Regional Royal affair; Johnson goes distance
Four relay teammates combine for 11 medals
TIFFIN – The Wynford Royals were walking wind chimes on Friday night at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin home of the Division III Regional track meet.
Between seniors Tony Watson and Cole Fortner, sophomore Robbie Miller and freshman Alizhah Watson, 11 medals were handed out, including two relay regional titles. The quartet brought the regional championship in the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays to Holmes Township.
“It feels great to come out here after my sophomore season just barely missing it with Cole and last year getting 14th,” senior 4x100 anchor Tony Watson said. “We came out here our senior year and earned our spot in two events with Cole going in four.”
The Royals blazed the track in the 4x200 in 1:30.44 and 43.27 in the 4x100 earning gold in both events. But, it was closer than the Royals would have liked in the 4x100. Running the anchor, Tony Watson edged out Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic’s Hayden Snow to give the Royals a win by .07 of a second.
“At first I wasn’t too sure I got it because when we leaned, we kind of bumped into each other,” Watson said. “Our block holder, Josh Rose, he came over and reassured me that we got first.”
Fortner admits that winning the 4x200 allowed the Royals to loosen up for their next relay race.
“It is a lot of weight off of our shoulders to earn that first one,” Fortner said. “Then we could go out without pressure and try for the second relay. I don’t know how to explain the feeling. I am just really proud of all my guys.”
The relay team has a family feel to it, and rightfully so as Tony and little brother Alizhah will make the trip together in their only season with each other.
“As soon as track was over last year, I was excited because I would be right back here with my brother the following year,” Watson said. “I am glad to be able to run with someone I grew up with and I get to finish my season with him. He brings a lot to the table and I am glad we have him.”
“It feels amazing,” Alizhah Watson said. “It is awesome my brother is ending his high school career in Columbus and I get to run with him in the state championship. It is an honor to run with all of these guys.”
For Miller, the trip to state was a wild dream and on Friday, it came true.
“Right now, I haven’t even processed it yet,” Miller said. “I still can’t believe we are going to Columbus for state. I am just so happy I can just come out and run with some of my best buds and take home two golds today.”
Fortner took home two regional runner-up finishes in the 100 and 200 meter dash helping the Royals score 36 of their 41 team points and earning them a third-place finish. He walked away from the regional with two gold and two silver medals hanging around his neck.
“It was definitely one of my bigger goals coming into this year,” Fortner said. “It is my senior year, I have to do everything I can. I had high expectations for myself, but I didn’t expect to win it all in both the relays and getting runner-up in my individual events.”
While some athletes are forced to consider not running a race or giving way to an alternate in a relay, Fortner admits the thought never crossed his mind.
“I was just thinking that this is my last go-around and I need to give it my all in all of my races,” Fortner said. “I didn’t think for a second about stepping aside in one of my races; I just wanted to give it all I had.”
Fortner was forced to start his day off with a runner-up in the 100, watch the girls 4x200 and step in and run the first leg of the boys 4x200 in less than five minutes of rest time. He then got a break while boys and girls ran the 1,600, but stepped right back in for the 4x100. After the 400, 300 hurdles and 800, Fortner finished his day with the 200; all in 88 degree humid heat.
“It wasn’t too easy,” Fortner said. “This weather played a huge factor today and took a lot out of me, especially having to do these races one after another. But it is a good problem to have. I can’t complain too much about it. I just had to go out and do it.”
Colonel Crawford saw one regional champion on Friday in the 3,200 with sophomore Chad Johnson setting a new regional record with a 9:26.96, 20 seconds faster than the runner up. Normally a guy who likes colder weather to run in, Johnson was still able to put up with the humidity to take the gold.
“The first mile, everyone was going out with me and I used it as a little motivation and I tried to break off in the second mile,” Johnson said. “I knew it (the weather) was going to be rough, but it wasn’t as rough as earlier today. The sun was down by the 3,200 so it was a little better.”
The humidity may have played a bit of a factor in Johnson’s decision to step away from the 800 in which he qualified for and held the second best seed mark. With the 800 and 3,200 happening less than 10 minutes apart, Johnson made the difficult decision to not run in the 800 – or was it?
“That was an easy decision,” Johnson admitted with a laugh. “I didn’t want to just try to qualify for the 800 just because something could have happened with an injury or something. I like the 3,200 more and I love that race; especially when there is competition with me.”
Johnson heads to state with one of the top times. Running all season lone alone in most meets, the sophomore will finally have someone to run with.
“The times that have been run this year are pretty close to what I have been running,” Johnson said. “I haven’t been able to run with competition this year, so if I can run with them I am aiming for a Top 3 place, but I am expecting it to be very close.”
The Eagles’ Owen Adams already punched his ticket to state in the long jump on Wednesday, but competed in the 300 hurdles on Friday, as well. He placed fifth and missed out on a 2-event state qualifier status by .03 seconds.
Nick Studer of Colonel Crawford placed fifth in the 3,200 with a 10:04.87. Brad Bauer ran a 4:37.67 1,600, taking eighth, while Brandon Long ran a 4:47.33, taking 12th. Noah Ferguson was the lone field event competitor for Colonel Crawford on Friday, placing sixth in the shot put with a toss of 49-04.25.
The Bucyrus Redmen took three boys to the regional meet. Freshman Harley Robinson finished fifth in the high jump after clearing 6-feet and missing on 6-1. Mykal Smathers finished up his high school career with a sixth-place finish in the 400 and a time of 51.52. Carson Pirnstill took ninth in the 800 with a 2:05.09.
The Royals’ Seth Hoffman finished in 12th in the shot put with a 42.08.5.
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Twitter: @JakeFurr11
