ON THE WEB
View photos from this meet at MyDaytonDailyNews.com
Coty Cobb was facing every pole vaulter’s nightmare after missing twice to begin Friday’s state track and field meet. A favorite, he was one more bar-crunch from a dreaded no-height exit.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” the Madison senior said. “You almost need another pair of underwear to continue the meet. We just had to buckle down and we blew up after that.”
That’s a colorful way of saying Cobb set a career and all-time Division II record of 16-6.25 for a dramatic Division II comeback win. After topping the bar on his third and final attempt at the record, Cobb embraced his father and coach Tate and celebrated on the infield.
“It was crazy,” said Cobb, who twice adjusted his approach before sailing over his pesky opening height of 14-4, which he had done all season. “I knew I was over it, but I thought I nicked it and I thought it was falling down. I looked up and the bar was still sitting there.”
Spent in the excitement and heat, he opted to shut down. The next time he jumps at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium it’ll be as a Buckeye. He signed with OSU this spring.
Anna sophomore Logan Konst also won the D-III pole vault (15-8). He and Cobb are united in the event.
“I’m pretty good friends with him,” Konst said. “I told him if he didn’t take his 15-foot pole up — because he’s scared of it — I was going to punch him in the face. That’s what he won on so I’m going to take a little bit of credit for that one.”
Anna also received a third in the high jump from first-year participant Blake Stephens (6-6) for 16 first-day points to lead the D-III boys.
• Taylor Middleton of Miami Valley followed up her all-time D-III record in the long jump that she set at last week’s regional by adding a state title (18-4.50). She also posted career bests by posting the fastest 200-meter qualifying time for today’s finals (25.46) and the second-best 100 (12.26).
“This is my third year back at state and I hadn’t won anything,” reflected the junior, who was fourth in the long jump last year.
“I’ve been very determined to win something. I’ve been jumping confidently and pulling out some PR’s and records. I’m going to put it on the track (today) and hopefully we can bring back some more hardware.”
• Brian Bell pulled Dunbar from eighth to fifth in the D-II 4x800 relay, but that wasn’t what the Wolverines were looking for in a bid to repeat as team champions.
“We’re going to bounce back from this,” declared Bell, who’s hampered with a sinus infection.
Dunbar senior Juan Scott posted the best finals qualifying times in the high hurdles (13.92) and 300 hurdles (38.45). Dunbar also had the fastest times in the 4x200 relay (1:28.02) and 4x400 relay (3:20.82).
Dunbar coach Sidney Booker will decide today whether to run Bell in the 1,600 and 800 or drop an event and save him for the 4x400 relay.
“The team is first, “ Booker said. “Our kids are focused and they’re not afraid. You look in their eyes and they are determined.”
• City League rivals Tyler Johnson of Stivers (48.11) and Wayne Lawrence Jr. of Meadowdale (48.80) were 1-2 in D-II boys 400 qualifying. Johnson also had the second-best time in the 200 (21.84) and fourth best in the 100 (10.77) in a rare triple-sprint effort.
• Twin Valley south junior Aaron Deaton launched all of his shot put throws between 52-56 feet to win the D-III event (56-9). He’ll try and add a discus title today.
• The opening day drew 13,354 spectators.
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