Watkins Memorial boys earn regional track runner-up

• Watkins Memorial scored 49 points to finish as Division I regional runner-up.
• Andrew Jordan won the 3%2C200 to give the Watkins boys their only champion.

PICKERINGTON – Desmond Melson succinctly described his team's performance Friday.

"Second in regionals? That's amazing," the Watkins Memorial junior said.

Melson helped the 4x400 relay cap an impressive Division I regional meet at Pickerington North. The Warriors advanced three individuals and three relays to next week's state meet at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and finished as team runners-up.

Andrew Jordan won the 3,200 (9:16.58) to give the Warriors their only title. The host Panthers ran away with the team title with 91 points, and Watkins' 49 were ahead of Dublin Coffman's and Hilliard Darby's 42 apiece.

"This seems like our best team yet," Jordan said. "We have amazing coaches, and they do a ton for us. All together, we are just a great team. We know each other really well, and we are willing to work as hard as possible to become champions."

Melson placed second in the 400 (48.36), lowering his personal best and making a mad dash during the final 100 meters in lane 8. Several of the competitors made up the stagger on Melson, but he was not to be denied.

"It seems like I have a stronger finish nowadays than I did," Melson said. "I did it before, so it was nice to know I have that ability over everyone else."

Evan Caniff placed third in the 100 (11.19), and he, Bobby Broomfield, Chance Abbitt and Melson placed third in the 4x200 (1:28.65). That simply put the pressure on the following 4x100.

Caniff helped Tyler Culpepper, Solomon Broomfield and Tyri Williams deliver. That foursome placed second (42.74).

"I was like, 'Guys, we can do it. They did it, so why can't we do it too?'" Solomon Broomfield said. "My little brother made it. I had to make it, too."

Melson, Abbitt, Gerick Brewer and Jake Correll then lowered their school record in the 4x400, placing second (3:19.52).

Licking Heights' Curtis Richardson was perfect in breaking a regional record that had stood since 1993. Richardson cleared 6-feet-10.5 to win the title. He cleared 6-4, 6-6, 6-8 and the winning height on first attempts before missing three times while going for a personal-best 7-0.

"My coach has definitely drilled it into my mind: 'Start at 6-4. Come in confident,'" Richardson said. "It definitely helps."

In the girls meet, Granville's Claire Lamb was not into qualifying position until the 1,599th meter, but a quick step at the finish line gave her the fourth and final qualifying spot in the 1,600 (5:00.29). Teammate Micaela DeGenero placed second (4:58.60) to lower her school record.

"I feel like I got an extra burst of energy," Lamb said. "I thought I was going to get fifth, but I don't know. ... It was all mental."

DeGenero was racing for just the second time since she missed a month with an injury. She was fifth and Lamb seventh at the midway point before the Blue Aces began picking off opponents.

"I would have liked to be able to go in and win, but being my second race back after almost five weeks back, even being able to run just makes me so happy," DeGenero said. "I am just glad to be out here. I am thrilled at what I put out there."

Granville freshman Kylee McFarland placed third in the 800 (2:14.40), breaking a school record, to qualify.

Watkins' Kara Robinson was just trying to survive in the 300 hurdles after previously placing second in the 100 hurdles (15.07) and helping the Warriors to third in the 4x200 (1:42.04).

Robinson did so much more, lowering her school record by nearly a second and edging two Gahanna rivals to win the title (43.90).

"I wasn't expecting running that," Robinson said. "I am really excited."

McKenzie Biniker, Kelsey Grove and Rachel Lawwell joined Robinson on the 4x200, which lowered its school record and is the program's first sprint relay to qualify for state in three decades.

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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