HIGH SCHOOL

Colonel Crawford distance runners advance to state

Jake Furr
Reporter
  • Buckeye Central sophomore Aubrey Wright advanced to state with a third place finish in the 100 meter dash
  • Wynford speedster Cole Fortner will also be making the trip to Columbus in the 100 meter dash.
  • Martin took home a pair of gold medals in the 1%2C600 meter and 800 meter races.
  • Johnson finished the 3%2C200 meter race in 9%3A42.64%2C good enough for a second place finish.

TIFFIN – If teams had to run to the State Track Championships, Colonel Crawford would have no problem coming in first in that race. Senior Clay Martin and freshman Chad Johnson ran miles upon miles and ran them fast. The pair collected three medals in the Regional Championship Meet at Tiffin Columbian's Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

Martin took home a pair of gold medals in the 1,600 meter and 800 meter races. The events were less than 20 minutes apart and the senior knew he had to leave everything on the track.

"It is ironic because last year I was in the same situation. I ran a 4:24 in the mile and won and then turned around and ran a 2:30 in the 800 and almost got last. Quite a difference," Martin said.

The distance specialist ran a 4:28.68 in the 1,600 meter race and a 1:56.87 in the 800, a personal record and a half a second off of a school record.

"The school record has been in place for fifteen years. I was a bit disappointed when I got boxed in at the beginning in the 800. I was fighting for position with a kid in my lane. Had I not been boxed in, I could have shaved a half second to a second off of my time. but, hey I cannot complain this was a good race for me," Martin said.

Distance runners are special because of the special situations they are put in. Less than 20 minutes after running a mile, Martin had to run 800 more meters.

"I was running on fumes," Martin said. "I thought I was going to pass out. Senior year I might as well go out with a bang and go for both events at State."

Johnson finished the 3,200 meter race in 9:42.64, good enough for a second place finish and a trip to the State meet. The freshman may be a rookie at the Track State Championships, but is no stranger to big events. He competed in the State Cross Country Championships in the Fall.

I usually stay back in the pack and let all of the faster people get out and then turn it on in the last mile and go by them. I was drafting a kid about my size so I knew I could, I did not want to draft any tall people and get tripped. I almost got tripped in the first 600 meters," Johnson said.

The freshman has a good feeling about making his second trip to State in his first full athletic season at Colonel Crawford.

"It feels great and I am looking forward to coming back next year and making the trip again."

Other Eagles making the trip were junior Noah Ferguson who competed in the shot put. He threw a 46-06.25 and will look to compete again his senior season. Senior Brett Bakies finished sixth in the 200 meter dash with a run of 22.86. and, Junior Owen Adams just missed qualifying for state with a fifth place finish in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 40.49.

On the other side of the state, the girls competed in the Lancaster Regional. Colonel Crawford's Callie Ruffener took the gold in the Pole Vault with a leap of 10-feet-6. Fellow Eagle Megan Lyons grabbed a third place finish in the discus with a throw of 120-01.

Wynford speedster Cole Fortner will also be making the trip to Columbus in the 100 meter dash. The junior ran an 11.19 and ran six one-hundredths of a second faster than the fifth place runner. Fortner was surprised when they announced his fourth place State qualifying finish.

"It is awesome. I could not tell because it was a really close race but they announced me fourth and I am happy I get to go back. I will just enjoy the moment and I am happy to be making my second trip back," Fortner said.

Fellow Royal James Ort saw his run in the shot put come to an end. The junior made the trip to regionals with a 46-07.75 throw and followed that up on day two with a 47-02 finals throw. Senior Ellie Richmond will be representing the Lady Royals after grabbing gold in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 5:210.96.

Seneca East had two representatives in the meet. Senior Carson Pipher competed in the 800 meter race and finished with a time of 2:04.34. Senior Jared Stockmaster ran the 3,200 meter race in 10:06.20 good for sixth place. Neither athlete will qualify for the State Meet.

Buckeye Central sophomore Aubrey Wright advanced to state with a third place finish in the 100 meter dash. Her time was 12.94.

The athletes qualifying will be competing in the State Track Championships next week on June 5 and 6 at Jesse Owens Stadium at The Ohio State University. Events will kick off at 9:45am.