Veteran Meadowbrook High Jump duo returns to state meet

BYESVILLE − A pair of seasoned veterans will represent Meadowbrook High during this weekend's Ohio High School Athletic Association State Track Championships with seniors Camden Black and Ethan Furbee making return trips.

Meadowbrook's veteran duo is among a group of local athletes who will compete at the state meet, set for Friday and Saturday at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Preliminaries for all but the 4x800 relays and select field events will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, with all other running event finals set for Saturday. The top nine finishers in each prelim reach the finals, while the top eight placers earn All-Ohio.

Ironically, both will be competing in the high jump with Black making her third appearance at the state meet, finishing sixth in the state a year ago. Furbee will be making his second trip to the 'Big Stage', with his first coming during his sophomore season.

"Anytime you get a kid to state it's a really big deal," Meadowbrook veteran head coach John Epperson explained. "Because they only take 18 kids now, it used to be just 16, so we are pretty excited that Cami and Ethan qualified for state.

"This will be Cami's third trip, and Ethan's second so they know what to expect," Epperson continued. "I think that is an advantage for them going in. They should not be too nervous and be able to relax and focus in on what they need to do. They have both had very good years, so we are not going in with any expectations, but with a lot of confidence and I look for them to both do very well."

Black explained earning her way back to Columbus was a top objective entering her senior year.

"I was absolutely was focused on getting back to state this year," Black explained. "My goal for this season has really just been to PR (personal record) and finish better than I did last year. So I was sixth last year, so I would be happy with anything above that."

Black got off to a good start at last week's Division II regional meet at Muskingum University, taking the girls high jump regional championship with a top effort of 5-5.

"I was happy with my overall performance at regionals," Black offered. "I do kind of wish I would have jumped a PR height there because I know if I would have got a PR there, I would have had a lot of added confidence going into state this week.

"So while I was happy with regionals, I also know I can always do better," Black added. "And who knows, that PR could happen this weekend at state, and that would be a great time to do it."

Black's regional championship title gives her plenty of momentum heading into her final appearance at the state meet.

Furbee punched his ticket to his second state meet with a third place finish in the boys high jump with a 6-2 effort during last week's D-II regional.

"I really wanted to make it back to state this year," Furbee said. "I wanted to end my high school career on a good note, sort of go out with a bang. And I was able to do that, so I'm pretty excited about it and looking forward to the opportunity.

"I was really happy at regionals as I was able to tie my PR," Furbee explained. "It was a tough meet with so really strong competition. So that was a good sign, to respond with my PR under those conditions. I would like to jump 6-4 this weekend, if I can do that I feel could get up on the podium. And that would be awesome way to close out my Meadowbrook career."

Black will be in action Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., while Furbee is slated to compete on Saturday at 9:30 a.m.

John Glenn banking on experience

John Glenn will be sending the largest area contingent to Columbus, led by senior Kara Fields, who will compete in both hurdles, the 100 and 300. She was All-Ohio in the 100H last year after finishing eighth and believes that experience was beneficial to her approach this year.

"Last year prepared me on how to handle a big stage and control my nerves in that setting," she said. "My focus is to run my own race. In the 100, I will focus on part of my technique and in the 300, I try to sprint as far and long as I can. Both races come down to me doing what I know how to do."

Sophomore Jessica Church, who qualified for the 400 last season, will run the 100 and 400 and sophomore Brayden Snider returns to the state in the pole vault after placing 10th in the event last season.

Having a year of experience is beneficial, noted Church, who was 15th in the 400 last year. She also believes the 100 can assist her in trying to reach the podium.

"I know the track better, and the 100 will be a good warmup for the 400. My goal is to improve on last year," Church said. "I've run (the 400) well all season, and I know what my strategy is. I need to trust my ability and run with the effort I have all season.

Junior Chelsea Sotherden will throw the shot and junior Ava Hoffman will take part in the high jump for the John Glenn girls, while senior Cash Smith will represent the boys in the 110 hurdles.

Sotherden was returning from a knee injury she suffered as a sophomore. She admitted being apprehensive about it early in the season, but she has confidence in her knee.

Sotherden should also benefit from previous state experience, as a freshman, she finished 13th in the shot at the state meet.

"This year was me trying to beat the odds of overcoming a knee injury and getting back to state," she said. "I've seen that level of competition, and it helps with my approach and getting into a throwing mindset. I want to make sure my body is rested, and my mind is in the right place so I'm ready to go on Saturday."

