3rd place was the place to be

Athletes from the Morning Journal area stepped up in a huge way at the state track and field meet at Jesse Owens Stadium on June 3. From great individual performances to stellar relays, the meet had it all. Along with Lorain’s Zion Cross taking third place in the 100 meters, third place finishes were a common theme.

Division I

Olmsted Falls’ Mary Piper started long jumping when she was in middle school. At that time, becoming a state placer was a dream. That dream became a reality for her once again, placing third in the long jump with a PR of 18-1 3/4. She finished sixth last season.

Piper got the jump on her first attempt.

“I was so ecstatic to finally hit 18 feet,” Piper said. “Competing against these girls is amazing and they’re all phenomenal jumpers and I’m glad I could pull third.”

Piper was so excited to begin her jump, it’s the reason she wasted no time in achieving her placement.

“I was really psyched for that first one,” she added. “I felt like that I brought it all together.”

Piper went undefeated until the regional meet a week ago, where she jumped 17-9 1/2 and finished second. The improvement from last season to this year is simple: Piper knew there wasn’t a high school meet after this. And so she poured her heart and soul into her final meet.

“I was definitely a lot more motivated,” Piper said. “Last year I knew I was going to be back and I think I kind of was content. I wanted to make the most of this.”

Piper is committed to St. Francis and will major in business. Her career at Olmsted Falls has meant more than just breaking school records and jumping extraordinarily.

Piper has set an example for the younger Bulldogs. She even went as far as working with a personal trainer throughout the season. For those young girls, seeing Piper reach this height will only make them believe they can do the same.

“I knew if I wanted to bring home something better, I needed to work harder and I did,” she said. “It definitely showed. I’ve worked my whole career for an 18-foot jump and I felt it in my bones. As long as you keep pushing yourself, you’ll get there.”

Division II

Keystone’s Mitchell Coe and Lutheran’s West’s MaQuila Norman both earned third places in D-II. After running a 10.90 in his prelim, Coe topped that in the 100-meter dash final with a 10.85 and a third place. Warrensville Heights’ Demetri Keaton (10.57) and Meadowdale’s Wayne Lawrence Jr. (10.79) were the top two. Keaton’s time was a state meet record.

Of course Coe wanted to win, but earning top three honors in his final race is something he’ll always look back fondly on.

“I’m actually happy to say I lost to a guy that set the state record,” Coe said. “I was expecting to place high and I was thinking fourth or fifth.”

Coe placed seventh a year ago. His season wasn’t always smooth, especially in the regional meet a week ago where he said “it just wasn’t my day” and he took fourth (11.12). To bounce back and finish strong says a lot about his character. Coach Jeff Holzhauer called Coe a “gamer.”

The Longhorns’ Norman, a four-time state qualifier, capped her career with a third place in the 400 with a school record 55.97.

She additionally anchored the sixth-place 4x4 relay (4:00.22), along with teammates Raiyah Johnson, Kristin Groppe, and Paris Mather.

“This is my last year and the whole time I was thinking I need to get back on the podium,” Norman said.