Danville's Hackman leads large contingent of district champs

The Mount Vernon track team earned six district championships and qualified athletes for regional competition in 16 events at the Div. II Central District track and field championships, held this past week at Hilliard Darby.

Freshman Calvin Heithaus grabbed two of those district titles, breaking his own school record in one of the events. Heithaus broke the mark in winning the 1,600-meter run, crossing the finish line in 4:19.52. He also captured gold in the 800, finishing in 1:58.77.

Ben Fitzpatrick added a third title for the MV boys team, winning the long jump with a leap of 22-foot-0.25.

The girls team also had three district champs — Lucy Rush won the 3,200 in 11:03.10; Khloe Bradley the shot put (37-5) and Kennedy Howard the pole vault (12-0).

Rush also set a new school mark in the 1,600, becoming the first MV girl to break five minutes when she finished in 4:59.78. She was edged at the finish line and came in second in the event.

Also qualifying for regionals at Lexington this week were Elizabeth Lebold, who finished third in the pole vault at 8-foot.

The girls also had two relay teams move on to regionals. The 4x400 team of Juliet Boyd, Kinsley Firebaugh, Nadia Nougi and Rush finished second in 4:12.78, while the 4x200 team of Boyd, Savannah Rose, Firebaugh and Danaisa Best was third in 1:48.17.

The boys had four more individuals qualify and two relay teams.

Brady Mills and Jamison Oakes both qualified in the 400. Mills finished second in 51.09, while Oakes was fourth at 51.87. Logan Autherson placed third in the shot put with a heave of 50-0.5, and Luka Hicks qualified fourth in the pole vault at 9-6.

MV’s 4x800 relay team of Owen Petrie, Jonah Eggert, Heithaus and Theo Miller finished second in 8:23.14, while the 4x400 team of Oakes, Miller, Heithaus and Mills was fourth in 3:30.43.

Division IV

Fredericktown athletes will compete at regionals in 18 events following a strong performance in the Div. IV district meet at Granville.

The Freddies had four district champs, led by two event titles from Ella Bouton. The senior won the shot put (44-9.5) and discus (136-8).

Jenny Alexander won the pole vault with a leap of 11-foot, while the 4x200 boys relay team of Cooper Rine, Tanner Estep, Staut Marilo and Blake Sipes won in 1:32.45.

Rine finished second in the 110 hurdles, crossing the line in 15.83; Anson Wenger was third in the 800 in 2:02.80; and Griffin Garver was fourth in the 400 in 54.01. Fredericktown had two relay teams advance – the 4x800 team of Darren Hartley, Carter Budd, Wenger and Isaiah Dickerson was second in 8:46.77, and the 4x400 team of Marilo, Garver, Hartley and Wenger was fourth in 3:41.06.

Gracyn Toombs finished as runner-up in the shot put at 36-2, while the 4x800 team of Sophia Overholt, Gwen Lavin, Angelina Overholt and Elizabeth Swartzentruber was second in 11:43.42.

Also qualifying were Swartzentruber (third, 13:19.36) and Lavin (fourth, 13:24.95) in the 3,200; Kristina Meszarosova (third, 14-5) in the long jump; Pilar Payne (fourth, 17.83) in the 100 hurdles; and Lavin (third, 5:55.66) and Swartzentruber (fourth, 6:00.97) in the 1,600.

The 4x400 relay team of Sophia Overholt, Jenna Aurand, Kit Bellman and Haley Thompson came in third at 4:26.78 to move on.

Centerburg will send nine athletes, including two district champs, to regional competition at Marion Harding. The boys team finished second overall.

Miles Marshall won the high jump title with a leap of 6-foot, while Stella Sands won the shot put with a heave of 38-foot.

Marshall also qualified in the 100, finishing second in 11.12, and was a member of the 4x100 relay team that placed second in 44.55. Also on the relay were Blane Ball, Eli Indiciani and Hayden Love.

Ball came in second in the long jump (19-7.5), while Jackson Ballinger was third in the discus (146-3) and Love third in the 400 (53.31).

Also joining Sands at Harding from the girls team will be Skylar Parker, who placed second in the discus (106-7) and Lillie Quick, who was second in the long jump (15-2.25).

East Knox boys will send individuals in six events, led by district champ Weston Bostic, who set a school record in the pole vault at 14-foot.

Cason Faucett won the 400 in 50.30 and was fourth in the 100 (11.33), while Kaiden Clutter was second in the 3,200 (10:35.38) and Logan Hercenberg second in the 300 hurdles (41.54). Hercenberg also qualified fourth in the high jump at 5-8.

Division V

Danville’s Kelsey Hackman swept all four of her Div. V district track events, advancing to regionals this week at Cuyahoga Heights.

Hackman set a school record in winning the 100 hurdles, crossing the line in 15.53. The senior also won the long jump (16-4), 100 dash (12.79) and 300 hurdles (48.01).

Joining her with a pair of district championships is teammate Brookelynn Carter, who won the shot put (39-3.5) and discus (117-7). Emma Payne also qualified in the shot put, finishing fourth at 30-9.

On the boys side, Owen Gronberg will advance in both the shot put (first, 47-2.5) and discus (second, 138-0). Aidan Mickley is moving on the 400 after finishing second in 52.96, while Parker Proper placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (17.0).

East Knox will have two individuals and two relay teams move on to regionals.

Isabelle Bostic won the 400 in a time of 58.92, while Macie Fawcett finished third in the 800 at 2:22.47.

The 4x100 relay team of Cloe Tucker, Ellie Clark, Fawcett and Ava Faucett won in a time of 51.39, while the 4x200 team of Faucett, Clark, Fawcett and Bostic also won in 1:45.43.