PIQUA — It seemed only fitting that Miami East and Versailles pole vaulters Blaine Brokschmidt and Luke Shellhaas would finish No. 1 and 2, respectively, in boys pole vault during the Division II regional meet on Thursday at Alexander Stadium in Piqua.
And that Shellhaas, like Versailles long jumper Kyle Jones, would make the most of a final opportunity to qualify for next week’s state meet in Columbus.
“He (Blaine Brokschmidt) are good friends,” Shellhaas said. “We vault against each other all the time, even indoors. It is a lot of fun competing against each other.”
Shellhaas cleared 14-8 to finish second in the pole vault and earn a state berth as a senior.
“Everything seemed to come together this year and I am going to state,” Shellhaas said.
Shellhaas, who had vaulted at Piqua last week at district, was confident from the start. He was clean through 14-feet and got 14-4 on his second attempt. He cleared 14-8 on this third attempt, before missing at 15-0.
“I was feeling really good,” he said. “I knew I was going to make it to state. I got the school record tonight. That (15 feet) is the goal for state next week.”
Jones may not have been expected to make it to state — but he knew it was his last shot.
“I am a senior, you have to leave it all out there,” Jones said.
He wasted no time doing that. His opening jump of 21-4 1-2 would get him fourth-place and the state berth.
“I knew it was pretty good,” Jones said. “Everything just came together.”
Then he had to sweat out the prelims and three jumps in the finals to see if that jump would be good enough to get him to state.
“That was tough,” he said. “It feels pretty good to be going to state.”
Versailles is well positioned in a number of events for Saturday’s finals.
For the girls, Dana Rose has the second fastest time in the 100 hurdles (15.88) while Ellen Peters has the fourth fastest time in the 300 hurdles (47.09).
The 4×400 relay of Liz Watren, Lindsey Winner Kenia McEldowney and Ellen Peters has the fastest time (3:59.69) the 4×200 relay of Ellen Peters, Watren, Ava Moran and Cassie Peters has the third-fastest time (1:45.49). The 4×100 relay of Lucy Prakel, Ellen Peters, Ali Moran, Ava Moran has the fourth-fastest time (50.65).
For the boys, Josh Steinbrunner has the third-fastest time in the 110 hurdles (14.63) and the fourth-fastest time in the 300 hurdles (39.82).
Anna had three athletes qualify for Saturday’s regional final meet. The top eight finishers in preliminary races qualify for Friday’s finals.
Hannah Shoemaker was first in the girls 300 hurdles in 45.35. Shoemaker will also compete in girls pole vault finals on Saturday.
Austin Fogt was seventh in 110 hurdles in 15.36. He will also compete in high jump on Saturday.
Jeffrey Richards was eighth in the 100-meter dash in 11.49.
