Liberty-Benton dominates discus at state

DeVincentis, Streaker finish 1st, 3rd at meet

Liberty-Benton’s Alex DeVincentis, left, and Liz Streaker collect their first- and third-place medals, respectively, in the discus at the Division II state championship meet in Columbus.

THE BLADE/LORI KING
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Liberty-Benton’s Alex DeVincentis, left, and Liz Streaker collect their first- and third-place medals, respectively, in the discus at the Division II state championship meet in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Liberty-Benton’s Alex DeVincentis and Liz Streaker arrived at the Division II state track meet looking to push each other in the discus competition.

Napoleon’s Sarah Waisner, right, takes the baton from Alexa Sonnenberg during the state championship meet Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The Eagles seniors did just that and it led to DeVincentis claiming the state championship with a winning throw of 134 feet, 5 inches on Friday afternoon at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Streaker finished a close third with a throw measuring 128-8. Chardon Notre Dame Cathedral-Latin’s Kendra Zbinovec earned the runner-up spot with a throw traveling 128-9.

The Eastwood boys will run in the 400 and 1600 relay finals, and hurdler Devin Snowden still has hopes for an individual title.

Isaiah Conkle, Devin Snowden, Brennan Seifert, and Steven Bruning posted a swift time of 43.65 in a preliminary 400 heat before Gabe Fredericks, Joey Salinas, Derek Snowden, and Devin Snowden earned a finals lane in the 1600 relay after posting a time of 3:22.37 in a preliminary race.

Devin Snowden passed up Elida’s anchor leg, Quentin Poling, during the final 50 meters to cross the finish line first for the Eagles in the second preliminary heat.

“I saw him look back like he think he’s got it, and I just thought I’ve got to keep going,” Devin Snowden said, of his strong kick to finish out his leg of the 1600 relay.

Devin Snowden is a finalist in the 300 hurdles after posting the second-fastest preliminary heat time (38.73).

Liberty-Benton freshman Michaela Butler was the only girl in the D-II meet to break 12 seconds in the 100 meters on Friday afternoon. Her swift time of 11.86 in a preliminary heat topped the list of sprinters to qualify for the final race set for today.

Butler will also run in the 200 final after posting the fourth-best 200 preliminary final. She crossed the finish line in a time of 25.09.

Evergreen’s Carly Truckor is in the mix for the 300 hurdles title after producing a stellar time of 45.29 during the preliminaries. She ranks second behind John Glenn's Haley Gregory’s time of 44.79 entering the final.

Napoleon’s Peyton Lee extended her season by turning in a time of 15.12 in the 100 hurdles, which gave her the seventh-best time among the preliminary heats and a place in the final. Evergreen’s Carly Truckor didn’t get out of the preliminary heats for the 100 with her time of 15.59.

Wauseon’s Seneca Wyse will contend for the 400 title after running 57.19 during the preliminaries. Her time ranks second among those to advance to the final.

In the boys competition, Port Clinton’s Cody Smith earned a place on the podium after finishing fourth in the shot put (55-6.25).

Delta’s Tyler Fraker cleared 14-6 in the pole vault to earn a seventh-place finish.

Bryan’s Brandon Poncsak will compete in the 110 hurdles final after completing his preliminary heat with a time of 14.62.

Archbold’s Levi Wyse posted a time of 51.65 in a 400 preliminary, which wasn’t fast enough to advance to the final.

Conkle’s attempt to gain a spot in the 100 final came up short after posting a preliminary time of 11.10.