Mission Complete! Joe Stupka fulfills goal of medaling in three sprints at state meet

COLUMBUS — For most of us in this world, we have goals we set for ourselves. Potential to untap. Targets to reach. Things within us we want to and need to realize. We set standards and go after it with full throttle.

Those goals are not always achieved, but when they do come to fruition it's all the more satisfying.

For Clear Fork sprinter Joe Stupka during the 2023 track season, he can safely say he achieved everything he wanted out of his junior year.

He pulled off the 100-200 double at the always mega event Mehock Relays in April.

He swept the 100, 200 and 400 meters at the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference meet and at the Division II district meet.

He qualified for state in all three sprinting events at the regional meet.

And Stupka concluded his tremendous season Saturday in Columbus at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium by pulling off the rare feat of medaling (top-eight finish) in the 100, 200 and 400 at the same state meet. Coming into this year's state meet, there have been 15 boys sprinters in Ohio high school history who have won all three individual sprinting events at the same meet, including Sherron Jones of Bascom Hopewell-Loudon last year in Division III.

"I think I was the only one in D-2 to make finals in all three," said Stupka, after his day was complete.

Even better.

Just going All-Ohio in the 100, 200 and 400 in the same state meet is so infrequent that, at this year's state meet, Stupka was the only boy or girl in Division I, II and III to medal in all three dashes.

Talk about showing off your range, which Stupka has been pointing out all season long.

He placed fourth in the 100 (10.70), seventh in the 200 (22.05) and second in the 400 (48.75).

Were those the times he was looking for?

"Absolutely," Stupka said. "Really good times in the 100 and 400. The 200, I was a little tired. I had a really short rest. My goal was to get top-eight. Such an awesome experience."

What makes it even more impressive is that he did it in such a short window where there wasn't much time between finals to rest.

"The heat wasn't as bad today," Stupka said. "The rest was a little bit shorter today but it is what it is. No excuses for it. I came out here. I did what I wanted to do. I'm happy and thrilled."

In the 100 final, Stupka finished strong in the last 50 meters to grab fourth place. Fresh off his regional title win last week at Lexington High School, where he ran a 10.48, the state champion in the 100 was Toledo Central Catholic's Solomon King, who ran an absurd 10.34, just off the Division II state record.

The 400 state final featured a rematch of the regional final last week at Lexington between Stupka (second) and Bexley's Mason Louis, who won the 400 and 200 regional titles. Louis took home his second state title in the 400 (first in 2021) with a time of 47.02, with Stupka right with behind him in second. The 400 looked liked his most authoritative race throughout the two days at state.

"I think my 400 was strong," Stupka said. "Again, not as much energy today. I didn't get out like I wanted to but I made up for it. I still ran 48.7, second to Mason obviously. We had kind of a bad wind over that backstretch but it was just about placement today. I'll take runner-up as a junior any day of the week."

In his final race of the day in the 200 final, Stupka toughed it out and got a seventh-place finish. Bexley's Louis captured the 200 state title with a 21.14.

With all three medals wrapped around his neck, Stupka put into perspective what this dream season has been for him that started with him developing synergy with Clear Fork coach Eric Beck last fall.

"We started off indoor. Me and Coach [Beck] started working in November. We worked really hard all year," Stupka said. "He said nine months. First goal was to get Madison [Invitational]. Get first in all three of those. That was a big one and meant a ton to me. I had a lot of supporters today from that school. Being patient is the big one.

"I credit all my teammates and fellow competitors. I saw all these guys indoors. Guys you love competing against and have respect for. Just incredibly fun now. Time to go recover now and onto the next thing."

The next thing?

The kid just accomplished his main goal this season and he's already talking about next season. But there lies the focus that Stupka has for his craft.

Never satisfied.

There's more work to be done.

When you think about it, there actually is. He's only a junior and you have to imagine that as a senior he'll take it up a notch. Probably two or three notches. A state title in one of the sprints, or even in all three could well be in the cards next year. Stay tuned next spring.

"I wanna be here next year. I want to be on top of the podium in all three," Stupka said, with enthusiasm. "I'm going to be working hard in the offseason. Getting stronger and getting more horsepower in me. Fixing my block start and acceleration. That will be the big one."

For now, he'll let his latest accomplishment on the biggest stage soak in.

"I'm happy where I came in this year," Stupka said. "If you would have told me my freshman year that I would get podium in all three, nobody would have believed you. Even myself. Incredibly happy where I am right now."

See, people, when you set goals for yourself, you just might achieve it.

Joe Stupka knows all about that.

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter: @JamesSimpsonII

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Clear Fork's Joe Stupka goes All-Ohio in 100, 200 and 400 sprints