D-III regional roundup: Northmor's Cowin Becker making a name in track and field

HEATH — On the wrestling mat, Cowin Becker is the little brother to former state champion Conor Becker and state runner-up Conan Becker.

But in track and field, it's different for the Northmor junior.

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"I feel it’s a bit more loose," he said of his feeling in the spring. "Wrestling has been my sport. My brothers did all of that (in wrestling), and I was just trying to fulfill the name. In track, it’s kind of more free for me. I have more fun."

The little brother is a three-time state placer in three high school wrestling seasons, so he is ably carrying on the family name and tradition during the winter. However, with track and field, he's his own man.

On Friday night, Becker qualified for next week's Division III state track and field championships at the University of Dayton by finishing third in the boys 400 meters at the regional meet hosted by Heath High School. He already advanced to state by earning an at-large berth in the boys long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 6.75 inches.

The top four in every event at each of Ohio's four regionals automatically qualify for state, while the next best two regional marks earn the wild card slots into the state field.

"In the long jump I wasn’t supposed to make it at all, but I made it happen," Becker said. "I felt I’ve been focusing on the 400 primarily the whole year. It means a whole lot to me. It’s a man’s race. It comes down to who is mentally tougher."

He tapped into his wrestling mentality to pull off the 400 qualification with a gutsy late drive despite tiring legs.

"I was pretty nervous. I was fourth overall and I knew it was going to take a really good time because the other kids in here were running pretty fast," he said. "Wrestling helps me with track. There’s nothing harder than wrestling. Nothing comparable to that. I feel that the 400 gives you a bit of that by pushing you to the max."

His time was not only a personal best at 49.57, but it broke the Northmor boys 400 record of 50.1. Twice this season Becker ran 50.19, so he knew he had it in him.

"I’ve been working to get that record and keep moving on each week. I knew if I was trying to beat that record the whole time, I’d keep running good times and keep hanging with these dudes," Becker said.

Baker and Bartlett also state-bound

Becker wasn't the only Marion-area athlete to earn a state berth. Mount Gilead's distance running duo of junior Will Baker and senior Parker Bartlett also qualified.

Baker was second in the boys 1,600, outdueling two other racers for the regional runner-up spot with a 4:19.34. He took third in the 3,200 with a 9:34.58.

"It’s all about being in that top four spot or getting one of the two wild cards. Next week is state and this is the best dress rehearsal we’re going to get for that, so you have to treat every race like that," Baker said. "It felt good. We came out here to race and that’s what I did. Obviously, I wanted to come out here and win both of them, but I definitely can’t be upset by the way I finished."

As for Bartlett, he finished fifth in 9:38.06, so extending his season another week looked bleak when crossing the finish line and standing on the top eight podium. However, that time was good enough to take an at-large bid into next week's state meet.

More MG state qualifiers

Mount Gilead sophomore Wyatt Mowry earned his first state berth by finishing fourth in the boys 300 hurdles, clocking a 40.68.

"It’s pretty exciting, especially for it being my second year. Just get in the top four," he said of his racing mindset. "I had to run a really big PR against a lot of good competition."

The Indians are also sending their 4x200 boys relay team of Jonathan Miller, Logan High, Collin Gabriel and Quade Harris after they took fourth with a 1:32.28.

Other competitors on Friday night

Northmor's Natalie Hunter was the one field event athlete to earn a podium spot by placing in the top eight. She took sixth in the girls pole vault with a measure of 9 feet, 8 inches.

In the girls discus, Mount Gilead's Abby Leonard was ninth with a 105-11, while teammate Joey Baldwin was 10th in the boys shot put at 46-2.25. Elgin's Delainy Boles put down a 15-4.75 for 10th in the girls long jump.

Ridgedale's Maddie McKenzie nearly qualified in the girls 100 hurdles with a fifth in 16.69, just 0.17 seconds from fourth place. In the same race, Pleasant's Sarah Jordan was eighth in 17.29.

High was eighth in the boys 100 in 11.61 and seventh in the 200 at 24.92. He was also part of MG's 4x400 relay with Gabriel, Miller and Harris that finished seventh in 3:32.85. Also for the Indians, Kimberly Staley was 15th in the girls 3200 with a 12:19.71, and the girls 4x100 relay of Mackenzie Mosher, Natalie Waugh, Faith White and Danielle Pohlkotte was fifth in 51.69, 0.52 seconds from fourth.

Casey Kimball was ninth in the girls 1600 for Pleasant, running a 5:38.28, while teammate Caleb Cameron was 12th in the boys 800 in 2:03.01.

Northmor's Ethan Amens took seventh in the boys 300 hurdles with a 42.53, and teammate Ryan Lehman ended ninth in the boys 800 at 1:58.51.

At the Division I regional at Pickerington North, Marion Harding's Lydia Price scratched out of the girls 1600 to concentrate on the 3200 where she finished fifth in 11:15.2.

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Regional track roundup: Northmor's Becker, MG runners make state