An unintentional title: Eastwood boys win district; girls are second

Sean Zimmerman, left, and James O Brien celebrate an Eastwood victory in the 1600 relay. O Brien also won the 800.

OAK HARBOR Although they weren t seeking team glory, the Eastwood boys parlayed individual success into an historic day at the Division II district track meet yesterday.

Eastwood had top four finishes in 11 of the 17 events to edge Bellevue for the team title, 102.5 to 97. It was the first district title in school history. Fourteen Eagle athletes qualified for the regional meet in Lexington next weekend.

We had no intention of winning the meet, Eastwood coach Gary White said We came out with the intention of getting kids to Lexington. This is just bonus on top of bonus today. This is just very, very good competition.

The Eastwood girls team had qualifiers in seven events, but finished second to Sandusky Perkins.

The top four in each event qualify for the regional.

Senior Jimmy O Brien paced the Eagle boys by defending his title in the 800-meter run (1:58.50). O Brien also was the anchor on Eastwood s first-place 1600 relay team (3:25.80).

Everyone just kind of expects it from you and that doesn t make it any easier, he said. I want to just keep improving all the way through.

Sophomore Josh Fairbanks won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 6 inches. Fairbanks also was a member of the 1600 team with O Brien, sophomore Sean Zimmerman and senior Jack Schemenauer.

We ran for these seniors, Fairbanks said. It s their last year and we wanted to give it our all.

O Brien and his teammates also broke their record in the 1600 relay by four seconds.

We are right where we need to be right now, he said.

Schemenauer also qualified in both hurdle events, while Zimmerman will compete in the 200 at the regional meet after finishing fourth yesterday.

Our coaches expected us to probably not win this meet. We knew it was going to be close, Zimmerman said.

Corey Johnson ran a personal best time of 9:56 in the 3200 to finish second and help Eastwood clinch the team title with just one event remaining.

This is just unbelievable, White said.

Clyde senior Jared Martin won the 300 hurdles in 37.9 seconds and anchored the winning 800 relay team (1:30.70).

I m glad I won, but I m just happy I reached Lexington, Martin said. It was two different feelings today. I ll enjoy standing on the podium with my buddies more.

Port Clinton s Evan Whiting set a meet record in the shot put at 57-8 . Whiting also won the discus (172-0).

Sandusky Perkins ran away with the girls title as Jill Zemba won both the 100 and 200.

Rossford freshman Rachel Clay sprinted to victory in the 400 in 59.9 seconds, edging Genoa s Meghan Fowler (1:01).

I had beaten the Genoa girl twice and I wanted to beat her again today, she said. This feels really good.

Eastwood junior Danielle Thornton captured first in the 800 (2:23.20) by just over a second. Thornton also anchored the Eagles winning 1600 relay team. Thornton said she had never competed in the 800 in the past and is still learning how to run it.

I just want to keep working harder each time I run, she said.

Thornton teamed with Megumi Johnston, Lizzie Lahey and Lindy Donaldson to win the 1600 relay.

The Eagles Melissa Schulte moved on to the regional in the long jump, winning at 16-11 .

Nicole Bergman of Cardinal Stritch had the longest toss in the discus (121-9). Bergman also qualified in the shot put along with teammate Kristen Ameling. Stritch s Amanda Miller qualified in the 400 and led her 1600 relay team to a second-place finish.

Port Clinton s 400 relay team of Kari Kreutzfeld, Kelly Logsdon, Ashley Taylor and Shari Kreutzfeld won by a 10th of second over Perkins.

Host Oak Harbor saw Kelly Gephart finish second in the 800 and third in the 1600.

Contact Mark Monroe at:mmonroe@theblade.comor 419-724-6110.