Staff report

COLUMBUS — The first day of the Division 3 State Track Meet took place Friday at Ohio State, and Botkins senior Josh Miller ended his career in impressive fashion.

Miller went to the podium twice Friday, for finishing third in the shot put with a heave of 57 feet, 6 inches, and for placing fifth in the discus with a distance of 162 feet, 7 inches.

Miller was making his third straight appearance in the state shot put, having placed 12th as a sophomore and sixth last season. He was ninth in the discus last season as well.

He was one of two Botkins qualifiers to stand on the podium. Sophomore Grace Homan finished eighth in the girls shot put with a distance of 40 feet, 2 inches.

She also competed last year as a freshman and placed 14th.

There were three other third-place finishes Friday, which included the finals in the 3200 relay and all of the field events.

The Minster 3200 relay team of Cassie Francis, Kaitlynn Albers, Emma Watcke and Madeline Magoto placed third in 9:22.16.

Fort Loramie’s boys 3200 relay team was also third, with the team of Alan Holdheide, Jake Rethman, Tom Ballas and Joe Ballas. They ran their season-best of 7:54.35.

And Russia’s Emily Bohman cleared 11 feet, 6 inches to place third in the pole vault. A junior, Bohman qualified for state last season and placed 13th.

“Last year, I was 13th and this year, I have this,” Bohman said as she pointed to the medal around her neck.

She was assured of placing after being one of eight vaulters to clear 10-10. At 11-2, she was down to her third attempt, before clearing the height and extending her season. Then she soared over 11-6 on her first attempt and was in the top five.

Her Russia teammates Shae Goubeaux, Jessica York, Claire Meyer and Grace York also made it to the podium after placing seventh in the 3200 relay with a time of 9:37.19.

One other County performer, Jarrett Meyer of Fort Loramie, also placed in D-2, finishing seventh in the long jump with a distance of 21 feet, 4 inches.

Minster’s Paige Thobe was fourth in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 6.75 inches.

Konst places

Anna pole vaulter Logan Konst took seventh place in the Division 2 pole vault, clearing 13 feet, 6 inches.

Two years ago as a sophomore, he won the D-3 state championship after placing fifth as a freshman, also in D-2.

Meanwhile, Anna will have three girls relay teams in the finals today in D-2.

The same four girls run in all three, including Hannah Shoemaker, Rachel Shoemaker, Krista Gehret and and Kennedey Glover.

They had the second-fastest qualifying time in the 800 relay of 1:43.36, the second-fastest time in the 400 relay of 50.29, and the fourth-fastest time in the 1600 relay.

Lehman junior Alanna O’Leary qualified for the finals in the 400 meters with the eighth-fastest qualifying time of 58.73.

In addition to Anna in the girls 800 relay, Minster and Marion Local also qualified for the finals. And Minster did likewise in the 1600 relay.

Stammen 12th

The results didn’t really matter. Houston junior discus thrower David Stammen was already a winner.

Stammen, who finished 12th with a throw of 133-9, had already beaten cancer to get to the state meet.

“All I know is they told me the cancer is gone now,” Stammen said. “It doesn’t make this any easier, but it definitely makes you appreciate it.”

Stammen spent almost the entire month of January in a hospital bed and is still recovering.

“I don’t have all my strength back,” he said. “I was really nervous today, with it being state. Definitely, I think this is going to help me a lot to be over here and get this experience.”

State Track Meet

Friday at Ohio State

Division 3

State placers (top 8)

Girls 3200 relay — 3. Minster (Cassie Francis, Kaitlynn Albers, Emma Watcke, Madeline Magoto) 9:22.16; 7. Russia (Shae Goubeaux, Jessica York, Claire Meyer, Grace York) 9:37.19.

Boys 3200 relay — 3. Fort Loramie (Alan Holdheide, Jake Rethman, Tom Ballas, Joe Ballas) 7:54.35.

Girls pole vault — 3. Emily Bohman, Russia, 11-6.

Boys shot put — 3. Josh Miller, Botkins, 57-6.

Girls shot put — 8. Grace Homan, Botkins, 40-2.

Boys discus — 5. Josh Miller, Botkins, 162-7; 7. Josh Dirksen, Marion Local, 155-2.

Girls high jump — 8. Jordyn Heitbrink, Minster, 5-5.

Boys long jump — 7. Jarrett Meyer, Fort Loramie, 21-4.

Girls long jump — 4. Paige Thobe, Minster, 17-6.75.

Division 2

Boys pole vault — 7. Logan Konst, Anna, 13-6.

Anna senior Logan Konst pushes his pole away from the bar on this attempt during the Division 2 State Track Meet at Ohio State on Friday. Konst earned a seventh-place finish by clearing 13 feet, 6 inches.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_Konst-at-state.jpgAnna senior Logan Konst pushes his pole away from the bar on this attempt during the Division 2 State Track Meet at Ohio State on Friday. Konst earned a seventh-place finish by clearing 13 feet, 6 inches.

Tom Ballas of Fort Loramie runs his leg of the 3200 relay at the Division 3 State Track Meet Friday at Ohio State. He and teammates Alan Holdheide, Jake Rethman and Joe Ballas finished third.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_Tom-Ballas-at-state.jpgTom Ballas of Fort Loramie runs his leg of the 3200 relay at the Division 3 State Track Meet Friday at Ohio State. He and teammates Alan Holdheide, Jake Rethman and Joe Ballas finished third.

Russia senior Grace York looks for the finish line as she runs the anchor leg in the 3200 relay at the Division 3 State Track Meet in Columbus. she and teammates Shae Goubeaux, Jessica York and Rebecca Meyer placed seventh.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/06/web1_Grace-York-at-state.jpgRussia senior Grace York looks for the finish line as she runs the anchor leg in the 3200 relay at the Division 3 State Track Meet in Columbus. she and teammates Shae Goubeaux, Jessica York and Rebecca Meyer placed seventh.