Bellefontaine’s boys track and field team is finding its stride after winning the Kenton Relays Saturday in commanding fashion, while the Bellefontaine girls finished third.
The Chieftains won with 72 points, claimed 10 of 13 events and were second in the three events they didn’t win. Kenton was runner-up with 44 points, Riverdale took third with 36 points and Fostoria was fourth with nine points.
“We were able to get our entire team involved in the relay meet,” said BHS head coach Ben Davis. “Many personal records were broken. Finding the best combination amongst the young sprint core is exciting as they are learning and developing. Our seasoned veterans amongst our distance, throws and pole vault complements the youngsters well.”
Riverdale won the girls meet with 16 points, Kenton was second with 47 points, BHS took third with 34 points and Fostoria was fourth with nine points.
“On the day, we had some missing personnel and others stepped up and competed,” said Davis. “Since our depth is limited, the coaching staff has juggled positions around to determine what would be the best fit for that day. The efforts were evident.”
Winning events for the Chieftain boys were the shot put relay of Micah Fogan, Lincoln Howell and Ethan Akers (121-5), the pole vault relay of Ethan Yoder and Justin Carper (20-6), the shuttle hurdle relay of Sullivan Ashcraft, Jaquan Mundy, Carter Snapp and Micah Woolf (1:08.0), the sprint medley of Kailyn Organ, Harper Scott, Evan Baker and Max Varner (1:40.0) and the distance medley relay of Gavin Wilson, Carper, Carter Scott and Connor Skidmore (9:14.0).
Other winning relays included the 400 relay of Organ, Yoder, Baker and Harper Scott (45.5), the 800 relay of Organ, Varner, Baker and Harper Scott (1:36.0), the 1,600 relay of Wilson, James Holt, Harper Scott and Varner (3:47.0), the 3,200 relay of Carper, Patrick Donnelly, Wilson and Skidmore (9:25.0) and the 6,400 relay of Wilson, Gannon Purcell, Tony Stewart and Skidmore (20:06.0).
Placing second were the high jump relay of Snapp, Varner and Organ (15-6), the long jump relay of Snapp, Baker and Yoder (53-8) and the discus relay of Fogan, Howell and Akers (321-6).
The Chieftain girls had one winning relay with the discus relay of Katie Pool, Carmen Shumaker and Perri Neeld (293-7).
Runner-up efforts came from the shot put relay of Pool, Shumaker and Alexis Robinson (88-3 1/2), the high jump relay of Emma Middaugh and Ashlyn Gonterman (8-8), the 3,200 relay of Middaugh, Ella Reier, Zoey Rister and Montanna Buck (12:49.0), the 6,400 relay of Reier, Middaugh, Rister and Buck (27:55) and the distance medley relay of Middaugh, Reier, Taylor McCafferty and Buck (12:10.0).
Taking third were the long jump relay of McCafferty, Reier and Maggie Howard (33-9.25) and the pole vault relay of Azlyn Bechtel and Gonterman (13-0).
Bellefontaine hosts a four-team meet today with Calvary Christian, Kenton and North Union.