Marysville’s Jacob Ranker clears a hurdle during the finals of the Division I state 300-meter event at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Ranker will continue his track and field career at the University of Louisville.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
—-One of the top hurdlers in recent Marysville High School boys track and field history will continue his career on the collegiate level.
Jacob Ranker, who is a 2019 graduate of MHS, has announced he will be competing for the men’s team at the University of Louisville.
Ranker was one of the Monarchs’ top hurdlers the past couple of seasons.
He capped his high school career a couple of months ago by competing in the Division I state meet at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Ranker placed sixth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 38.63. In doing so, he was rewarded with a trip to the state awards podium.
Ranker said his collegiate choice came down to Louisville or the University of Cincinnati.
His decision was based on finances and caliber of competition.
“Louisville gave me a partial athletic scholarship and the school gave me additional academic money,” he said.
“I also think Louisville (of the Athletic Coast Conference) goes up against better competition,” said Ranker. “I want to compete against the best. That and the scholarship money helped me make my decision.”
Ranker said the Cardinals have had strong teams the past few years.
Louisville graduated an All-American 400-meter hurdler in Martis Moore this past spring.
That could very well clear the way for Ranker to see a good deal of action as a true freshman.
College teams run the 400-meter hurdles, instead of the 300 hurdles that high school teams run.
“The coaches have told me I will run the 400 meter hurdles during the outdoor season next spring,” said Ranker.
Prior to that, he will compete on the school’s 4 x 400 relay team during the winter indoor season.
“The indoor season does not have the 400 hurdles,” said Ranker. “They have the 110’s, but I won’t run that event as a freshman and maybe not even as a sophomore.”
Ranker, who will study finance at Louisville, said there is a difference between high school and college track in the 110-meter hurdles.
“The height of the college hurdle in the 110’s is 42 inches, instead of 39 inches in high school,” he said.
“It’s not a big difference, but the coaches want me to take some time to develop before I run the 110’s in college.”
Ranker feels he’s ready to compete in collegiate meets right away.
“I feel I will be in the starting lineup as a freshman,” he said.
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