OHSAA track & field: Pickerington Central boys, Gahanna Lincoln girls win regional titles
The Division I regional track and field meet was won by last year's boys and girls team state champions, but only one cruised to victory Friday at Pickerington North. The other had to overcome adversity.
The Gahanna Lincoln girls captured their eighth consecutive regional title, scoring 70 points to finish ahead of second-place Westerville Central (54.5). The margin of victory was nearly identical to last spring at state, when the Lions outdistanced the Warhawks 47-31.
On the boys side, Pickerington Central edged runner-up Gahanna 52-50, pulling out the title by winning the 1,600-meter relay. The Tigers finished in 3:18.55, just ahead of runner-up North (3:18.56) thanks to a strong closing kick from anchor Joseph Lindsey.
Central overcame the disqualification of its 400 relay, which crossed the finish line first but was ruled to have committed an illegal exchange. The relay won a state title last year.
The disqualification cost the Tigers 10 points, but coach Jason Roach was impressed with how his team battled back in its final tuneup for the state meet Friday and Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
“Our (athletes) shouldn’t have to come back from that,” Roach said of the disqualification. “They shouldn’t have to deal with that. ... Our kids had to pull off a miracle to win a regional. It’s silliness. These guys are amazing. It’s an amazing coaching staff. I couldn’t ask for better.”
Officials ruled Central's first handoff of the 400 was illegal because the runner leaned out of the exchange area. Believing the call was incorrect, Roach said he attempted to show video of the exchange to an official, but was told the decision couldn't be overturned.
Troy Lane also played a role in Central's team title, winning the 100 (10.27) and finishing second (21.19) to Licking Heights’ D.J. Fillmore (20.86) in the 200. Lane won last year's state titles in the 100 and 200, leading the Tigers to the team championship.
Fillmore also won the long jump (23-5 ½) at the two-day regional, which began Wednesday.
Other boys winners included Hilliard Davidson’s Connor Ackley in the 1,600 (4:10.6) and 3,200 (9:04.92), Beechcroft’s Jayden Douglas won the 110 hurdles (13.7) and 300 hurdles (36.31) and Bloom-Carroll’s Dylan Chittum in the discus (157-6) and shot put (61-3 ¾).
Camden Bentley led the Gahanna girls, winning the 100 hurdles (13.31) and 300 hurdles (42.0) and running on the first-place 1,600 relay (3:49.81). She won state titles in both hurdles events last year.
“I would like to be a little bit faster in the 300,” Bentley said. “That race is a very mental (thing) for me, getting the right steps down all the time, but I’m on a good path right now.”
Gahanna coach Roger Whittaker hopes the team title gives the Lions added momentum heading into state.
“We ran great times, it’s just great competition out there,” Whittaker said. “I thought if we got to 70 points it would be pretty comfortable and that’s what we got. It was a great meet.”
Westerville Central’s Olivia Pace won the 100 (11.62) and 200 (24.09), anchored the first-place 400 relay (47.45) and finished second in the long jump (17-10) to Gahanna’s Daisha Decree (17-11).
Bexley’s Sydnie Smith won the discus (145-7) and finished second (41-1 ½) in the shot put to Eastmoor Academy’s Zuriya Robinson (42-0).
Fairbanks girls, Mount Gilead boys lead central Ohio in Division III
In the regional at Heath, the Fairbanks girls finished second (59) behind North Robinson Colonel Crawford (72), while Worthington Christian was sixth (37) and Columbus School for Girls was 10th (26).
The Mount Gilead boys finished fourth (33) behind champion Ashland Crestview (74). Fisher Catholic tied Galion Northmor for sixth (26).
For the Fairbanks girls, Kinley Green won the 200 (25.68) and finished second in the 100 (12.46), and Macy Miller was first in the high jump (5-4), second in the 100 hurdles (15.63) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (47.12).
For Worthington Christian, Meghan Mayotte finished third in the high jump (5-2). The 3,200 (second, 9:49.23), 800 (third, 1:47.58) and 400 (fourth, 51.64) relays also qualified for state.
For CSG, the 1,600 relay finished second (4:05.74) and Jameson Pillifant was third in the long jump (17-6 ¾).
For the Mount Gilead boys, Aaron Gannon, Owen Hershner, Parker Bartlett and Will Baker won the 3,200 relay (8:17.24), and Baker was second in the 1,600 (4:22.41) and third in the 3,200 (9:38.75).
Fisher Catholic’s Noah Sharp won the 3,200 (9:23.01) and joined Nathan Krile, Alex Ristau and Jack Gentile on the second-place 3,200 relay (8:20.47).
Tree of Life’s Gabe Oppong finished second in the 100 (10.92) and 200 (22.33).
Grove City Christian’s Tyler Richmond was third in the discus (150-6).
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington Central boys, Gahanna girls win regional track titles
