BOB STRICKLEY

PDT Sports Editor

Last weekend’s regional competitions narrowed the field of remaining track athletes to only the elite.

A total of 17 local athletes earned spots at Friday and Saturday’s State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus after top performances at the Division II and Division III Regional Tournaments in Lancaster and The Plains.

Wheelersburg and Valley qualified for three events each, leading the eight local schools that will be participating in this weekend’s competition.

In boys Division II competition, the Piketon 4x800-Meter Relay team of Austin Buchanan, Seth Farmer, Josh Cornett and Kane Dixon earned the 5B lane at state with a regional finish time of 8:15.05.

Portsmouth’s Zaide Whitley will be running from the fifth lane in the first heat of the boys 400-Meter Dash after a qualifying time of 49.69.

Waverly’s Dylan Dyke, who had perhaps the strongest season of any area thrower, earned a spot at the state’s first flight in discus throw with a regional throw of 158 feet and one inch.

In boys Division III competition, Valley’s Matt Hodge earned a spot in the 300-Meter Hurdles. The sophomore will be running out of the second lane in the first heat after posting a regional finish time of 39.51 seconds.

Glenwood’s Matthew Mohr will be competing in the boys Division III State Long Jump competition’s first flight after a regional distance of 20 feet and 8.5 inches.

East’s Cody Belveal’s 11.25 time in the regional 100-Meter Dash gave him a spot in the first heat of the boys Division III State competition.

On the girls side, Valley’s Carrie Corriell will be competing in the first flight of the Division III State Discus Throw after a regional mark of 115 feet and 10 inches.

Valley’s McKenzie earned a spot in the second flight of the girls Long Jump after regional distance of 15 feet and two inches.

Minford’s Courtney Sexton had a time of 12.38 seconds in the girls Regional 100-Meter Dash which earned her a Lane-3 start in the first heat of the State 100-Meter Dash.

Portsmouth’s Shanice Rollins’ regional mark of 38 feet and 10 inches pushed her to the girls Division III State Shot Put competition Friday afternoon. The Trojans senior will be the first thrower in the second flight.

‘Burg’s Cassidy Rose, Erica Schmidt, Paige White and Sadie Ruby will be running in Lane No. 5 in the first heat of the girls Division III 4x200-Meter Relay after posting a regional finish of 1:48.54.

Ruby will also be running in the first lane of the first heat in the girls 100-Meter Hurdles and in the fifth lane of the second heat of the girls 300-Meter Hurdles. Ruby’s regional 100-Meter Hurdles finish was 15.97 seconds and her regional 300-Meter Hurdles finish was 45.91.

For a complete schedule of the Track and Field Championships and directions to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, visit OHSAA.org.

Bob Strickley may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.