The Mount Gilead Invitational Track meet took place on May 7 with 17 schools including seven local teams battling it out. Standout athletes included Alex Hayden of Centerburg and Michaela McGill of Mount Gilead, who each had lopsided victories in the 3200 meters.
Local teams represented included Cardington-Lincoln, Centerburg, East Knox, Highland, Mount Gilead, Mount Vernon and Northmor.
For the boys, in the 3200M, Alex Hayden of Centerburg had the top time of 10:00.87, blowing away the competition, with the closest runner being Mount Gilead’s Parker Bartlett 12:13 seconds behind. The 4x100M shuttle hurdles was one of the closest races of the day, with Mount Vernon edging out Mount Gilead by 0.06 for the victory. Mount Gilead’s 4x100M and 4x200M relay teams took home the top times of 45.16 and 1:34.03, respectively. Locals did well in the relays, with regional schools taking four of the five races. Mount Gilead and Highland each struck gold twice, and the Indians reached the podium nine times, Mount Vernon had seven top-three finishes, and Highland took home four medals.
Top local boys performances included:
100M: Logan High (Mount Gilead) was the top local runner, placing fourth with a time 34 seconds behind winner Cy Starcher of Elgin.
200M: Ethan Young (Mount Vernon) was the top local runner with a personal record time of 23.02, good for fourth place behind Starcher’s time of 22.58.
400M: 2. Young
800M: 2. Matt Salvucci (Mount Vernon), 3. Lucas Weaver (Northmor)
1600M: 2. Michael Snopik (Mount Gilead), 3. Salvucci
3200M: 1. Hayden in 10:00.87, 2. Bartlett
110M hurdles: 3. Garrett Lamb Hart (Mount Gilead)
300M hurdles: 4. Hunter Looney (Mount Vernon), 5. Jay Melchiori (Highland), 6. Hart
4x100M relay: 1. Mount Gilead with a time of 45.16
4x200M relay: 1. Mount Gilead with a time of 1:34.03, 3. Mount Vernon
4x400M relay: 1. East Knox with a time of 3:33.49, 2. Mount Vernon
4x800M relay: 2. East Knox with a time of 8:31.94, 3. Mount Gilead
4x110M shuttle hurdles: 1. Mount Vernon with a time of 1:06.33, 2. Mount Gilead, 3. Highland
Shot put: 1. Caden Holtrey (Highland ) 46 feet, 4.5 inches; 3. Jesse Foster (Mount Vernon)
Discus: 2. Mason Lanthorn (Centerburg)
High jump: 2. Joel Roberts (Highland), 3. Owen High (Mount Gilead)
Pole Vault: 1. Austin Grandstaff (Highland) at 11 feet; 2. Logan Moore (Mount Vernon)
Long Jump: Jack Craigo (Mount Vernon) placed fourth, 2.25 feet behind winner William Baumann (Westerville North)
For the girls, the most impressive victory of the day went to Michaela McGill of Mount Gilead in the 3200M. She posted a time of 11:17.31, and the closest runner was more than a full minute behind, as Loey Hallabrin of Cardington-Lincoln finished in 12:24.11. Sophie Zoldak continued her strong season with a first-place finish in the 1600M with a time of 5:28.97, which was 1.01 seconds faster than second-place finisher Hallabrin. In the 100M hurdles Juliette Laracuente (Highland) ran away with the win with a time of 15.29. The closest behind her was McKenna Brokaw of Mount Vernon, with a personal record time of 16.34. Among local programs, Mount Vernon had the most first-place finishes with four and most podium appearances with 12. Cardington-Lincoln had four second-place finishes and five podium appearances, and Mount Gilead made five trips to the podium.. Highland had two winners
Top local girls’ results include:
100M: 2. Amaris Middleton (Mount Vernon), 4. Asia Jones (Mount Gilead)
200M: 1. Laracuente with a time of 25.57, 2. Middleton
400M: 5. Alexis Strong, 1.31 seconds behind winner Kayla Curry Brown (Westerville North)
800M: 2. Magin Hallabrin (Cardington-Lincoln); 3. Abigail Dickhof (Centerburg), 4. Zoldak
1600M: 1. Zoldak at 5:28.97; 2. Loey Hallabrin
3200M: 1. McGill at 11:17.31; 2. Loey Hallabrin
100M hurdles: 1. Laracuente om 15.29; 2. Brokaw
300M hurdles: 1. Brokaw at 48.58; 2. Hazel Joliff (Cardington-Lincoln)
4X100M relay: 1. Mount Vernon at 52.45; 2. Mount Gilead
4X200M relay: 1. Buckeye Valley at 1:51.72; 2. Mount Gilead; 3. Mount Vernon
4X400M relay: 3. Mount Vernon
4X800M relay: 4. East Knox (11:09.55)
4X100M shuttle hurdles: 3. Mount Gilead, 5. Mount Vernon
Shot put: 3. Alexis Eusey (Highland)
Discus: 2. Brooklyn Thayer (Mount Vernon), 3. Anna Dinnen (Mount Vernon)
High jump: 2. Avery Tucker (Centerburg); 3. Meagan Greenawalt (Cardington-Lincoln)
Pole Vault: 2. Makena Laslo (Mount Vernon)
Long jump: 3. Brokaw
