Published: 6/7/2012

SIDELINES: TRACK AND FIELD

Area athletes best of the best at state championships

BLADE STAFF

Bryan senior Alyssa McBride soared to new heights on her way to becoming a state champion.

McBride, bound for the University of Cincinnati, captured the Division III pole vault title by establishing an all-division state record after clearing 13 feet, 1 inch at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

In Division I girls, Notre Dame's Lexi Aughenbaugh ran to a title by winning the 3200 meters with a personal-best time of 10 minutes, 44.88 seconds.

Notre Dame teammates Chantalia Young, Ashley Kynard, Jessika Matthews and Lexis Williams placed second in the 800 relay with a time of 1:42.30.

Rogers senior Brianna Scott-Glover placed third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 42.39 while Bowling Green freshman Maria Horrigan placed third in the pole vault at 11-8.

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Whiteford’s Miranda Johnson

Northview's Janelle Noe, Abigail Masters, Mallory Small and Alison Work placed third in the 3200 relay with a time of 9:08.52.

Among the boys, Bowsher senior D'Angelo Wilkes-Sharpley ran third in the 800 with a personal-best time of 1:53.48 and Whitmer's Chris Wormley placed third in the discus at 186-2. Findlay's Tyler Brown finished third in the long jump (22-3.50).

In Division II boys, Archbold senior Danny Young triumphed in the 300 hurdles, finishing with a time of 38.00.

Napoleon senior Steve Weaver collected a second-place medal with a in the 3200 (9:22.66).

Genoa sophomore Logan Bryer earned second in the discus with a toss of 177-4, while Rossford sophomore Manny Durden cleared 6-5 to finish as runner-up in the high jump.

In Division II girls, Liberty-Benton's Alyssa Gary stood at the top of the awards stand after winning the discus with a throw of 150-5.

Elmwood's Kori Reiser finished as runner-up with a mark of 138-1.

In Division III girls, Toledo Christian's Krista Wood, Delainey Phelps, Michelle Wright and Darian Westmeyer rallied together to grab the 3200 relay championship by recording a time of 9:25.61. Phelps also placed third in the 1600 (5:04.55), while Wood placed third in the 3200 (11:07.24).

North Baltimore's Amanda Hotaling captured the pole vault title by clearing 12-4.

In Division III boys, Liberty-Benton hurdler Dakota Conkle started fast and finished strong to claim the 110-meter high hurdles title with a time of 14.80.

Elmwood's Kyle Smithey was runner-up award in the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.04.

In Michigan, Whiteford sophomore Miranda Johnson set a school record and captured a Division 4 girls title with a leap of 17-8 3/4 at the meet in Grand Rapids.

Johnson said she made an adjustment to her approach during the meet . When she hit the takeoff board she thrust her arms in the air which propelled her to the top of the podium.

"I'm more of a bullet and I usually don't get that high," Johnson said. "I had the speed, I just needed the height to take me farther. Speed gets you out but the height pushes you forward. It feels real good. I couldn't stop smiling on the podium."

Johnson, who also holds the school records in the 100 and 200, placed fourth in the 100 at the state meet, finishing in 13.21 seconds.

-- Donald Emmons, Mark Monroe