YINGST
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Perry’s Brady Yingst has been checking off boxes this year.
This past fall, Yingst won the Division III state title in cross country.
This past winter, Yingst won state titles at the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) indoor meet in both the 800 (1:58.44) and 1,600 (4:18.26).
This spring, Yingst notched state titles in track-and-field, when he won both the 1,600- and 3,200-meters at the Division III state track meet.
On Sunday, Yingst officially closed out his illustrious high school career with a national title, when he won the one-mile race at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina. The meet was held at N.C. A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track Complex.
Yingst led from start to finish on Sunday, but had to hold off Timothy Roden from Harrisburgh, P.A. down the stretch for the hard-fought win.
Yingst’s winning time Sunday was 4 minutes, 12.58 seconds, while Roden was right on his heels at 4:12.62.
“I jumped out front, and held a comfortable lead for three laps” Yingst said. “I was the leader up until about a 100 (meters) to go. Then second place (Roden) really kicked hard. … He got right up to my shoulder. There was a second there when I thought he might get around me, but I held him off.”
This spring, Yingst shattered the Division III state record in the 1600, when he clocked a winning time of 4:09.2 at the Waynesfield-Goshen Tiger Invitational.
This spring postseason, Yingst won both the 1600 and 3,200 at the Division III state track meet. His winning time of 4:10.74 in the 1,600, was a new Division III state-meet record. His time of 9:14.46 in the 3,200, was an all-time personal best for Yingst.
Sunday’s race was a first for Yingst for a couple reasons.
“This is the first-ever mile race that I’ve ever ran,” Yingst said. “So, it would be a PR (personal record). It’s probably close to my second fastest (1,600) time ever, if you do the conversion to a 1,600. So, I’m really happy with the outcome.”
Yingst is looking forward to competing in both track and cross country at Lipscomb University this coming school year. However, the finality of being finished with high school, really set in Sunday afternoon for Yingst.
“It definitely started to sink in. I started to realize that this is the last time I’m ever going to compete in a Perry uniform,” Yingst said. “This is the last time to
represent the Perry Commodores; and to do it on a national stage is really special. I’m so thankful to everyone. … My (twin) brother (Ryan) pushed me throughout the years. To be able to share this with my brother, my teammates and my entire family is special.
“My dad (Mark) committed himself for four years to coach me. … I gave my dad a pretty decent Father’s Day present today. It was cool, sharing these moments with my family. It’s a little bittersweet, but I’m ready to go tackle college head on.”
Grove’s Anderson competes in hammer throw
Columbus Grove senior Faith Anderson placed third in Sunday’s girls hammer throw at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals with a mark of 39.90 meters.
