Geoff Cowles/News
Fredericktown’s Celeste Swihart prepares to takeoff in the pole vault Saturday at the Fredericktown Chilly Relays. Swihart won the event, clearing 8-feet-6.
FREDERICKTOWN — The host Fredericktown Freddies swept the top three spots in the boys’ and girls’ pole vault to lead a strong showing at the 2019 Freddie Chilly Relays.
Fredericktown’s Celeste Swihart cleared 8-feet-6 to take first in the girls’ pole vault. She was followed by teammates Maureen Roddy (second, 7-6) and Molly Smith (third, 7-0). The girls reached their heights after ice had to be chipped out of the pole vault box to make it ready for the meet.
Their performances highlighted a good day for the Fredericktown girls, who finished first in the 4x100-meter,600-meter, 4x200-meter, 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays. The Freddie girls also finished first in the 800-meter sprint medley and the 4x100 throwers’ relays.
Steven Tumbleson placed first for the Freddies’ boys’ pole vaulters, reaching a height of 9-feet. Teammate Roddy Rhogan was second at 8-6, and J.J. Grennell placed third at 8-0. All three could have gone higher, but with temperatures in the 40s and Fredericktown’s vaulters poised to run in other events, nobody wanted to risk an injury.
After struggling to find a pole vault coach for the past several years and endeavoring to coach the pole vaulters himself, Fredericktown girls’ track coach Bob Geiger has brought in former Mount Gilead pole vaulter A.J. West as a volunteer coach.
“A.J. also coached pole vaulters at Ashland Crestview,” said Geiger. “He also works in Fredericktown, so now I actually have someone working with our kids who has pole vaulted. I never pole vaulted before, but the kids and I have tried to learn together. Also, we have over 40 distance runners, and I’m usually pretty busy with that. Luckily, I don’t have to demonstrate any pole vaulting. A.J. does that, but he’s 29 years old and he’s still able to vault.”
Geiger did have to do one demonstration vault at the end of last season. “I cleared six feet,” Geiger said. “The kids yelled all of the instructions, encouragement and suggestions that I yelled all year. It was fun. We did it right before we put the pit away.”
The Freddies boys also won the 4x100,600 and the 4x800, as well as the distance medley.
Highland High School turned in the best overall day for the boys, getting a double win by Zach Debord, who took first in the shot put (40-4) and the discus (109-6). Right behind Debord, taking second in the shot, was Highland’s Caden Holtrey (39-8). The Scots also won the 4x100 and 4x200 relays along with the 4x100 for throwers and the 800 sprint medley.
Chase Darr of East Knox launched himself 18-8 for first place in the boys’ long jump, followed by teammate Nathan Whitney, who was second with a leap of 18-1. Highland’s Peyton Carpenter leapt 13-9 to win the girls long jump.
Ashley VanHoose of East Knox won the girls 100 hurdles with a time of 17.70. Teammate Emily Opfer was first in the girls’ high jump (4-8). The Bulldogs got one other win in the boys 4x400.
Centerburg Trojans’ shot putter Halle Moreland heaved the shot 34-3 for the best girls’ toss of the day. The Trojans also took first in the girls 4x800 and 4x200 hurdles.
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“A.J. also coached pole vaulters at Ashland Crestview,” said Geiger. “He also works in Fredericktown, so now I actually have someone working with our kids who has pole vaulted. I never pole vaulted before, but the kids and I have tried to learn together. Also, we have over 40 distance runners, and I’m usually pretty busy with that. Luckily, I don’t have to demonstrate any pole vaulting. A.J. does that, but he’s 29 years old and he’s still able to vault.”
Geiger did have to do one demonstration vault at the end of last season. “I cleared six feet,” Geiger said. “The kids yelled all of the instructions, encouragement and suggestions that I yelled all year. It was fun. We did it right before we put the pit away.”
The Freddies boys also won the 4x100,600 and the 4x800, as well as the distance medley.
Highland High School turned in the best overall day for the boys, getting a double win by Zach Debord, who took first in the shot put (40-4) and the discus (109-6). Right behind Debord, taking second in the shot, was Highland’s Caden Holtrey (39-8). The Scots also won the 4x100 and 4x200 relays along with the 4x100 for throwers and the 800 sprint medley.
Chase Darr of East Knox launched himself 18-8 for first place in the boys’ long jump, followed by teammate Nathan Whitney, who was second with a leap of 18-1. Highland’s Peyton Carpenter leapt 13-9 to win the girls long jump.
Ashley VanHoose of East Knox won the girls 100 hurdles with a time of 17.70. Teammate Emily Opfer was first in the girls’ high jump (4-8). The Bulldogs got one other win in the boys 4x400.
Centerburg Trojans’ shot putter Halle Moreland heaved the shot 34-3 for the best girls’ toss of the day. The Trojans also took first in the girls 4x800 and 4x200 hurdles.
