Mount Vernon’s Erich Rhodeback won three events, setting a meet record in the 110-meter hurdles, and went on to garner Athlete of the Year honors at the Ohio Cardinal Conference championship meet on Friday, May 14, at Ashland University.
Rhodeback set the record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.32 seconds. He also won the 300-meter hurdles (38.55) and the long jump (20 feet, 11.5 inches) and finished third in the high jump (5-10).
The Mount Vernon boys team was second (129 points) out of seven teams, edged by Ashland (143). West Holmes (94) was third; followed by Lexington (90), Wooster (75), Mansfield Senior (74) and Mansfield Madison (50).
The MV girls team was sixth (76.5) out of six teams, behind the Rams (172.5), Lexington (140.5), the Generals (93), Ashland (89) and the Knights (78.5).
Other standouts for the Yellow Jackets included Bryce Wiles, who was second in both the 100 (11.19) and 200 (22.84) and teamed with Damion Blubaugh, Jesse Foster and Jack Craigo to finish second in the 4x100 (44.34).
Blubaugh, Dylan Dowell, Logan Eggert and Matthew Salvucci also finished second in the 4x400 (3:35.56). Dowell was third in the long jump (20-4).
McKenna Brokaw finished second in the 300-hurdles (48.84), third in the 100-hurdles (17.02) and third in the long jump (15-7.25) to lead the Jacket girls.
Licking County League
Chandler Hartman swept the throwing events to lead Utica at the Licking County League Cardinal Division championship at Heath High School.
Hartman finished first in the shot put (46-8.75) and the discus (144-7).
The Utica boys team was fifth (49 points) out of six teams. They finished behind the host Bulldogs (196), Johnstown (89), Northridge (88) and Newark Catholic (57) but ahead of Lakewood (43).
The girls team (27) was sixth out of six teams, behind the Vikings (151), the Johnnies (127), Heath (94), the Lancers (73) and the Green Wave (50).
Jay Figgins was also solid for the Utica boys team, winning the 1,600 (4:33.7) and finishing second in the 3,200 (10:08.02)
Laura Brubaker led the Utica girls team with a second-place finish in the 100-hurdles (17.73) and a third-place finish in the 300-hurdles (48.98).
