AMHERST — Christine Bohan knows how to multitask.
Bohan
The skill was on full display Wednesday as the Avon Lake junior qualified to the Division I state track and field meet in two events at the Amherst regional. Bohan finished second in the high jump at 5-foot-5 and third in the shot put, 40-3¾.
“Handling multiple events at the same time keeps you warmed up and ready. I don’t mind it,” said Bohan, a two-time state qualifier in shot put. “I would rather be doing multiple (field) events because I’m so used to that. It keeps my heart rate up and keeps me going. I’m used to it. I love it.”
Bohan will attempt to qualify in pole vault and discus Friday, when action resumes at the Amherst regional.
“My goal is to qualify to state in at least three events,” she said. “That’s my goal for the season. If I can achieve that goal, I’ll be happy. I’m thrilled with my high jump. I’m almost back up to the level where I was two years ago when I set the school record (5-6½). I’m ready for that next level when I compete at the state meet.”
Amherst junior Erin Kasper also qualified in high jump, becoming the first Comet girl to advance to state in that event. Kasper finished third (5-4) of the four individual qualifiers.
“I haven’t ever really been this good. It’s all kind of new to me,” Kasper said. “This season I definitely have been more serious when I realized I had some potential. I started conditioning early and more and started getting stronger and better. It’s definitely a good feeling that my hard work is paying off. This is awesome.”
Lorain senior Reggie Williams needed just one attempt to nail a state berth in long jump and took second. Williams soared a personal-record 23-0¼, an inch out of first place.
“I’ve always kind of put myself out of the competition the last few years not being able to be on the board consistently,” Williams said. “For me to get it on the first jump today was huge. Last year, I won districts, but then didn’t even make regionals finals (11th, 20-8¼).”
The North Ridgeville 400-meter relay is one race away from becoming the school’s first boys relay to make it to state. Christian Watkins, Paul Sonego, Zack Bowden and David Bowden posted the fastest qualifying time (42.89) in front of St. Edward (42.91) and Lorain (43.19).
Toledo Whitmer was slightly ahead of the Rangers in the next lane, but dropped the baton on the last exchange.
“We were prepared. We knew what we had to do,” Zack Bowden said. “We were focused on us, not them (Toledo Whitmer). We looked at their time. We knew what we were up against. Sadly, they dropped the baton.
“I like to beat them fair and square. It was close. They were a little bit ahead of us when they got the baton, but I believe he (David Bowden) could have brought it home either way. We’re looking forward to Friday.”
The Rangers 400 relay won what is believed to be the first district title in the history of the boys program last Friday at Amherst when it triumphed in a school-record 42.81.
The Lorain girls had the top qualifying times Wednesday in the 800- (1:42.61) and 400-meter (47.60) relays, and had the second-fastest 1,600 relay (3:56.45).
In addition, senior Melody Farris of Lorain had the top qualifying times in the 100- (14.16) and 300-meter (43.00) hurdles. Her 300-meter hurdle time broke her county record of 43.47 set at the 2011 state meet. Teammate Alicia Arnold posted the No. 1 time in the 200 (24.13).
Regional action continues Friday with field events starting at 4 p.m. and running events at 5 p.m.
Avon Lake senior Jake Young finished eighth in discus (159-4), more than 10 feet off his best. The Amherst district winner couldn’t repeat his magic.
“It wasn’t coming out of my hand right,” he said. “It just all together was a bad day. All my throws were down. I just didn’t have my best stuff.”
Boys
Team scores
Through 4 events
1. Toledo Whitmer, 17; 2. St. Ignatius, 16; 3. Midpark, 15; 4. St. Edward, 14; 5. Findlay, 13; 6. Sylvania Southview, 10; 7. tie – Fremont Ross and Sylvania Southview, 10; 9. tie – Lorain and Toledo St. Francis DeSales, 8; 11. Brunswick, 7; 12. Bowling Green, 6; 13. Medina, 5; 14. tie – Lexington and Mansfield Madison, 4; 16. tie — Avon Lake, North Olmsted, Toledo St. John, Ashland and Cleveland JFK, 3; 21. Amherst, 2.; 22. tie – Perrysburg and Toledo Bowsher, 0.5.
Individual results
Top 4 finishers advance to the state meet, June 1-2
3,200-meter relay: 1. St. Ignatius, 7:52.87; 2. Toledo St. Francis, 7:55.14; 3. Brunswick, 7:59.75; 4. Medina, 8:02.13; 7. Avon Lake, 8:09.74.
Discus: 1. Aaron Zedella (St. Edward), 185-10; 2. Chris Wormley (Toledo Whitmer), 184-9; 3. Blake Thomas (St. Ignatius), 178-6; 4. Jared Ballenger (Fremont Ross), 170-6; 8. Jake Young (Avon Lake), 159-4.
Long jump: 1. Jernard Pickney (Northview), 23-1¼; 2. Reggie Williams (Lorain), 23-0¼; 3. Tyler Brown (Findlay), 22-4; 4. Shanquise Mills (Fremont Ross), 22-0¾; 7. Josh Birkline (Amherst), 21-6¾.
Pole vault: 1. Aaron Owens (Midpark), 15-7 (MEET RECORD, old record 15-6 set by Toledo St. John’s Justin Daler in 1997); 2. Patrick Siebenhaller (Toledo Whitmer), 14-6; 3. Cody Swisher (Findlay), 14-6; 4. Jerry Hopkins (Midpark), 14-6; 10. Sam Bitter (Avon), 13-6.
Girls
Team scores
Through 3 events
1. tie – Avon Lake and Sylvania Northview, 18; 3. tie – Bay and Medina, 10; 5. Findlay, 8; 6. tie – Amherst and Magnificat, 6; 8. tie – Normandy, Rocky River and Sandusky, 5; 11. tie – Avon and Brunswick, 4; 13. Sylvania Southview, Perrysburg and Toledo St. Ursula, 3; 16. tie – Toledo Whitmer, North Royalton and Marion Harding, 2; 19. tie – Lexington, Toledo Notre Dame and Mansfield Senior, 1.
Individual results
Top 4 finishers advance to the state meet, June 1-2
3,200-meter relay: 1. Medina (Alexis Smith, Sarah Pack, Taylor Wickey, Anna Boyert), 9:12.02; 2. Sylvania Southview, 9:12.73; 3. Magnificat, 9:18.36; 4. Rocky River, 9:20.63.
Shot put: 1. Amelia Strickler (Bay), 42-1½; 2. Kyesha Neal (Findlay), 42-1¼; 3. Christine Bohan (Avon Lake), 40-3¾; 4. Gracie Rapnicki (Normandy), 38-10½; 5. Sarah Alflen (Avon Lake), 38-6.
High jump: 1. Alysha Welch (Northview), 5-5; 2. Bohan (Avon Lake), 5-5; 3. Erin Kasper (Amherst), 5-4; 4. Heather Gruhlke (Sandusky), 5-3; 5. Madison Cooper (Avon), 5-3.
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.
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