Brynn Rycklik of Marysville soars toward the pole vault bar Friday evening at Pickerington North High School. Rychilik captured the Division I girls regional title by clearing the bar at 12-8. She will compete in the state D-I event on Saturday at Hilliard Darby High School. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Set to compete in state meet Saturday
The pole vault accolades continue to climb for Marysville High School’s Brynn Rychlik.
The Lady Monarch senior added another 2021 championship to her resume on Friday with a Division I regional title.
Competing on a chilly, windy day at Pickerington North High School, Rychlik claimed the regional crown with an effort of 12-8.
She had previously won the district and the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division titles.
After securing the height, she attempted 13-0, which is three inches shy of her own school record.
Rychlik couldn’t quite make that mark, but was still pleased with her performance.
“I was hoping to reach 13-0, but I’m happy to hit 12-8,” she said.
As expected, the battle for the regional championship came down to Rychlik and Olentangy Orange’s Sara Borton.
They were the only vaulters out of a field of 16 who were left standing when the bar climbed to 12-8.
Borton missed that mark on all three attempts.
Rychlik cleared 12-8 with ease on her first try, which ultimately earned her the regional crown.
“This was a very good competitive event,” said Rychlik. “I like competing against Sara.”
Rychlik passed on the competition until the bar, which started at eight feet, climbed to 12.
She cleared 12 feet on her first attempt, but ran into a minor snag at 12-4.
The MHS senior missed her first two attempts at the additional height, but cleared it on her third attempt.
Rychlik, Borton and Victoria Harney of Watkins Memorial were the only competitors left when the bar reached 12-4.
Harvey could not advance beyond that height.
“This was a great regional and I’m happy to move on to the state,” said Rychlik.
Rychlik’s younger sister, sophomore Jacklyn, placed seventh in the vault after she cleared 11 feet.
The top four vaulters in the regional advanced to this week’s state meet that will be held at Hilliard Darby High School.
Rychlik will vault at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
“Brynn did a great job of winning the regional,” said Marysville head coach Luke Sundermeier. “Jackie also did a great job for a sophomore and her first time at the regional.
“She placed seventh and got to the awards podium.”
The Lady Monarchs were represented by one other athlete in the field events on Friday.
Junior Carys Gossett finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 114-6.
‘This was a good regional for Carys (who finished sixth in the shot put last Wednesday),” said Sundermeier. “She scored points in both events.”
The top four finishers from the regional qualified for the state meet.
Two additional throws from across other regions also qualified.
Gossett did not advance to the state meet.
Marysville distance runners Katie Krueger, a senior, and sophomore Bryn Hothem competed respectively in the 3200 and 1600 finals Friday evening.
Krueger concluded her high school running career.
She placed 13th in her race with a clocking of 11:55.39.
Hothem finished 10th at 5:18.55.