The Eastern Relays - Some of Ohio's Top Athletes Head to Lousville

 Louisville, Ky sits at the Falls of the Ohio River.  Today and tomorrow are the Eastern Relays and some of Ohio's top T&F athletes are headed south over the river and just may dominate the meet.  Three of the top teams in Ohio are headed to the meet in mass:  Pickerington Central, Gahanna Lincoln and Withrow.  However, the spotlight will be on a markee matchup in the boy's 3,200 tonight between Ohio seniors Andrew Jordan of Watkins Memorial and Gavin Gaynor of Hudson and Knox. Catholic (TN) Sr. Johnathan Chavez.  Here's a look at some of Ohio's top entries, not all-inclusive,  and a preview of the boy's 3,200.

Boys 3200m

Eight boys are under 9:15.  However, none have the resumes of Andrew Jordan and Gavin Gaynor.    Andrew Jordan is #1 Ohio in the 1,600 at this time with a 4:10.20.  He has split 4:05.  He has not run the 3,200 outdoors yet, but ran an 8:54.32 indoors.  Gaynor is the defending Indoor (4:09.14) and outdoor (4:12.16) D1 1,600m champion .  He ran a 4:10.02 in finishing 2nd at the NBNI.  Gaynor has not run outdoors yet this season.  Jordan is the defending champion in the Eastern 3,200 running 9:05.82.  Gaynor was 2nd in 9:07.01.  

The #2 seed is Johnathan Chavez of Knox. Catholic (TN).  His seed time is 9:04.27, but I cannot find this in his performances.  He was 10th Indoors at NBNI in the 2-Mile with a 9:07.45.  His 1,600pr is 4:21.63.  I don't see him being able to run with Jordan and Gaynor.

The other two Ohio boys that are seeded in the top 15 are So. Dustin Horter of Lakota East and Sr. Nick Stricklen of Lexington.  Horter has run 9:13.87 in placing 5th in the D1 3200 last spring.  He was 8th at Eastern in the 3200 last year as a Fr. running 9:14.17.  He has run a 4:18.45 1,600 this year (OH #3).  US #6 for sophomores. Stricklen is the D2/3 Ohio Indoor champion in the 3,200 running 9:19.17.  He has run a 4:19.96 this outdoor season (OH #8)

How will the race go.  I dislike making predictions, as so many things happen in races, but I would expect a fairly close 1st 1,600.  Jordan is patient.  He likes to let races develop and then reacts.  He understands pace and is not afraid to take over if he has too.  Gaynor is an experience runner as well. He can react quickly and can finish fast.  I would expect the race to come down to the last 800.  Jordan has more experience at the 3,200.  It just may go under 8:50.  The All-Time Ohio record is 8:40.99 by Alan Scharsu of Austintown Fitch set in 1978 at the Golden West Invitational.  Other than Scharsu, no one in Ohio has run faster than Jordan.

Ohio Boys

200m

Aaron Shannon 12 Withrow #3 22.03

Devahn Jackson 12 Pickerington Central #6 22.30

Rashaun O'Neal 12 Withrow #7  22.34

400m

Terry Simuel 9 Pickerngton Central #3  49.27

Marcellous Woods 12 Ponitz #4  49.50

Aaraon Shannon 12 Withrow #6  49.90

Mile

Mitchell Poynter  12 Tippecanoe #2 4:13.08  

Dustin Horter 10 Lakota East #10 4:18.47

3,200

Andrew Jordan 12 Watkins Memorial #1  8:54.82

Gavin Gaynor 12 Hudson #3  9:07.01

Dustin Horter 10 Lakota East #7  9:13.87

Nick Stricklen 12 Lexington  #11  9:19.17

2000mSC

Ben Ewert 11 Beavercreek #1  4:20.74

High Jump

Albert Kalala 11 Withrow  #1 6-9

Cole Cottril 12 Unioto #3  6-6

RELAYS

4x100

Withrow  #5 Seed 42.91

4x200

Pickerington Central #1 1:27.39

Withrow #2 1:28.91

Ponitz #10 1:31.80

4x400

Pickerington Central #1 3:20.34

Withrow #5 3:25.99

800m Sprint Medley

Ponitz #1 1:36.44

LaSalle #2 1:36.92