While every event at the state meet is important and fun to watch and each has its little elements and story lines that interest different individuals, here are five events that should be labeled "Do Not Miss." If you are a true fan of Track and Field you won't want to miss these events.
Below are the events for Boys Division 3, in no particular order, that you will want to make sure that you get to see.
1. Long Jump
Friday at 4:00pm
Lima Central Catholic sophomore Mykale Rogers had an impressive jump of 24-3 at his Regional Meet, coming within a couple inches of the Division 3 State Record. A year ago Rogers placed second to State Record Holder Dan Skiba of Mineral Ridge, this year Rogers looks to take home the gold and break the Division 3 State and State Meet records. Rogers has distanced himself from the field as he has a 2-foot cushion on the next best competitors' personal record.
2. 4x200m Relay
Prelims on Friday at 10:40am
Finals on Saturday at 9:55am
Villa Angela-St. Joseph is coming off there Division 3 State Record setting performance of posting a 1:28.01 at the Navarre Regional Meet. Villa Angela-St. Joseph has a commanding 2-second lead on the rest of the state and likely won't be challenged at the state meet. Clean hand-offs and good weather could help Villa Angela-St. Joseph lower their State Record time into the 1:27's.
3. 100m Dash
Prelims on Friday at 10:25am
Finals on Saturday at 9:40am
Chris Strup of Tinora looks to defend his title as fastest small school sprinter in Ohio after he won the 100m and 200m Dashes at the 2011 State Meet. Strup clocked a 10.86 in last year's state prelims and has already gone 10.97 this year in the regional prelims. Others that will try to beat the defending champion are Ashland Crewstview's Mason Minnich, Jordan Haas of Hillsdale, Villa Angela-St. Joseph's Devon Bolden and Andrew Shrewsburry of Woodmore, who have all gone sub 11 this year.
4. 400m Dash
Prelims on Friday at 11:10am
Finals on Saturday at 10:35am
The 2011 Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists all return for another go round at the one-lapper. All three also have the three best marks in the 400m in Division 3 in the order they finished last year at the state Meet. Justin Stewart of Lehman Catholic has run a 49.06 this year, Cedarville's Zeke Young has clocked a time of 48.84 and Matt Tobin of Fairview-Sherwood has finished the lap race with a season best time of 48.81. This should be a dog fight all the way through the finish line.
5. 1600m Run
Saturday at 10:05am
Last year 12 of the 14 competitors were seniors. The only two returning participants are are Colubus Academy's Jon Michael Hilsheimer and Kyle Kistinger of Cincinnati Country Day. While these two athletes have an advantage that they have experience, it really is anybody's race to win. Besides Hilsheimer and Kistinger, others to watch are Maplewood's Wyatt Hartman (2011 runner up in the 800m), Cory Glines of St. Thomas Aquinas, Dominic Facciolla of Columbus Academy, Logan Kettlewell of Garaway and Tri-Village's Clayton Murphy.
Returning State Champions
Event - Name (School) - Last Year's winning time/mark
4x800m Relay - Columbus Academy - 7:48.41
100m Dash - Chris Strup (Tinora) - 11.05
4x200m Relay - Anna - 1:29.48
4x200m Relay - Anna - 43.19
400m Run - Matt Tobin (Fairview-Sherwood) - 48.65
200m Dash - Chris Strup (Tinora) - 22.05
4x400m Relay - Minster - 3:22.11
Pole Vault - Tyler Wolfe (Columbus Grove) - 15-6