Area track and field athletes turned in strong performances Friday, May 22, at the OHSAA District Championships, highlighted by a fifth straight district championship for the West Liberty-Salem boys and several regional qualifiers across multiple divisions. The top four finishers in each event advanced to regional competition.
OHSAA Division IV District – Troy
West Liberty-Salem Boys – District Champions (138 points)
West Liberty-Salem captured its fifth consecutive district championship Friday at the OHSAA Division IV District meet in Troy, totaling 138 points to finish ahead of runner-up Versailles (118). The top four finishers in each event advanced to next week’s Division IV Regional in Chillicothe.
Sam Kidd led the Tigers with a district championship in the 200 meters in 22.49 while also finishing runner-up in the 100 meters in 11.03. Jackson Henry added a fifth-place finish in the 200 meters, while Tanner Myers placed sixth in the 100.
West Liberty-Salem scored heavily in the distance events as Caleb Larson finished runner-up in the 800 meters in 2:00.04 and later placed third in the 3200 meters in 9:37.56. Sophomore Asher Cole qualified for regionals in two events, placing runner-up in the 1600 meters with a 4:24.74 effort and fourth in the 800 meters in 2:00.22. Brayan Gullett also advanced with a fourth-place finish in the 1600 and later added a sixth-place finish in the 3200.
Taryn Bradley turned in another standout postseason performance, placing runner-up in the 300 hurdles in 41.11 and third in the 110 hurdles with a personal-best 15.22. Bradley also anchored the Tigers’ district championship 4×200 relay team alongside Jackson Henry, Brevin Louden, and Jake Lauck in 1:32.36.
West Liberty-Salem also qualified for regionals in three additional relay events. The 4×100 relay team of Jackson Henry, Sam Kidd, Tanner Myers, and Kamden Yang finished runner-up in 44.56. The 4×800 relay team of Zeke Longshore, Asher Cole, Owen Hardwick, and Dylan King placed second in 8:06.19, while the 4×400 relay team of Brevin Louden, Zeke Longshore, Jake Lauck, and Taryn Bradley also earned runner-up honors in 3:33.19.
In the field events, Casey Boyer placed second in high jump by clearing 5-9, while Carson Poppe qualified for regionals with a fourth-place finish in shot put at 43-5.25. Sullivan Foster added scoring performances in both throwing events, placing fifth in discus and seventh in shot put. Lucas Merriman added a fifth-place finish in pole vault.
Additional scoring contributions came from Jake Lauck and Brevin Louden in the 400 meters and Kamden Yang in the long jump as the Tigers secured another district championship trophy.
Triad Boys – 11th Place (17 points)
Triad finished 11th overall and was led by De’Von Minor, who advanced to regionals in long jump with a third-place personal-best leap of 20-5.75. Minor also added a fifth-place finish in the 110 hurdles.
Daniel Ishida-Garwood led the Cardinals in the distance events with a 10th-place finish in the 800 meters, while Cohen Millice placed seventh in high jump and ninth in the 1600 meters. Henry Beaverson contributed in both the 800 and 1600 races and also helped Triad place seventh in the 4×800 relay alongside Colton Mullin, Cohen Millice, and Daniel Ishida-Garwood.
Christopher Vallette added a sixth-place finish in discus and later placed 13th in shot put for the Cardinals.
West Liberty-Salem Girls – 4th Place (77 points)
The West Liberty-Salem girls placed fourth overall behind strong distance performances, sprint finishes, and relay scoring.
Senior Malia Miller captured a district championship in the 3200 meters with a personal-best time of 11:51.48 and later placed fifth in the 1600. Arianna Weaver also advanced to regionals with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters.
In the sprint events, Chloe Griffith finished runner-up in the 100 meters in 12.83 while Tori Douthwaite placed third. Lea Brickerson added a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters, with Griffith finishing sixth.
West Liberty-Salem qualified for regionals in multiple relays. The 4×100 relay team of Tori Douthwaite, Lea Brickerson, Gwen McCullough, and Chloe Griffith placed second in 51.92. The same quartet later finished third in the 4×200 relay in 1:49.02.
The Tigers also advanced in both distance relays. The 4×400 relay team of Lea Brickerson, Gwen McCullough, Malia Miller, and Arianna Weaver placed fourth in 4:21.25, while the 4×800 relay team of Malia Miller, Gwen McCullough, Isla Leichty, and Arianna Weaver earned a third-place finish in 10:03.29.
In the field events, Ava Poppe led the Tigers with a runner-up finish in shot put at 36-9.5, while Lyndee Harrison added a seventh-place finish in the event.
Isla Leichty added scoring finishes in both the 1600 and 3200 meters as West Liberty-Salem accumulated points throughout the meet to finish fourth overall.
OHSAA Division II District – Trotwood-Madison
Bellefontaine Boys – 4th Place (72.75 points)
Bellefontaine finished fourth overall in a competitive Division II district meet and qualified several athletes and relay teams for regionals.
Senior Hayden Maus led the Chiefs with runner-up finishes in both the 1600 meters in 4:31.23 and the 3200 meters in 9:45.07. Jack Wilson also advanced in the 1600 with a fifth-place personal-best effort of 4:39.88, while Oliver Grandstaff placed fifth in the 3200.
Terrence Hayes turned in strong hurdle performances, placing third in the 300 hurdles in 41.98 and sixth in the 110 hurdles. Hayes also added a seventh-place finish in high jump.
Bellefontaine qualified for regionals in multiple relay events. The 4×200 relay team of Kaiden Foulk, Dillon Jones, Kyrus Cobb, and Curtis Butler III placed runner-up in 1:32.99. The 4×800 relay team of Hayden Maus, Oliver Grandstaff, Jack Wilson, and Landon Gerwels also earned a runner-up finish in 8:30.89.
The 4×400 relay team of Kyrus Cobb, Kaiden Foulk, Dillon Jones, and Curtis Butler III added a fourth-place regional-qualifying finish in 3:39.51.
Kaiden Foulk also scored individually with a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters and fifth in the 200, while Dillon Jones placed sixth in the 200. Landon Gerwels added a sixth-place finish in the 800 meters.
Additional contributions came from Marek Frazier in shot put, Derek Greene in both throwing events, Andrew Myers in pole vault, and Curtis Butler III in long jump as the Chiefs secured a top-four team finish.
