Sr. Andrew Jordan of Watkins Memorial finishing 800 at Mansfield earlier this year. Jordan just took the top spot in the Ohio rankings in the 800m yesterday with a 1:53.03. (photo M. Stonecipher)
Watkins memorial Sr. Andrew Jordan ran a new Ohio #1 in the 800m yesterday afternoon. The 800 is not his specialty, but Jordan showed some of the speed that has him atop the State rankings in the 1,600 and the 3,200, as well as the 800 now. Jordan's 1:53.03 edged out Hudson Sr. Gavin Gaynor's 1:53.11. Just three weeks ago the two went head to head in the Eastern Relays 3,200 with Jordan running a US #1 at the time 8:46.72 and Gaynor running second in a US #2. 8:50.59. For all of us distance enthusiasts, it would be great to see them go head to head again in either a 1,600 or a 3,200, but one doubts that either Jordan or Gaynor will try to double in the 1,600 and the 3,200 at State, although both are more than capable, and with Districts next week and both in different Regionals, a match up again is just not possible. Plus, Jordan has his sights on the State 3,200m record of 8:55.04 set in 2012 by Tsehaye Hiluf of Reynoldsburg and Gaynor has his set on the 4:05.13 1,600m record set in 1988 by Westerville South's Bob Kennedy. The records for both are very attainable.
The other new OH #1 was run by the Hudson girls 4x800m team of Arille Dalea, Hannah Teed, Emily Akin and Gaby Polazzo, in the Akron Suburban League Championships. Here is an update on this. The Beavercreek girls just ran a 9:16.57! That's a new OH #1 for the girls. The team is made up of Sr. Cami Baird, Jr. Jordan Grant, Jr. Lauren Shuman and So. Stephanie Pierce.