McGary, Achter just miss titles

Rogers Darryl Elston is pleased with his third-place finish in the boys Division I 300-meter hurdles. His time of 37.86. was his best performance of the season in the event.

COLUMBUS - Mere tenths of seconds kept Libbey s Danyelle McGary and Clay s Kate Achter from closing out the season as Division I state champions.

McGary ran to a second-place finish in the 400 meters after Euclid s Jessica Beard caught the Libbey sophomore down the final stretch to snatch first place with a winning time of 55.36. McGary fell across the finish line at Jesse Owens Memorial Field in 55.68.

Achter s near-miss at capturing a state title took place in the 100 hurdles. The Clay senior streaked through the hurdles event in a swift time of 14.33 and only Mason s LeAuna Sistrunk would deny Achter at the finish line. Sistrunk was timed at 14.0.

McGary, a sophomore, will have a chance to redeem herself next spring.

“I think I did a good job. I tried to come in first place but I guess I just didn t have enough energy,” McGary said. “I m going to train harder for next year.”

Achter, a senior, closed out her stellar high school track career with her best showing in a state-meet event. Achter also placed 10th in the long jump with an effort of 17-11/4.

Libbey coach Ted Jobe partly blames himself for McGary s rough finish down the stretch of the race.

“She didn t have a good breakfast today and didn t have any gas left in the tank,” Jobe said. “She also chose a bad meal last night. Next year I m going to demand that certain things happen.”

Central Catholic s Andrea Bryson also closed out her high school career rather strongly by placing third in the 100 (12.0) and fourth in the 200 (24.92).

Roger s Darryl Elston put together his best effort of the season in the 300 hurdles to place third with a time of 37.86.

Elston, who ran track at Woodward a year ago, considered his third-place showing a solid finish to his junior campaign.

“Last year at Woodward I didn t even make it out of regionals, but this year I came out and was focused for track,” Elston said. “I achieved all of my goals for the season. I ll be back next year.”

Start s Roland Quinn admits he s been running hurt since the district meet when he suffered a hamstring pull. It forced him to scratch from his preliminary heat for the 200 on Friday.

Nevertheless, he gutted it out to place seventh in the 100 finals with a time of 10.93. He also teamed with Asante White, Jordy Franklin, and Javon Haythorne to run the anchor leg for Start s 800 relay team that placed fourth with a time of 1:28.79.

She became the first girl to score any points at the state meet for the Rebels.

Southview s Bahiyjaui Allen made the most of her first trip to state by placing sixth in the shot put with a throw of 40-21/2. Roger s Olivia Griswold was 10th (38-33/4).

Bowling Green s Christy Titus and St. Ursula Academy s Colleen Krout placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 3200. Titus crossed the finish line in a time of 10:54.14 and Krout followed in a personal-best time of 11:02.80.

Northview s Julia Dempster placed eighth in the 300 hurdles (46.17).

Fremont Ross Adam Wilhelm finished third in the 200 (21.75) and fourth in the 400 (48.73). Findlay s Ryan Sottow claimed seventh place in the 800 (1:55.23) and Whitmer s Skyler Schmitt placed 12th in the 3200 (9:42.49).

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com or 419-724-6302.