Fredericktown High School earned two second-place finishes at the Division III State Indoor Track and Field Championships, as Jenny Alexander and Ella Bouton each delivered standout performances in their events.
Alexander cleared 11 feet, 4 inches in the girls’ pole vault to take second behind Paisley Williams of Cambridge, who won with a height of 12-1. Her mark represented an improvement from her earlier 11-1 clearance at the Cedarville Richey Tune-up in January, showing steady progress through the indoor season. Alexander outlasted Delylah Boetcher of Philo and Josie Hochstettler of Liberty-Benton, both at 11-0, by clearing on fewer attempts.
Bouton placed second in the girls’ shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 10 inches. She finished behind Emily Mechenbier of Perry, who claimed the title with 43-11, but ahead of a deep field that included Camille Lewis of Deer Park (41-2.75) and Bella Van Wey of Maysville (41-1.25). Bouton’s throw was one of six over 40 feet in the finals, underscoring the strength of the event.
Alexander’s vault was just shy of the winning height, underscoring her consistency and potential to contend for a state title in the spring. Bouton’s throw similarly demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level, as she outdistanced most of the field with her best mark of the season. Fredericktown’s dual second-place finishes in field events reflect the program’s growing presence at the state level. With Alexander improving on her earlier mark and Bouton holding her own against a stacked field, the Freddies demonstrated depth and competitiveness in disciplines often dominated by larger programs.
The meet, held at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, brought together the top Division III athletes from across Ohio. Organized by the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches, the championships serve as the pinnacle of the indoor season and a showcase of small-school talent statewide.
