The hope of every coach is to have his or her team performing at its fullest potential at the end of the season.
For Bellefontaine head track and field coach Ben Davis, the 2023 postseason has brough out the best in his Chieftain squads.
The Lady Chiefs, who finished third at the Logan County meet earlier this spring while they were battling some injuries, won the Division II regional championship last weekend.
Bellefontaine’s girls squad is sending six athletes in eight events to the Division II state track meet Friday and Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
“The girls athletics at Bellefontaine have won four of a total of what the OHSAA calls ‘regional’ championships in school history,” said Davis. “We do not take lightly the second one in track and field in five years. Many terrific athletes have come through BHS in many sports. We are proud and thankful to represent Chieftain nation at this level. We do not take this for granted. The girls focus increased immensely the past three meets as we had near flawless performances.”
Bellefontaine’s boys team has qualified three of its athletes to the state meet.
At last weekend’s regional meet, the Chiefs recorded 10 personal-best performances.
“The assistant coaching staff is very analytical,” said Davis. “The willingness of each athlete to accept their personal coach critique leads to success. Competing athletes at this high level can be quite confident and sometimes brash. This group of athletes have fought through the many distractions that can easily plague teens and maintained their intense focus that has been evident on the track or field. They are a very special group.”
Leading the Lady Chieftains into Columbus is the sensational sophomore duo of Kylie Adams and Ava Reeves.
Both Reeves and Adams will compete in four events at the state meet.
Adams won regional titles in the long jump, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, while Reeves has qualified in the 100, 200 and long jump.
Reeves and Adams will also be joined in the 400 relay at state by junior Parker Penhorwood and freshman Callie Shumaker.
In addition to the 400 relay, Shumaker will compete in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Fellow freshman Kelsie Snapp qualified for state in both throws events and junior Lexi Robinson will join Snapp in the state discus competition.
On the boys side, the Chiefs are sending senior Sullivan Ashcraft and junior Haiden Manns to state in the shot put and junior Tony Stewart in the 3,200.
Davis hopes his athletes can use their regional meet experience as a spring board to a memorable weekend at state.
“We are coming off a stellar meet, so using the highest competition and getting PRs at state is a great way to finish the season,” said Davis.
Raiders’ Henderson returns to Columbus
Standout junior Isabel Henderson will again represent Benjamin Logan’s girls track and field program at the Division II state meet this weekend.
Henderson finished seventh in the high jump at last year’s state meet.
While Henderson was unable to get back to state in the high jump this season, she advanced in two other events.
She finished second at last weekend’s regional meet in the long jump in a school-record distance of 17-11.25.
Henderson also advanced to state in the 200-meter dash, finishing third in the regional with a school-record time of 25.51.
Henderson will compete in the prelims of the 200 at 3:40 p.m. Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The top nine athletes will advances to the finals at 2:40 p.m. Saturday.
Henderson will take part in the long jump finals at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Richardson marks state return for Lakers
Head coach Justin Metzger and his staff have worked hard to get Indian Lake’s program back into the spotlight and that work has paid off.
The Lakers saw senior Elayna Richardson earn a Division II state berth in the 400-meter run after she finished second in a time of 56.87 at last weekend’s regional meet.
“It’s great to get a girl to the state championships and it means a lot to her, our coaches, our program, and our school community,” said Metzger. “The last girl to qualify to the state outdoor track meet was back in 2009 when Rachel Watt qualified in the 1,600-meter run, and I believe the last sprinter to make it to state was Samantha Rodabaugh over 20 years ago. It’s a step in the right direction for the program.”
Metzger attributes a lot of hard work and dedication to Richardson reaching the state meet.
“Elayna has worked hard and was committed to the weight room over the last year,” said the IL head coach. “She is stronger and it has enabled her to run faster.
“As a freshman she decided to focus on her running instead of other sports, and her off-season work ethic participating in cross country, indoor track, and the STAR program by Mary Rutan has paid off.”
Richardson, who was the CBC athlete of the year this season, has qualified to the indoor state meet three years in a row and this year she had a podium finish. She holds school records in the 400, 100, 400 relay and 800 relay.
Richardson hopes to be at her best again this weekend.
“I’d like to make the podium,” she said.
Metzger believes Richardson will be able to step up to the challenge.
“Elayna’s strength out of the blocks, ability to maintain posture and speed and her competitive spirit will help her reach her goals in her final high school races,” said Metzger.
Richardson will compete in the prelims of the 400 at 3 p.m. Friday. Those with the top nine times will advance to the state finals at 2:05 p.m. Saturday.