Fairbanks’ Rachael Hoover is pictured competing during a race in this file photo. Hoover helped lead the Lady Panthers to a co-championship in the Division III district meet.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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It was a shared title this year, but for the fourth straight season Fairbanks stood at the top of the standings as a Division III girls district track champion.
The Lady Panthers tied with Columbus School for Girls with 93 points following the final day of competition on Saturday at Westerville North.
“It is not a disappointment to share the title,” head coach Nate Stewart said. “It is a very tough district so it is still very impressive.”
Senior Rachael Hoover led the way for Fairbanks with a pair of first-place finishes.
She won the 800 meter run in the time of 2:19.58 and the 1600 with a clocking of 5:04.92.
Hoover and several of her teammates advanced to the regional meet at Heath, which begins on Wednesday with the running prelims. The finals will be on Friday.
The top four placers in each event qualified for the regional meet.
Others reaching the regional were Charley Shope (second, 100, 12.88 and second, 300 hurdles, 47.58), the 4×200 team of Shope, Mollie Thrush, Alexis Wojcehowics, Allie Boyd (second, 1:49.20), the 4×100 team of Kendra Turner, Thrush, Boyd, Sydney Nicol (fourth, 52.98), Ava Lahmers (3200, second, 11:44,36) and the 4×400 team of Hoover, Lahmers, Sadie Miller, Thrush (second, 10:04.12).
It was the fourth straight district title in both events for Hoover, who be attending Bowling Green State University to compete in cross country and track.
“Rachael’s leadership has been crucial for us and that leadership and drive will carry her to the next level.” Stewart said. “But our underclassmen have also been stepping up for us and in my eyes, it is like passing the torch.”
Earning placement points, but not advancing to regionals were Miller (1600, eighth, 5:46.73) and Wojcehowics (400, eighth, 1:02.95).
In events earlier in the week, Claire Baker was fourth in the high jump (4-10), Clara Andrews was fifth in the discus (92-0) and sixth in the shot put (30-11), Boyd was sixth in the pole vault (7-0) and Anna Mueller was fifth in the shot put (31-1).
The boys team finished 12th overall with 19 points.
It did not have anybody advance to the regional meet during Saturday’s competition.
Earlier in the week Andrew Sorg was a district champion in the discus with a toss of 132-1.
Earning placement points for the Panthers were Cohen Riley (100, seventh, 11.59), the 4×200 team of Raiden Humble, Carson Shope, Maddox Eagon, Riley (fifth, 1:35.44) and the 4×100 team of Humble, Shope, Riley, Eagon (sixth, 46.56).