Hoffman earned one of the wild card berths by clearing 5-2 in the regional, which was a personal best. She has seen some of the top competition, including Meadowbrook's Black'

The team's success has been highlighted by balance, and it's no surprise the Muskies will be represented in numerous events. Coach Doug Joy will keep the routine as normal as possible.

"We didn't treat the district or regional meet any differently than anything else. We're going to do the same with state," Joy said. "We have high expectations for Kara with her experience. We have other kids who have a chance to be on the podium. We need to compete like we have all year, and hopefully, the results will be there for us."

Record setting Bobcats 4x200 relay team

Cambridge High's 4x200 relay team of seniors Owen Feldner and Xander Caldwell and juniors Reed Johnson and Eli Edwards clinched their spot in Columbus with a record-setting performance in the regionals.

The Bobcats' foursome set a new school record of 1:29.58, while taking second place in earning their trip to Columbus.

"That was one of their goals coming into the season was to break that 4x200 record," CHS boys head coach J.R. Fox offered. "And we figured it we could do that, we would qualify for state and that's exactly how it played out. They have been working all year on that goal, with three of them competing at the indoor state meet.

"The guys have responded well to the work they have done this year. They have had a pretty long season with the indoor work as well," Fox added. "We tried to manage how much they ran, and when they ran so that we could peak for the end of the season. And thankfully, it's worked out that way, we are all excited for the weekend. Confident they are going to have a really solid performance, and we will just see how it all plays out."

Feldner and Johnson were part of last year's 4x200 relay that also qualified for state, while Edwards was the alternate a year ago and stepped into a larger role this time around with Caldwell completing the team.

"It honestly feels surreal to make it back to state," Johnson said. "Breaking the school record feels like a dream come true. It’s something I have looked forward to doing since my freshman year. Being a junior and being able to do it with such a talented team is amazing. This is something that I will never forget and the fact we aren’t even finished yet makes it even better."

Buckeye Trail First Time Trio Poised For State

Buckeye Trail will be sending a total of three first-time athletes following Division III regional action at Heath High School last week.

Junior Koen Eagon captured a fourth-place finish in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 40.98 to earn his first trip to the OHSAA's Big Stage of high school track.

Also qualifying for the Warriors were junior Janson Alloway in the pole vault and senior Kieran Krahel in the discus.

"I'm not sure how long it's been since Trail got three athletes out to state," first-year Buckeye Trail head coach Terry Parry offered. "It's been a really long time, but Trail has come a long way. I mean look at our facilities now with the new turf on the football, baseball and softball fields.

"These kids have just done a tremendous job this year when you take in the conditions in which they dealt with," Parry continued. "Our track got tore up when they installed our new turf football field, and they were supposed to have it repaired before track season. I mean take Koen, he has only ran the 300 hurdles in meets, because he can't do it on our track. I feel that's just a really great accomplishment by these guys."

Alloway will be competing in the pole vault, advancing on from the regionals with a runner-up finish with a best effort of 13-0 at regionals.

Krahel earned his trip with a fourth place showing in the discus, with a best effort of 148-8 in the regional finals.

"It's a really good feeling to be going to state. I really didn't expect it," Krahel said. "I didn't even think I was going to make it out of regionals so I really feel kind of blessed to be in this position. It's always been a goal of mine to get to state, and I've been throwing six years now. So to be able to make it my senior year is really special to me.

"I really wasn't very happy with my performance at regionals, that's why I was surprised I got out," Krahel added. "I feel like now I get opportunity to redeem myself in Columbus this weekend. I was able to break the school record (147) this year, and really that was my main goal. I really wasn't thinking about the state early in the year so I feel fortunate to have this opportunity. I plan to give it my all this weekend, and I'm really getting excited as we count down the days."

"I'm just super proud of these boys, I have worked with them for many years as an assistant coach before becoming head coach," Parry explained. "Just a hard working group, and happy to see all that hard work pay off with a trip to Columbus for them."

Alloway and Krahel will be in action with the preliminary and final rounds being held on Friday, with the pole vault and discus slated for 4 p.m. Eagon will take part in the 300 meter hurdle preliminary trails on Friday at 11:30 a.m. hoping to advance to the finals on Saturday at 10:40 a.m.

KSutton1@gannett.com; @KevinDJsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Local area well represented this weekend at OHSAA state track meet