COLUMBUS — For Columbus Grove’s 3,200 meter relay, the state meet was all about hitting its goals.
Mission accomplished.
On Friday, Columbus Grove’s 3,200 relay crushed the school record, en route to a second-place finish in the Division III state meet at Ohio State.
The Bulldogs’ tandem clocked a time of 8:00.94, breaking the previous school record by two seconds.
Alex Giesige, Colton Grothaus, Boone Brubaker and Bryce Sharrits made up the 3,200 relay for Columbus Grove.
Giesige, who led off on the relay, knew he had to set the tone early.
“I knew we had to come out fast. I knew I had to get us in a good position if we wanted to reach our goals,” Giesige said.
Colton Grothaus, a senior, said the relay team was focused on making a statement at the state meet.
“This is my third year down here and this has definitely been the best year; because my sophomore year we just wanted to make it down; we did but we didn’t place,” Grothaus said. “Last year, we got seventh. This year, our main goals were to place and to break the school record. Maplewood ran an amazing race, but we got the school record and got second. …So, we’re happy with that.”
Maplewood won in a stellar time of 7:49.02.
Sharrits, who will compete in the 800 meters today, was the anchor leg for the Bulldogs.
“I knew that first was a little bit out of reach, because he (Maplewood’s anchor leg) was almost 100 meters ahead. So, I saw the time when I got the hand-off and it was right around six minutes, and we were hoping to go for the school record. So, I knew I had to run a good leg. I couldn’t just be happy with second. …I had to push myself, because we really wanted the school record, and we got it. Second isn’t bad. We knew Maplewood was really good. We did what we could. Last year, we went like 8:08. And this year we took off like eight seconds and got the school record.”
Lima Senior in 3 finals
Lima Senior’s Rico Stafford qualified for today’s finals of the 400 dash. Stafford clocked a time of 48.52 seconds to advance.
In the 1,600 relay, the tandem of Jaden Walker, Diamonte Fisher, Bryan Mays and Stafford, clocked a time of 3:19.85 to advance to today’s finals.
For the girls, Suerethia Henderson advanced to today’s finals in the 200.
O-G’s Bellman 8th
In the Division II discus, Ottawa-Glandorf’s Anna Bellman placed eighth with a mark of 125 feet.
Vandemark third
Not making it to the state meet last season was something that didn’t settle too well with Spencerville thrower Logan Vandemark.
This season, the Ashland University-bound football player was not going to be denied.
On Friday, Vandemark saved his best throw of his career as his mark of 55 feet, 3 ¼ inches in the shot put earned him third place. His personal best came on his second throw of the finals. His previous best throw, coming in, was 53-8.
Last season, Vandemark finished fifth at regionals (the top four placers advance to state). It was a performance he hasn’t forgotten about.
“This was a big improvement from last year,” Vandemark said. “I’m really glad I was able to make the podium this year.”
McMichael strong
Spencerville’s Trevor McMichael set a personal best of 22 feet in Friday’s Division III long jump, en route to a third-place finish.
“I just credit everything to my coaching staff,” he said. “They’ve been the best to me for the past four years.”
Last year, McMichael placed seventh in the long jump at the state meet.
Minster’s Heckman 2nd
Minster’s Maria Heckman placed second in the Division III pole vault with a mark of 12 feet.
