Division II regional track roundup: RV's Ethan Lyon earns dramatic shot put victory

LEXINGTON — As the metal ball flew errantly to the left for a second straight foul, Ethan Lyon's shot-putting life flashed before his eyes.

The River Valley senior and reigning Division II regional boys shot put champion needed to stick his final attempt in the second flight or his season in the event would be over.

"I was shaking pretty bad," he said of his third throw of the day.

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Still more regional track Division II regional track roundup: Pair of Vikings heading back to state meet

Lyon met the moment and qualified for the finals where he ended up as the champ again Saturday at the D-II regional meet in Lexington.

"It was the lightest and slowest spin I’ve ever done," Lyon said of his 53 feet, 3-inch effort that moved him from last place to second overall. "I went to the middle and I was like I’ve got to get the ball straight. I just flicked it and closed my eyes and was like, ‘Please go, please go.’ They said it was 53, so I was all right, and I was going to build off that."

On his fifth attempt, Lyon threw it 56-6.25 to pass Oak Harbor's Evan Hall who ended up as a runner-up at 56-1.5. It proved to be the winner.

"In warmups (before the finals), I was really feeling it because the nerves were gone. I’ve still got another week to figure it out, but I’m still trying to figure out how to translate my practice and warmups into my actual throw," he said. "I was happy that I was able to win and get a pretty decent mark out. I know I’ve got a lot more I can put on that ball."

Lyon will head to the University of Dayton Friday where he will compete in the discus at 9 a.m. and the shot put at 1 p.m. Like last year, he was second in the regional discus competition, going 156-6 on Thursday night to qualify for state.

"I think I’ll be able to hit it at state," Lyon said of big throws. "If I want to hit it at any point of the season, that’s where I want to hit it."

RV pole vaulters advance

On Thursday, River Valley senior Cooper Miller qualified for the state meet for a third straight season in the boys pole vault, finishing second at 14-8. Two days later, RV junior Eva Moran joined him after a third-place result at 11-6. She is also a three-time state qualifier.

"Just to qualify is always a relief," Miller said, who will compete Friday at 1 p.m.. "Once I got in the competition, I was trying to do my best and trying to win. I didn’t come out with the height I probably can jump, but going into this next week, it’s feeling good. We’re going to change up a few things like go from a longer run. I got on some bigger poles two days ago."

Like Miller, Moran is adjusting to a longer pole, as she is going from a 13-footer to a 13-7 in length. She feels she will get dialed in by the time she starts state competition Friday at 9 a.m.

"It’s just like anything. Repetition makes anything more comfortable," she said. "It’s like public speaking. I hate public speaking, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you get with it.

"I got on (the longer pole) a little this week, but I didn’t really get through it until today when I saw I actually can jump on it. I feel a lot more comfortable with the pole, and I feel I can hold it higher even, but I just have to work on some stuff and work through it."

RV's Douce going in 800

River Valley senior Gabe Douce met his goal. Not only did he shatter his personal record by two seconds with a 1:53.22 in the boys 800 meters, he took a regional runner-up spot to claim a state berth.

"Ecstatic. My goal at the beginning of this year was to make it to state and I did. It’s just joy," he said minutes after the race. "Thankful for God for enabling me to do this and giving me this amazing opportunity."

His his top goal achieved, Douce has to reevaluate the purpose of his final week of high school track and field as he gets ready to run Saturday at 11:20 a.m.

"I guess now it’s to place at state and hopefully top four, but anywhere on the podium I’ll be happy with," he said.

Highland's Miller moving on

While River Valley is sending four athletes to state, one more from the Marion area qualified for the state meet in Division II. Highland senior Camryn Miller made it with a gritty effort in the girls 3200, getting the fourth and final state spot with an 11:33.32.

"When I was in second, I started to die down, and I knew a couple of girls were coming up on me. When thenext two passed me, I knew I was in fourth. I was like 'I’ve got to go now, and I can’t risk letting another pass me. I’m in fourth and this is what I need.' I pushed through to finish there."

And never underestimate the recuperative powers of loud, encouraging cheers. On the next to last lap as she rounded the turn to the stadium stretch, she slowed and appeared wobbly.

"Really towards the fifth lap I started to feel it and the heat started to get to me and I’d die down," Miller said. "Every time I came around on the finish line, I had a whole group of my family and friends go, ‘Go Camryn! You have two more laps!’ and then I really started to pick it up on that stretch. That is what kept me going. It was just hearing them cheer for me.".

Miller will race Saturday at 11:55 a.m. at UD's Welcome Stadium

Other regional competitors

North Union freshmen phenom Gabby Lindsey didn't qualify for state, but she competed in three finals. In the girls long jump, she went 17 feet for sixth, while in the 400, she ran seventh in 59.9, and in the 200, she was sixth in 25.71.

Freshman teammate Kennedy Ludwig was 12th in the girls 1600 at 5:32.16 for the Wildcats, while RV's Chase Osborne was 11th in the boys 1600 at 4:40.95.

Highland's Kynzie Green was ninth in the girls discus at 111-10. In the boys shot put, Highland's Ladon Hayes was 10th at 47-6.75, and RV's Brady Cookson was 11th at 46-7.75.

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: River Valley, Highland sending athletes to D-II state track meet