Wauseon’s Kyle Zirkle throws in the shot put finals Wednesday during day one of the Division II District Track and Field Meet at Defiance. Zirkle would place fifth in the event with a throw of 46 feet, 8 and 1/2 inches.
Randy Roberts | Fulton County Expositor
Seth Hutchison of Wauseon runs in the 110m hurdles in the prelims Wednesday.
Randy Roberts | Fulton County Expositor
DEFIANCE – Using team depth, Wauseon’s boys track and field team placed third at the Division II district meet at Defiance which wrapped up on Friday.
The Indians tallied 75 points, which placed them behind Napoleon (82) and Toledo Central Catholic (80).
Distance running was a strong suit for the Indians. Kyle Vernot placed in two events, winning the 3200 (10:14.18) and placing second in the 1600 (4:36.00). Aaron Beck was right behind Vernot in the 1600, taking third in 4:40.69. Joshua Lowry was behind Vernot in the 3200, taking second in 10:14.95.
Kyle Zirkle qualified for the regional meet after taking third in the discus (144-10). He just missed being a double-qualifier for next week, as he also took fifth in the shot put (46-8.5).
The Indians also had a few tracksters just miss out on regional-qualifying spots. Dawson Rupp took eighth in the long jump (18-9.5); Seth Hutchison was sixth in the both the 100 hurdles (16.68) and 300 hurdles (42.34); Aaron Newland was fifth in the 300 hurdles (42.29) and eighth in the 110 hurdles (16.83); Chase Reynolds was seventh in the 400 (54.93); Owen Newlove was sixth in the 800 (2:02.29); Michael Cheezan was seventh in the 800 (2:05.96) and Zach Fink was seventh in the 200 (25.01).
The relay teams were just as solid at Defiance. The 4×800 team of Beck, Newlove, Lowry and Vernot took third in 8:33.15 to qualify for the regional meet.
The other three relay teams scored points, but couldn’t advance to the regional. The 4×100 team of Junior Martinez, Fink, Davon Ramos and Brendan Wilson took seventh (46.96); the team of Ramos, Wilson, Rupp and Fink took seventh in the 4×200 (1:36.78) and the team of Newlove, Wilson, Rupp and Aaron Newland took seventh in the 4×400 (3:40.35).
Swanton’s boys team placed eighth with 57 points, and they have four athletes moving on to the regional at Piqua.
Jonny Shanks led the charge for the Bulldogs, coming away with a title in the long jump. His vault of 21-11.75 set a new district record.
The Bulldogs also had a pair of runner-up positions as Gunnar Oakes took second in the high jump (6-0) and Tanner Prentice was second in the 400 (52.31). Anthony Howard also advanced to the regional after taking third in the 800 (2:00.91).
Swanton came close to sending four more to the regional. Nick Koback ended fifth in the pole vault (12-4); Dylan Gilsdorf tied for fifth in the high jump (5-6); Brennan Spiess was fifth in the 100 (11.61) and Brett Bettinger was fifth in the 3200 (10:29.52).
Wauseon’s girls had a lot of placers, but not a lot of regional qualifiers after finishing in seventh place at the district meet.
Halen Mealer had a second-place finish in the 300 hurdles (46.37) and a fifth-place finish in the 100 hurdles (16.60). Paige Smith took fourth in the 200 (27.61), plus ended sixth in the 100 (13.37) and sixth in the long jump (16-0). Aliza Dauterman was another multiple-placer, as she advanced to the regional with a third place finish in the discus (115-7). She ended fifth in the shot put (36-3.75).
Fifth place was a spot a few Lady Indian runners found themselves in. Samantha Aeschliman was fifth in the 1600 (5:45.15) and Hannah Richer was fifth in the 3200 (12:14.06). It also affected the relay teams, as the 4×100 team of Mealer, Smith, Audry Lane and Amanda Hammontree placed fifth in 53.10.
Avery Giguere was another placer, taking seventh in the 1600 (5:52.11). Giguere, along with Mealer, Lane and Hammontree, took eighth in the 4×400 relay with a time of 4:36.77.
The regional meet is set for Thursday and Saturday at Piqua.
Reach Randy Roberts at [email protected]
