PIQUA — An injury that occurred at a dual meet with Versailles last month should have ended the pole vaulting career of Russia senior Emily Bohman.
Or so the doctor told her.
Bohman finished second by clearing 10-2 at the Division III district meet at Alexander Stadium on Saturday to qualify for next week’s regional meet. The top four finishers in each event qualify for regionals.
“The doctor told me I could never pole vault again, so vaulting today and making it to regional was a big relief,” Bohman said. “When he told me, it was like this can’t be it, this is my senior year.”
Not to mention Bohman, who has a bruise on her scapula, finished third at the state meet a year ago.
“It is the first time I have vaulted since the injury,” she said. “It is just very rewarding after being told I would never vault again.”
Not that anything came easy.
She missed her first attempt of the day at 8-6 — then missed her first attempt at 9-6.
But, she cleared the bar at 9-10 on her first attempt, before checking out to go run the 800 relay.
“When I first started today, I wasn’t using my right side at all,” Bohman said. “The 4×2 (relay) really helped me. Right before that, I made a height on my first attempt and that relaxed me. 10-2 looks pretty good after being told I would never vault again. I was really nervous at first, but it is like riding a bike.”
And at the end of the day, Bohman feels like she has another week to improve.
“Coach told me we just need one height for closure,” she said. “After I finished, he said 10-2 is a lot more than closure. Hopefully, the pole vault isn’t until next Friday and that will give me some time to recover.”
Freshman four
Lehman Catholic freshman Lindsey Magoteaux had expectations for her freshman season in track.
But, she made have exceeded those Saturday, advancing to regionals in four events.
She started in the 100-meter dash, edging teammate Alanna O’Leary, who also advanced in four events. Magoteaux won in 12.85 and O’Leary was second in 12.93.
“I had never beaten Alanna in the 100,” Magoteaux said. “I just leaned, I wasn’t sure (who won). We push each other and make each other better. We help each other a lot.”
The 400 relay (Lauren McFarland, Rylie McIver, Olivia Monnin, Magoteaux) finished third in 51.71; while the 800 relay (Magoteaux, McIver, Monnin, O’Leary) finished third in 1:50.
Magoteaux added a fourth-place finish in the long jump, 15-6 1-4 — an event she had never done in junior high.
“The 4×200 was a little scary,” Magoteaux said. “We got stuck in the slow heat, so we just went out and ran our fastest. The long jump was a surprise. I never expected to make it out in that.”
Senior shines
O’Leary added a third-place finish in the 400 (58.87) and won the 200 (25.98).
“My 200 has kind been kind of off and on the past couple years because when I was younger I wasn’t as strong,” O’Leary said. “I’d come from running the 400 and I’d be dead. Today I ran my fastest time in the 400 and ran a tenth of a second off my best 200 time. I’m pretty happy with that especially since this is my fourth race today.”
As a senior, she has an appreciation for what Magoteaux is going through as a freshman.
“We were able to go 1-2 in the 100,” she said. “It is working out really well because Lindsey is just coming in and I am on my way out. So, I can help her with the things I know. There is more of team concept this year, because we have the relay teams. We are really just focused more on times than place and our coaches have encouraged us with that.”
McIver also advanced in the 300 hurdles, finishing second in 48.81.
More qualifiers
Russia’s Becca Seger finished third in the 800-meter run (2:26) and 1,600 (5:23).
Houston’s Shelby Ayers finished second in the discus (111-0) to advance and Hollie Voisard finished fourth in the 800 (2:28) to advance.
BOYS
Houston’s Knouff wins 800
Houston junior Ethan Knouff won the 800 (1:59.61) with the only time under two minutes on Saturday.
He trailed Fort Loramie’s Joe Ballas on the final turn but pulled ahead and won by two seconds.
“It’s usually where I die out, especially if someone is in front of me,” Knouff said. “I decided not today. … (Qualifying for regional) was the overall goal but a district title is always good.”
Tristan Freistuhler was second in the 1,600 (4:38) and the 1,600 relay (Blake Jacobs, Parker Cox, Knouff, Dakota Francis) finished third in 3:37.98.
Russia qualifiers
For Russia, Michael Ditmer was second in the 400 (51.50).
Michael York was third in the shot put (46-5 3-4), Zach Bell was fourth in the 1,600 (4:47.16) and Lee Magoto was fourth in the 400 (52.32).
TUESDAY FINALS
Houston’s Stammen qualifies for regionals
David Stammen was already a winner before the Div. III district discus final competition began on Tuesday night at Alexander Stadium.
Stammen, who has now been cancer free for two years, began the journey for a second straight trip to the state meet by winning the discus competition with a throw of 148-4.
“I do (feel different expectations this year),” Stammen said. “My throws have been better than they were last year.”
And Stammen continues to close on a goal.
“My coaches want me to get to 150-feet,” he said. “I have had several throws really close. Hopefully, I will get there next week at regionals. My goal was to win. I was very happy with the way I threw tonight.”
Fort Loramie’s Collin Detrick also qualified for regionals. Detrick finished third with a throw of 140-10.
Lehman’s Smith a fast learner
About a month ago, Lehman Catholic senior Owen Smith decided to give the long jump a try.
Next week, he will be competing at regionals after jumping 19-6 on Tuesday to finish third.
“I decided about a month ago to give it a try,” Smith said. “I had always been a good jumper in football. I never expected to make it to regionals. I have been practicing for about three weeks and last week was my first meet. I jumped over 20 feet at that meet. Hopefully, I can get back up over 20-feet next week at regionals.”
Two 3,200 meter relay teams advanced to next week’s regionals.
Houston (Freistuhler, Cox, Jacobs, Knouff) finished second in 8:15 while Russia (DeLoye, Goubeaux, Seger, Bell) finished third in 8:44.
