Champions crowned at PCL track meet

COLUMBUS GROVE - Two long-time winning streaks came to an end at Friday's Putnam County League Track and Field Meet at Columbus Grove.

The Columbus Grove boys' reign as the PCL champs came to an end after 18 consecutive seasons when Pandora-Gilboa came through in the running events to take the title, scoring 166 points, compared to Columbus Grove's 130. Leipsic finished third (83) in the six-team meet.

On the girls' side, Ottoville broke Columbus Grove's seven-year winning streak as the Big Green won 172-149. Continental was a distant third (52).

On historic mark that still stands, however, is the boys long jump record, which was set in 1922 by Continental's Owen Lowe, who leaped 21 feet, 11 ½ inches. Pandora-Gilboa's Sam Spallinger jumped 20-8 ½ on Friday to take first in that event.

Spallinger, a sophomore, led P-G with victories in the 100-meter dash (11.20 seconds), 200 (23.20) and 400 (51.10), along with taking first in the long  jump.

P-G boys coach Jayson Dupius said he knew his team would have to pick it up after the field events.

"We knew that Columbus Grove had some really good athletes in the field events," Dupius said. "They have (Heath) Nickles and some good throwers ... so, we knew we had to keep it close coming out of the field events."

Nickles, the defending Division III state champion in the pole vault, won his specialty, clearing 15-7. He attempted a state-record height of 16-1 ¼, but failed on all three. The Division III OHSAA record is 16-1. On his third attempt, Nickles got the height he needed, but brushed the bar as he went over.

"I went to the 16-foot pole," Nickles said. "I was over the bar, but I just hit it with my arms. It's just a matter of time. I have to get used to this pole. Once I do, I know I can get it."

Nickles also took first in the 110 hurdles (15.0) and the 300 hurdles (39.50).

Ottoville's girls won eight of the 17 events. Shayla Siefker won the 1,600 (5:25.10) and was part of the winning 3,200-meter relay (9:59.90) and 1,600 relay (4:13.80).

Columbus Grove's Kimberly Selhorst won the long jump (15-10), 100 (12.90) and was part of the winning 800 relay (1:49.10) and 400 relay (52.30).

Ottoville girls coach Vaughn Horstman said he mixed up the events this week in hopes of maximizing his talent.

"We said during the week that Columbus Grove was going to beat us, unless we mixed it up a little," Horstman said. "We had some kids do some events that they might not normally do."