jordan, Ruby), 2009.
Shot put: Jimmie Pacifico**, 69-5.25, Vandalia Butler, 2007.
Division II boys
110 high hurdles*: Lamar Hill, 13.71, Dayton Christian, 1996.
400: Laron Brown, 47.22, Roth, 1982.
400 relay*: Jefferson, 41.79, (Bonner, Britton, Johnson, Payne), 1981.
1,600 relay: Roth, 3:14.57, (Brown, McCray, Mosby, Brown), 1982.
Division III boys
100: Tony Lee, 10.67, Jefferson, 1988.
200: Tony Lee, 21.63, Jefferson, 1988.
800*: Sam Borchers, 1:51.54, Yellow Springs, 2007.
3,200: Walter Luttrell***, 9:16.29, Dayton Christian, 2008.
400 relay: Jefferson, 42.31, (Clack, Williams, Lee, Trimble), 1986.
1,600 relay*: Jefferson, 3:21.08, (Huggins, Haygood, Douglas, McKenzie), 1994.
3,200 relay*: Yellow Springs, 7:48.39, (Onfroy, Peters, Firestone, Borchers), 2007.
Division III girls
3,200: Sunni Olding#, 10:38.02, Minster, 2004.
Pole vault: MacKenzie Wills+, 12-5, Troy Christian, 2008.
High jump: Laura Gehret, 5-8.25, Anna, 2008.
* Also state division record in addition to state meet record.
** Also state record holder (71-6.25).
*** Also state record holder (9:09.15).
+ Also state record holder (13-0).
# Also state record holder (10:32.75).
For area high school athletes who’ve been running around in circles this spring, the end is near.
The season-concluding state track and field meet is this weekend in Columbus. And, as usual, the Miami Valley will be well-represented.
Let’s bring you up to speed:
The venue
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Ohio State University. Part of a clustered athletic complex that includes the Woody Hayes Athletic Center (football), Buckeye Field (softball), North Turf Field (field hockey), Bill Davis Stadium (baseball) and the Schottenstein Center (basketball).
Lowdown: The stadium was completed in 2001 and named after the pride of Cleveland East Tech High School. It comfortably seats 10,000 with about 75 percent of the seating on the home stretch.
A multiuse facility, the stadium also hosts lacrosse and soccer. Only the shot put and discus are contested outside the stadium, a short walk across Fred Taylor Drive. Food and beverages are allowed, but no coolers.
Directions: I-70 east, Ohio 670 east, Ohio 315 north, right on Ackerman Road exit, right on Fred Taylor Drive, stadium on the left.
Parking: Free, next to stadium.
Cost: $10 per person, per day. Children 5 and younger free.
Area’s best bets
At this point, individual quality usually trumps overwhelming depth. That’s how Craig Wallace (Dunbar, 1964) and LaVonna Martin (Trotwood-Madison, 1984), won state team titles by themselves.
Trotwood boys: William Henry already is destined to join the all-time great Miami Valley sizzlers. And he’s set up for a memorable final run, qualifying in the Division I 100, 200, 400 and 1,600 relay with times all worthy of winning.
The Rams also advanced long jumper Dorian Davis, Julius Ruby in the 200 and three relays capable of winning.
If the Rams ever are to win an elusive D-I title, this is their best shot.
Dunbar boys: Hello, D-II contention. The Wolverines were one of the state’s smallest D-I schools, but still fielded quality efforts in this meet, especially the last five years. Now, Dunbar could be in the running for a title.
Junior Antonio Blanks is key, capable of winning the 100, 200 and 300 hurdles. Like T-M, the Wolverines also advanced three outstanding relays, Nicholas Lane in the 300 hurdles, Michael Ohiembo in the 800 and Jaecob Snow in the long jump.
That’s the perfect combination of a key individual, several relays and bonus individual contributors.
If Dunbar doesn’t win, there’s always next season. Of the eight state-qualifying Wolverines, five are sophomores and three are juniors.
Versailles girls: The Tigers remain in D-III — the Versailles boys bumped up to D-II — and are loaded in the middle and distance events. They should place in all four relays and have individuals in four other events.
Barring disaster, disqualifications and muscle pulls, that should be enough to overcome defending champ Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, which has just two relays and three individuals. Versailles was runner-up to Gilmour last season, 73-62.
Individuals: Chase Cochran (Lebanon) and Demoye Bogle (Wayne) each advanced in four D-I events and are capable of winning earlier races when they’re fresh.
• Cochran should crack the top four in the 100 and 200, and he’s anchored the 400 relay to the state’s best time this year (41.86).
• Bogle, in his first year of hurdling, could sweep both those races and pile up points in the 100 and 200.
• Carly Hamilton (Springboro) has plenty of experience at this level and should place high in the D-I 1,600 and 800.
• Michael Bennett (Centerville) has unloaded the state’s best discus throw (196-3) and is close to 60 feet in the shot put.
• Josh Bass (Springfield) is the defending D-I long jump champ and has hovered near 23 feet all season.
• Laron Brown (CJ) should do his record-breaking father proud in the D-II 100, 200, 400 and 800 relay.
• Peter Hix (Oakwood), would like to improve after placing second in the D-II 1,600 last year.
Now you know
Mighty Cleveland Glenville hasn’t won a D-I boys team title since sweeping five straight from 2003-07. The Tarblooders were in great position to snap that skid until senior standout Latwan Anderson strained a hamstring in the regional and was a scratch in his best event, the 200.
The University of Miami (Fla.) football and track recruit will compete only in the 400 and 800 relay. The answer to Trotwood’s Henry, if Anderson isn’t 100 percent, Glenville has no chance to contend for a title.
• Sprinter Blake Heriot is back after leading Gahanna Lincoln to the boys D-I team title last year. He’s the defending 400 and 200 champ and was second in the 100. He’s headed to Florida to run track.
Heriot should provide a ton of points, but Gahanna has just three other individuals and one relay.
What all that means is the D-I boys title could go down to the meet-ending 1,600 relay, which should include Trotwood, Glenville and Gahanna.
If that happens, T-M has momentum on its side. The Rams have set and reset the all-time, all-division state record the last three seasons, including 3:13.32 last year. Even better, three of the Trotwood runners are back: Henry, Ruby and Jordon Paschal.
If you’re going
Through the years, this meet has been held in everything from rain, sleet and 40 degrees to temperatures ranging in the upper 90s. The forecast is for hot temps, humidity and intermittent showers both days.
As grand as the setting is, there is zero shade. That makes for an extra-crispy experience, especially if it’s hot and humid and you’re planning to watch more than one division.
Big hats, light clothing, sunglasses and large umbrellas are advisable. High-priced water and the usual concessions are available. So are free drinking fountains.
The crowd: It’s a rolling attendance, meaning spectators come and go throughout the day, depending on the division. There’s not another event in the state that draws this many knowledgeable track and field fans.
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