Lions, Hiltoppers, Bombers Place at Indoor State Tournament
Although only in the 40s outside, the Ohio Indoor State Track and Field Championships were held March 3 and 4 at the Spire Institute in Geneva, and Geauga County track and field athletes had a successful tournament.
Meet photos click here.
Although only in the 40s outside, the Ohio Indoor State Track and Field Championships were held March 3 and 4 at the Spire Institute in Geneva, and Geauga County track and field athletes had a successful tournament.
Hawken’s Christian Anderson won the 60m Ohio indoor state championship for the second year in a row, and multiple Geauga athletes made the podium in their respective events.
Anderson, who will be running NCAA Division I track and field at American University, won the state championship with a time of 6.78.
“Winning the state championship, especially for the second year in a row, has been a big dream of mine,” Anderson said. “It’s been a big goal coming into this year. I knew I had the potential to do it, but just coming out here and doing it, just feels amazing. Especially being able to come out here and tie the state record — I know I would love to have it to myself, but tying it is just such an accomplishment, it’s been one of my biggest goals throughout my high school career.”
In addition to winning the state championship, Anderson placed second in the 200m with a time of 21.92.
Hawken’s 4x800m team (Nick Garcia Whitko, Sam Cohen, Parker Carrus and Tommy Mooney) also made the podium, finishing 8th in the state with a time of 8:20.23.
“It’s really great to come out here and make the podium,” Carrus said. “For us three, our first time on the podium in the state championships, it’s really fulfilling. That was our goal coming in, and we accomplished it.”
Added Garcia Whitko, “It feels really good to be back out on the track, running fast, because we’ve been training. It’s really nice to see the training pay off.”
Garcia Whitko also finished sixth in the 1600m with a time of 4:25.7.
Also making the podium for Hawken in the pole vault was Ethan Metz, who placed sixth with a jump of 14 feet.
“It’s been a lot of hard work and preparation this season,” Metz said. “A lot goes into this. This morning I woke up and I knew I had to do it, I knew I had to vault, I had to jump good today. It means a lot to me to jump good.
“I want to thank all my coaches. It means a lot.”
As a team, the Hawken boys finished third in the state.
And Hawken’s Leila Metres made the podium with a second-place finish in the 400m. Her time was 58.66, and she also finished 6th in the 200m with a time of 25.99.
For NDCL, the boys 4×200 team (Danny Yanick, Colm Matheney, Javon King and Finn Matheney) finished second in the state with a time of 132.24.
“We’re pretty pleased with our performance,” Yanick said.
The boys 4×400 team also placed second with a time of 3:26.11.
Placing for Chardon at state championships was Karl Dietz, who placed third in the 400m with a time of 48.6.
Paige Masson made the podium for Kenston, finishing seventh in the 800m with a time of 2:19.10.
The outdoor track and field season begins March 25.
