Some of the top track and field events of the weekend around the nation didn't all come from the big post-season meets out west or down south, but rather they came from Ohio and the Ohio State T&F Championships. The top performance of the weekend came from Meshawn Graham (Toledo Bowsher, OH). Graham won the girls 400m dash with a new U.S. #1 400m time of 53.30.
Aareon Payne (Cle. Heights Beaumont, OH) also had a big day in the girls DI sprint events. Payne won the 100m dash in 11.78, coming back later in the day to take home the 200m dash title in 23.88, both some of the best times in the country so far this season.
The boys sprint events were equally as impressive. Trotwood-Madison (OH) won the boys 4x200m relay and 4x400m relay with U.S. top five times. TM won the 4x200m relay in a blazing 1:25.44, then coming back later in the day to win the 4x400m relay in a U.S. #3 time of 3:13.46. Michael Willey (Miamisburg, OH) proved himself a champion as well with a fantastic mark in the DI boys 300m hurdles, finishing first in the event with a 36.59 time.
The DI girls distance events were very high quality as well, with Foot Locker all-Americans Emily Infeld (Cle. Heights Beaumont, OH) and Claire Durkin (Worth. Kilbourne, OH) showing incredible results. Infeld won both the 800m dash and 1600m run in some of the best times in the country this season. The senior won the 800m in 2:09.12, while running the 1600m earlier in the day with a mark of 4:47.31. Durkin also came up big with her 3200m run, winning the event with one of the best times in the country with a 10:25.95. Meanwhile, DIII distance star Stephanie Morgan (Barnesville, OH) continued to show why she is one of the best milers in the country by winning rather easily her 1600m race in 4:49.58 and the DIII 800m race in 2:09.87.
The most impressive boys distance performance at the DI level came from a freshman. Believe it or not, freshman Zach Wills (Mason, OH) won the 3200m run in an incredible time of 9:15.34. Wills showed strength rarely seen by freshman and showed he is certainly an athlete to watch out for in years to come.
In the field events, Erik Kynard (Toledo Rogers, OH) cleared 7-00 once again, this time earning himself the state DI championship in the event. Another top field DI field event performance came from Chandler Burdeh (Cin. LaSalle, OH) by winning the boys shot put in 61-02.50 and discus throw in 187-06.
In Division II action, Cory Leslie (Sandusky-Perkins, OH) closed out his storied high school career with one of the best middle-distance doubles seen in the country this season. Leslie easily won the 800m dash and 1600m run, winning the shorter race in 1:50.77 and the 1600m in 4:12.44. Leslie's teammate Matthew Hoty (Sandusky Perkins, OH) won the boys shot put with the best mark of the weekend regardless of class, launching the devise 62-00.50. To finish up the weekend, Ryan Fleck (Napoleon, OH) jumped the top high jump mark of the weekend with a 7-01.50 leap.
State Meet Records
(* - denotes that the performance set a state record also)
Girls Division I
Pole Vault - Kelsie Ahbe & Katie Nageotte - 12'4"
3200m - Claire Durkin - 10:25.95
4x400m Relay - Walnut Hills - 3:45.89*
Boys Division I
4x400m Relay - Trotwood-Madison - 3:13.46*
Girls Division II
4x100m Relay - Bishop Hartley - 47.36*
Pole Vault - Kayla Caldwell - 12'4"
4x400m Relay - Warrensville Heights - 3:51.22*
Boys Division II
Shot Put - Matthew Hoty - 62'0.25"
High Jump - Ryan Fleck - 7'1.5"*
800m - Cory Leslie - 1:50.77*
Girls Division III
Discus - Erin Pendelton - 168'10"
Pole Vault - Mackenzie Wills - 12'5"
High Jump - Laura Gehret - 5'8.25"
4x200m Relay - St. John Central - 1:43.21
800m - Stephanie Morgan - 2:09.87*
Boys Division III
4x200m - Bluffton - 1:28.47*
Pole Vault - Heath Nickles - 16'1.5"*
400m - John Guagenti - 47.46
3200m - Walter Luttrell - 9:16.29
US Top 10 Performances
Girls
3200m - US #9 - Claire Durkin - 10:25.95
400m - US #1 - Meshawn Graham - 53.30
4x200m Relay - US #9 - Walnut Hills - 1:38.60 and US #10 - Withrow - 1:38.64
800m - US #9 - Emily Infeld - 2:09.12
Discus - US #2 - Erin Pendelton - 168'10" and US #9 - Katie Gerhardt - 153'5"
Boys
300m Hurdles - US #4 - Michael Willey - 36.59
4x200m Relay - US #4 - Trotwood-Madison - 1:25.44
4x400m Relay - US #3 - Trowtood-Madison - 3:13.46 and US #10 - Dunbar - 3:14.94
4x800m Relay - US #2 - Cleveland Heights - 1:41.38, US #3 - Reynoldsburg - 1:44.17,
US #7 - Strongsville - 7:45.86 and US #10 - Medina - 7:46.21
800m - US #8 - Cory Leslie - 1:50.77
High Jump - US #4 - Ryan Fleck - 7'1.5"