Junior Kameron Gover (right) placed 4th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.55 seconds to earn a trip to the state meet.
Photo byAdam Lacy / imagejock.com
Senior Christian Champen qualified for state in the pole vault by placing second at the Division I regional meet.
Photo byAdam Lacy / imagejock.com
DAYTON — Region IV of Division I track & field is perhaps the most competitive in the state with athletes having to bring their best efforts forth in order to advance to the state meet.
Last Wednesday and Friday at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium that proved to be true with stiff competition that saw only the best move on to the state meet this Friday and Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. Only the top four placers in each event moved on to the big show.
Northmont had three athletes qualify for state during the regional meet. Junior Kameron Gover placed 4th in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.55 seconds. Maurice Adika of Fairmont took 1st place in 11.39, Tyrell Waters of Miamisburg was second at 11.46 and Jordan Campbell of Lebanon was third in 11.47. Gover narrowly edged out Middletown senior Tyrell Preston who also clocked an 11.55 finish.
For the girls junior Melissa Barrett qualified for state by placing 4th in the 800meter run in two minutes, 16.09 seconds (2:16.09). Junior Elizabeth Brush of Mason took 1st place in 1:15.36 while Jordan Grant of Beavercreek was second in 2:15.94 and sophomore Stephanie Pierce also of Beavercreek was third at 2:15.96.
“Mel is definitely one of those kinds athletes that every coach wants to have,” said Northmont Girls Coach Joe Barnes. “She is such a humble athlete and she is not afraid to go out and compete, and that is something you can’t teach. She loves to go out and compete.”
Senior Christian Champen also qualified for the boys team with a vault of 15-feet, 4-inches to take second place behind Elder senior Robbie Oswald who cleared 16-feet, 9-inches. Senior Billy Rook of Mason placed 3rd at 15-feet even while Greenville junior A.J. Frens was 4th at 14-feet, 8-inches. Champen and Frens at one point were tied with having the highest vault in the state at 16-feet, so neither had their best day. Oswald now holds that distinction.
“He had a little bit of an off day, but not really,” said Northmont Pole Vault Coach Steve Heinrichs. “His best jump is 16 so he had an OK day. He was not quite on top, but he did OK. Oswald went from having a previous best vault of 15-feet, 4-inches to 16-feet, 9-inches. He was just in the zone and that happens. Last year at regional Champen placed fifth and didn’t qualify for state because there were three kids tat set personal records by a foot to a foot and a half like Oswald did, but when they got to state they choked. I hope Oswald does well at state. I’ve never seen a meet like that where someone was just on fire like he was.”
The boys Division I pole vault competition takes place at noon on Saturday.
Gover will compete in the preliminaries of the 100 meter dash on Friday at 5:40 p.m. and will be in Lane 1.
Barrett will compete in the finals of the girls 800 meter run on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
Division I Region IV
Girls Team Scoring
1) Withrow 103
2) Centerville 83
3) Mason 64
4) Kings 33
5) Troy 32
6) Winton Woods 28
7) Lak. West 25
8) Turpin 21
9) Wayne 20
9) Beavercreek 20
9) Loveland 20
12) Stivers 18
13) Fairfield 16
13) Seton 16
15) Lak. East 15
16) Walnut Hills 14
17) Miamisburg 13
18) Tre. Edgewood 11
19) Springboro 10
19) Milford 10
21) Oak Hills 9
22) Greenville 7
22) Ponitz CTC 7
24) Northmont 6
24) Bellbrook 6
24) Western Brown 6
24) Amelia 6
28) Lebanon 5
28) Middletown 5
30) Mother of Mercy 4
30) Mt. Notre Dame 4
30) Mt. Healthy 4
33) Fairmont 3
33) Xenia 3
33) Tecumseh 3
33) Colerain 3
37) Oakwood 2
37) Stebbins 2
37) Cin. St. Ursula Acad. 2
37) Sycamore 2
41) Talawanda 1
41) Ursuline Academy 1
Division I Region IV
Boys Team Scoring
1) Centerville 67
2) Mason 50
3) Sycamore 46
4) Withrow 43
5) Mt. Healthy 37.5
6) LaSalle 30
7) Cin. Northwest 28
8) Miamisburg 27
9) Wayne 26
10) Beavercreek 24
11) Lebanon 23
12) Fairmont 22
13) Springfield 21.5
14) Northmont 19
14) Piqua 19
16) Troy 17
16) Glen Este 17
18) Loveland 16
19) Lak. East 15
20) Middletown 14
21) Elder 11
22) Trotwood-Madison 10
23) Western Brown 9
24) Tippecanoe 8
25) Fairfield 7
26) Tre. Edgewood 6
26) Belmont 6
26) Western Hills 6
29) Greenville 5
29) Lak. West 5
31) Moeller 4
31) Princeton 4
31) Colerain 4
31) St. Xavier 4
35) Butler 3
36) Kings 2
37) Bellefontaine 1
37) Winton Woods 1
37) Springboro 1
