Darke County track and field athletes qualify for OHSAA regional meet

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DAYTON – Some Darke County athletes punched their ticket to regionals during the first day of the district track and field meet at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

The Division III district track and field meet at Welcome Stadium began on Tuesday with athletes from Arcanum, Franklin Monroe and Tri-Village among the competitors.

The two-day meet began with some finals and prelims on Tuesday with the remaining finals on Saturday. The top four finishers in each event qualify for the regionals.

Arcanum’s Isaac Stephens, Justin Vanatta, Tanner Delk and Chance Klipstine won the boys 4×800 meter relay in 8:29.31.

Franklin Monroe’s Nicole Berry won the girls discus with a throw of 116 feet, Franklin Monroe’s Tara Goubeaux finished third with a throw of 103 feet 3 inches, and Arcanum’s Morgan Best finished fourth with a throw of 98 feet 8 inches.

Arcanum’s Luke Holsapple finished second in the boys discus with a throw of 137 feet 5 inches.

Tri-Village’s Josh Hollinger finished third in the boys long jump by jumping 20 feet 3.25 inches.

Arcanum’s Michael Scott finished fourth in the boys pole vault by clearing 10 feet.

Arcanum’s Cora Budemann, Phoebe Weidner, Mara Wetzel and Marcy Bradshaw finished fourth in the girls 4×800 meter relay in 10:49.73.

The Darke County teams were competitive on the first day. The Franklin Monroe girls lead the team standings and Arcanum’s girls are second. Arcanum also is in second place in the boys team standings so several teams are in the hunt for a district title.

“We have a bunch of kids we are sending to the regionals,” Arcanum coach Chris Kessler said. “Our pole vaulter Michael Scott, our discus thrower Morgan Best, our 3,200 meter relay teams so today has been a good day for us. There were no disappointments today; the kids did what was expected. Luke Holsapple threw a personal best in the discus – but with this wind, I don’t think anyone else will get a personal best. But yes, this has been a solid start for us.”

Tri-Village’s boys are in 10th place while FM’s boys are 11th.

“The meet is going pretty much as expected,” Tri-Village coach Scott Warren said. “Although Austin Bruner qualifying for the 100 meter finals was a bit of a surprise. He had been hurt a little bit, and we did not know what he would be like. We had to hold him out of the conference meet so that he could heal up for the district meet. Josh Hollinger did well for us in the long jump. Both Gavin Richards and Josh Hollinger have qualified in the 400 meters; they are both in the finals we will see what they do on Saturday. Richards is a double qualifier in the 200 meters, so he has a decent shot on Saturday in that event, too. Hollinger will be high jumping on Saturday, so he should place in that event, too.

“We worked the boys hard this spring. It was a lot of extra running, but now it is paying off. They did not like it at the time, but now we are seeing the results. When I watched them run the 400 and could see the endurance that they had at the end, it was all worth it.”

For complete results from the meet, visit www.baumspage.com.

Arcanum’s Isaac Stephens paces the field in the boys 4×800 meter relay during the Division III district track and field meet on Tuesday at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Isaac-Stephens-WEB-6.jpgArcanum’s Isaac Stephens paces the field in the boys 4×800 meter relay during the Division III district track and field meet on Tuesday at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. J. C. Tilton | For The Daily Advocate

By J. C. Tilton

For The Daily Advocate

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