Jacob Ranker, center above photo, of Marysville leaps over a hurdle during the 110-meter Division I district finals at Hilliard Darby Saturday. Ranker took second in the 100 and first in the 300-meter hurdles to move on to regionals. At the photo to the right, MHS’ Jenna Rioch runs through a turn during the 800-meter finals at Hilliard Darby. Rioch took second place in the race to move on to regionals, which will be held this week at Pickerington North High School.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Sam Dillon)
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The Monarchs of Marysville have advanced athletes through the Division I Central District finals.
The Marysville High School boys team was able to take eighth place with 33.33 points during the district meet that concluded on Saturday at Hilliard Darby High School.
The Lady Monarchs finished with 20.33 points to take 11th place.
Gary Markin was the first Monarch to qualify for the regional meet with a pole-vaulting height of 12-08 last Wednesday.
Jacob Ranker had to go though two days on running to make it to the regional meet with prelims and finals in two hurdle events.
Ranker was crowned the district champion in the 300 hurdles for District 3 with a time of 38.34.
He also qualified for the regional prelims in the 110 hurdles in the 110 high hurdles.
He placed second in that event on Saturday with a clocking of 14.66.
MHS head track coach Luke Sundermeier said Ranker has been strong this season and the district efforts were nice confidence boosters going into the next step.
“Both were personal records and are very close to school records,” Sundermeier said. “Jacob is on a mission this season and the district meet was a great confidence builder toward the next step.”
Also moving on to the regional meet will be Tristan Karnes in the boys 1600-meter race.
He took fourth place in the district finals run in a time of 4:27.3,
Jenna Rioch will be moving on in the girls 800-meter race after placing runner-up in the district finals with a time of 2:19.
Rioch was cruising in fourth place through the first lap and made a solid move to third in the final 200 meters.
She advanced to second place after a runner from Olentangy Orange stumbled during the final 50 meters.
The remaining Monarchs finished as follows:
-Girls 3200-meter run: Katie Krueger, eighth, 12:48.22; Leanne Eichorn, 12th, 13:00;
-Boys 3200-meter run: Tristan Karnes, sixth, 10:29.28, Riley Karnes, 13th, 10:38;
-Girls 1600-meter run: Krueger, ninth, 5:40;
-Boys 300 hurdles: Anthony Kessler, seventh, 44.30;
-Girls 800-meter run: Jacquelyn Witt, sixth, 2:24.36;
-Boys 800-meter run: Nicholas Bautsch, 13th, 2:07.04.
The Division I Regional track meet will start on Wednesday at Pickerington North High School with field events and preliminary track events.
The top four runners in each heat from preliminary competition will advance to the regional finals.
Finals will be run on Friday evening.
Athletes will be vying for positions in the state track and field meet that will be held the following weekend at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at The Ohio State University.