Field Events To Watch
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Field Event To Watch - Boys Pole Vault
Ohio continues to prove over and over again its pole vault prowess and it appears that all of that talent will be on full display come Saturday.
In the Division 1 vault, Vandalia-Butler's Dalton Shepler will be looking to secure his third career state championship and second straight at the indoor meet. This season, he has cleared 16 feet, 1 inch, but he boasts personal bests of 16-6 (indoor) and 16-10 (outdoor).
Shepler sees his biggest challenge from 2020 breakout vaulter Jed Sisco (Little Miami High School). After entering the season with lifetime bests of 14-6 (outdoor) and 14-1 (indoor), Sisco has exploded onto the scene and jumped up to 16-6 this winter.
Sisco and Shepler have met twice this season with Sisco finishing ahead of him both times.
Eight boys enter with a clearance better than 15-0. Green's Conner McClure (16-0), Whitmer's Tre Young (15-10), Olentangy Orange's Jonathan Petersen (15-9), and Norwalk's Jake Sommers (15-7) all have good shots at pulling in the championship, as well, as, if Sisco's season is any indication, a major breakthrough can come at any time.
The Division 2/3 competition appears to be a little more one-sided, but still brings with it some heavy hitters looking to pull off an upset.
Newcomerstown's Hunter Garretson enters with a US No. 4 17-0 mark, the only Ohioan to clear the 17 mark so far this winter and the first one to do it indoors since 2017. He will enter Saturday's event as the heavy favorite.
Iain McCormick (Grandview Hts.) and Jimmy Rhoads (Liberty Union) both enter tied for second in Division 2/3 with 15-6.25 entry marks. Ansonia's Brock Shellhaas, last year's champion, sits fourth with his 15-6 mark - the mark that earned him first in 2019. Greenon's Cameron Algren (15-1) and Colonel Crawford senior Alex Mutchler (15-0) make it six boys over 15-0 in the hotly contested Division 2/3 competition.
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Field Event To Watch - Division 1 Girls Long Jump
All eyes have been on Mentor's Paige Floriea ever since she 20 feet, 3/4 inches in the long jump as a freshman. Now a junior, Floriea has shown that that mark that spring was no fluke.
Floriea cleared 19-2 last winter before winning her first indoor state title. This winter, she has consistently been in the high 17s to high 18s at the six meets in which she's competed.
Entering Saturday with an 18-11 season best from this year's VA Showcase, Floriea will look to secure her second straight indoor title in the long jump and improve upon her 19-2 indoor best.
A 19-5.75 jump would tie her for second all-time in Ohio.
Her biggest challenge will come from Loveland's Miya Brines. Brines has cleared 18-2.75 this winter and boasts two other marks over 18 feet. She cleared 17-9.75 this spring which has helped her improve by almost five feet on her previous indoor personal best (13-4.25).