May 31, 2009

1. Boys Division 1 Pole Vault

Finals: 12:00pm Saturday

Kevin Leland of Greenville snagged the Division 1 record in the pole vault by clearing 16-1 at the Dayton Division 1 Regional meet and has his eyes set on the overall State Record of 16-4. Six different athletes have cleard 15 feet this year and it may take close to that to place top eight this season. Last years runner up, Jack Greenlee of St. Xavier, is a darkhorse in this event as he is just returning to action after not vaulting competitely for the 10 weeks leading up to the distict meet. Another favorite, Joey Uhle, may be watching from the stands this weekend as rumor has it that he unfortunately broke a pole in practice and also a bone on the same jump. Watch Leland's Record Setting Jump.

2. Boys Division 2 Discus

Finals: 9:00am Saturday

A possible 200 foot bomb is in store for fans of the plate. Returning state Champion Justin Welch of Eastwood has been knocking on the door of 200' all season and there is no better time to uncork a big one than at the state meet. Welch already owns six 190 foot efforts and has the sixth best throw in the nation at 198-6. Read the Welch Article.

3. Boys Division 3 Shot Put

Finals: 1:00pm Friday

Defending Champion DJ Duke already holds the Division 3 Shot Put record by launching the 12 lbs. ball 66-10.5 (5th best throw in the nation). Duke will look to capture the 28 year old Division 3 State meet record which is currently set at 62-0.75.

4. Boys Division 1 High Jump

Finals: 3:00pm Saturday

If Erik Kynard (Rogers) is healthy and returns to form this might be the most watched event of the meet, and rightfully so. Kynard has been the standard of HS HJing the past few years, regularly clearing 7-0. Two more 7 footers add to the intrigue of this event with Shaun Joplin (Sylvania Southview) and Dwayne King (Cleveland Heights). Three more qualifiers have cleared 6-10 this season, three more have gone atleast 6-9, while two more have gone 6-8. That is a whopping 11 qualifiers that have jumped atleast 6-8 this season. Read the Kynard Article.

5. Boys Division 2 Shot Put

Finals: 10:00am Friday

Defending State Champion Mathew Hoty of Perkins leads an impressive group of throwers in the shot put for Division 2.. Hoty holds the Division 2 State Meet record and also set the Division 2 Record this past weekend at the Lexington Regional on Saturday with a heave of 64-8.25 (7th best throw in the nation). Four athlets in this group have gone over 60' and two more are looking to join the club. Watch Hoty's Record Setting Throw.