In the photo to the left, Marysville’s Ava Zwiezinski (right) leads a Worthington opponent in the 1600 meter run. In the right photo, MHS’ Logan McSwords goes over the high jump bar. McSwords cleared 6-0, which is his personal record. He placed second in the event. (Journal-Tribune photos by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School’s track and field program celebrated its first meet in its new stadium on Tuesday.
The Monarchs hosted Delaware Hayes and Thomas Worthington on a sunny, but windy day.
The MHS squads would have hosted a home meet in the new facility at some point last year.
The 2020 campaign, however, was canceled due to COVID-19.
Marysville’s track teams spent the entire 2019 season on the road as the old track was torn up for the new project.
“To many outside observers, tonight was just like any other track meet,” said Monarch coach Luke Sundermeier. “They heard the national anthem, the starting gun and the excitement of a personal record and teammates support for each other.
“However, for us, tonight was special,” said the coach. “It marked our first home meet in 1,071 days.
“Countless hours of collaboration between administration, community members, track families and the coaching staff have made it possible to host our first-ever meet at our new track and field stadium.
“The sacrifices of our athletes, from practicing in the parking lot during the 2019 campaign, to self-isolating during the canceled 2020 season, to following strict social distancing protocols now in 2021 shows how important interscholastic athletics can be,” said Sundermeier. “Lessons of sacrifice, hard work, being a good teammate and contributing to something bigger than yourself carry way beyond any contest.”
Thomas Worthington won the boys meet with 228 point.
MHS tallied 191 and Hayes finished with 160.
MHS event results (top three places) were as follows:
Boys
-4 x 800 meter relay: Marysville B, third, 10:31.68 (Rios, Schlemmer, Hazelbaker, Bodine);
-110 meter hurdles: Cam Smith, third, 18:29;
-100 meter dash: Paolo Pena, first, 12.26;
-4 x 200 meter relay: Marysville A, second, 1:39.20 (Pena, Hiltscher, Moeller, Rigel); Marysville B, third, 1:40.79 (Kern, Macey, Harper, Montgomery);
-1600 meter run: Preston Herring, first, 5:00.34; James Heap, second, 5:00.40; Shane Hothem, third, 5:00.97;
-4 x 100 meter relay: Marysville A, second, 45.85 (Pena, Jones, Sahor, Kern);
-400 meter dash: Griffin Rigel, second, 54.11; Cole Macey, third, 55.86;
-300 meter hurdles: Dylan Harper, third, 45.61;
-4 x 400 meter relay: Marysville D, second in 3:41.69 (Rigel, Montgomery, Macey, Bates);
-High jump: McSwords, second, 6-0;
-Shot put: Andrew Bentz, first, 45-10.5;
-Discus: Bentz, third, 106-10.
The Lady Monarchs tallied 206 points, to 204 for Hayes and 168 for Thomas Worthington.
Girls
The Lady Monarchs placed third in the following events:
-100 meter hurdles: Emily Thomas, first, 18.99;
-100 meter dash: Hannah Carney, third, 14.67;
-4 x 200 meter relay: Marysville A, third, 2:00.39 (Baumbarger, Brooks, Eley, Agyemang);
-1600 meter run: Olivia Elliott, third, 6:22.0;
-4 x 100 meter relay: Marysville A, first, 55.17 (Baumbarger, Brooks, Eley, Thomas); Marysville B, third, 57.84 (Agyemang, Andrews, Wolfe, Lamb);
-400 meter dash: Shannon Cordle, second, 1:10.01;
-300 meter hurdles: Brooks, second, 54.97;
-800 meter run: Bryn Hothem, second, 2.31.54;
-Pole vault: Brynn Rychlik, first, 11-6; Jacklyn Rychlik, second, 10-0; Hayley Conrad, third, 7-6;
-Long jump: Sylvia Eley, second, 14-3.5; Cordle, third, 13-3;
-Shot put: Carys Gossett, first, 35-1;
-Discus: Gossett, first, 99-10.