Division II track to get under way
ATHENS — Our area will be very well represented when Ohio Division II regional track and field action opens today at the Plains High School.
On the boys side, Steubenville Big Red, which earned 78 points to finish fourth in last weekend’s district meet at Meadowbrook High School in Byesville, saw its 4×2 and 4×4 relay teams advance with first-place finishes. The 4×2 team fininished with a time of 1:32.35, while the 4×4 team turned in a 3:32.91.
Other qualifiers from Big Red included Jorian Jones (200), Austen Duggan (800), Athanasius Sirilla (Steubenville), Anthony Rice (high hurdles, intermediate hurdles) and Zach Ekey (shot put).
Also advancing to today’s competition were Indian Creek senior Zack Neely, who won the 800 meter run in 2:01.72, and Buckeye Local senior Matt Smith, who won the 400 meter dash in 51.57.
On the girls side, Indian Creek turned in an impressive performance in the disticts, with several athletes advancing to today’s regional meet.
Senior standout Madison Smith, who opted to focus on the 800 instead of the 400, posted a solid 2:17.84 to win by nearly two seconds over her teammate, Kelsey Lewis.
Freshman Aiamyia Dudley took Smith’s spot in the 400 and finished first with a time of 59.70.
Indian Creek’s 4×4 team of Smith, Dudley, Lewis and Sloane Lewis was especially impressive. They teamed for a blistering 3:58.29, which was more than 12 seconds better than their nearest competition. the same foursome captured the 3200 meter relay title in 9:49.89.
Sloane Lewis also advanced in the 1600 meter run.
For Big Red, sophomore T’Kayla Kelley won the 100 in 12.81 and was second in the 200. Big Red claimed the 4×2 in 1:47.78.
Big Red’s Knisha Saunders advanced in the 100 and Gillian Haught qualified in the discus. The 4×1 team also moved on to the regional.
Buckeye Local will send two females to compete in Athens. Kya DeMeter advanced in the 400, while Skylar Langford advanced in the long jump.