TROY — The Division 3 Regional Track Meet began Wednesday night, with the qualifviuers trying to place in the top four in the finals to earn a trip to the state meet next weekend.
Fort Loramie’s Alan Holdheide has done that twice already. He ran the lead leg on the 3200 relay that place second, and then placed second himself in the pole vault at 13-8.
In the 3200, he handed off to Joe Ballas, who was followed by Jake Rethman and Tom Ballas. They ran an 8:17.63.
Botkins had two state qualifiers from Wednesday’s action, both in field events. Josh Miller was second in the discus at 145-11, and Grace Homan was third in the shot put at 38-7.25.
The Russia 3200 relay team, meanwhile, switched up the order and it helped pay off in a state berth.
Lauren Heaton, who ran the opening leg at district, moved back to anchor, with Shaelyn Goubeaux, Grace York and Molly Kearns each moving up one spot. The Lady Raiders finished third with a time of 9:35.63.
“That’s where Shaelyn is most comfortable — leading off,” Kearns said. “Grace and I are fine with running second or third.”
Russia was in a battle for fourth when Heaton got the baton, but she easily moved the Lady Raiders up to third.
“I was trying to put Lauren in as good a position as possible,” Kearns said. “I struggled a little in the backstretch. I think I was almost dead even with the Miami East girl.”
Minster finished first in the event, the start of a good night for the Lady Wildcats. Kaci Bornhorst, Madeline Magoto, Julia Slonkosky and Cassie Francis won in 9:28.18.
In addition, Jordyn Heitbrink was second in the high jup at 5-4 and Savanah Luthman second in the shot put at 38-8.25.
New Bremen’s Maddy Moeller also qualified, placing fourth in the3 shot put at 37-4.5.
State qualifiers
From Regional Meet
Wednesday at Troy
(With regional places)
Boys 3200 relay — 2. Fort Loramie (Alan Holdheide, Joe Ballas, Jake Rethman, Tom Ballas) 8:17.63.
Discus — 2. Josh Miller, Botkins, 145-11.
Pole vault — 2. Alan Holdheide, Fort Loramie, 13-8.
Girls
3200 relay — 1. Minster (Kaci Bornhorst, Madeline Magoto, Julia Slonkosky, Cassie Francis) 9:28.18; 3. Russia (Lauren Heaton, Molly Kearns, Shae Goubeaux, Grace York) 9:35.63
High jump — 2. Jordyn Heitbrink, Minster, 5-4.
Shot put — 2. Savanah Luthman, Minster, 38-8.25; 3. Grace Homan, Botkins, 38-7.25; 4. Maddy Moeller, New Bremen, 37-4.5.
