State titles highlight Wayne County-area track performances

Wayne County-area athletes made plenty of noise on the state stage June 4-7 during the state track and field tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.

From state championships to podium finishes and personal-best performances, local athletes closed the season among Ohio’s best.

Division II

Wooster freshman Teagan Hafner led the Generals’ girls, finishing fifth in the 100 hurdles in 14.82. Hafner also qualified in the high jump and long jump but did not record a successful attempt in either event.

For the Wooster boys, Kaj Meier finished 11th in the 400 in 49.65, while Wylie Fuqua placed 12th in the shot put with a throw of 53-0¾.

Division III

Orrville’s Mark Lorson delivered a state-championship performance in the boys high jump, winning the Division III title with a personal-best mark of 6-9. The sophomore also finished ninth in the long jump with a leap of 21-10¾.

Owen Lacy added another big finish for the Red Riders, placing third in the 3200 in a personal-best 9:19.21 and 12th in the 1600 in 4:20.38. Bronson Rogers finished 12th in the 300 hurdles in 40.30.

Caden Rice and Keenan Pertee represented Orrville in the pole vault, with Rice finishing 12th at 13-6 and Pertee placing 14th at 13 feet. Tate Howell was 17th in the shot put with a throw of 47-10¼.

Rogers and Rice also ran legs on Orrville’s 4x100 relay, which finished 14th in 43.41 and included Aiden Shoup and Cole Cecil.

For the Orrville girls, Maddie Kraft finished 17th in the pole vault, clearing 10 feet.

Division IV

Waynedale’s Anna Pittman turned in one of the area’s top finishes, placing second in the girls pole vault with a vault of 12-4.

For the Waynedale boys, Jackson Varner and Gatlin Herman each earned podium finishes. Varner placed eighth in the 3200 in 9:20.87, while Herman finished eighth in the shot put with a toss of 53-6½. Varner also ran a leg on the 4x800 relay team, which finished 14th in 8:17.22 and included Jayden Varner, Noah Shaffer and Lucas Miller.

Triway’s Olley Krupp represented the boys team in the 100, finishing 11th in 11.17.

For the Triway girls, Cierra Kemery had a strong state meet, finishing seventh in the 100 in 13.05 and 14th in the 200 in 26.18. The junior also helped the 4x400 relay team reach the podium with a seventh-place finish in 4:07.89. The relay also included Elise Wigal, Zoey Baker and Gianna Rowe.

Division V

Smithville’s girls made a major statement in Division V, led by a pair of individual state champions.

Kaitlyn Carr won the 1600 in 4:57.78 and added another state title in the 3200 in 10:52.85. Maryn Erdman also climbed to the top of the podium, winning the 800 in 2:12.31.

Carr and Erdman also helped power Smithville’s relays. The 4x400 team finished sixth in 4:02.98 and included Claire Buller and Hayden Steiner, while the 4x800 team placed seventh in 9:47.93 and included Tessa Duell and Savannah Weidman.

Buller also finished eighth in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet as Smithville placed fourth in the final Division V team standings.

For the Smithville boys, Isaiah Lee led the way with a fourth-place finish in the 200 in 22.74 and an 11th-place finish in the 100 in 11.34. The sophomore also ran a leg on the 4x400 relay, which finished ninth in 3:31.29 and included Nigel Wenger, Chase McFarlin and Kalen Indermuhle.

Wenger added a fourth-place finish in the 1600 in 4:18.99, while Mason Haines finished 11th in the discus with a throw of 152-5.

For the Dalton boys, the 4x200 relay team of Mason Horrisberger, DeAngelo Dalessandro, Connor Gazboda and Braylon Stutz led the way with a sixth-place finish in 1:30.36. The 4x100 team of Dakota Knetzer, Horrisberger, Ethan Raber and Dalessandro finished eighth in 43.89.

For the Dalton girls, the 4x800 relay team of Leah Lehman, Elizabeth Pauli, Isabelle Rohrer and Ellis Dobes finished 16th in 10:13.46.