Marshall sets state record
Relay foursome sizzles, helping Cougars finish fourth overall.
The Thurgood COLUMBUS — Marshall High School boys 800meter relay set a state record to put a sizzling area stamp on the Division II state track and field meet Saturday.
The foursome of Tavonn Crisp, Alante Oliver, Vayante Copeland and anchor Joe Ballard blazed to a 1:26.98. That bettered the record that Steubenville set just last year (1:27.02).
Oliver also won the 400 (47.40) and Ballard was fourth (48.64). They were part of a 1,600 relay that was second (3:19.30) to Dunbar.
That helped the Cougars amass 33 points, good for fourth. It also concluded a spectacular first season for Ballard.
“He always told me that he could beat me,” said Oliver. “We’d sit in class and he’d say I can beat you, for real. I thought, you’re a basketball player. I’m not listening to that. I found out, oh-oh, he’s for real.”
Ballard has accepted an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Glenville State (W.Va.). He said he’ll also pursue track. Oliver is considering offers to run from Akron, Kentucky and Iowa.
• Dunbar’s Eric Blair was second in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.55) and teammate LaTrell Turner was seventh in the 100 to give the Wolverines 10 quick points in the opening two races of the D-II meet.
• Versailles junior Sam Prakel unleashed an outstanding final kick to run away with the D-II 1,600 state title (4:10.33). He toured the final 800 in 1:58. And he wasn’t done.
He completed a tough double by also winning the 3,200 (9:16.14).
• Brookville senior Sam Bench saved his best for last to place fourth in the D-II 800 (1: 57.02).
He entered the final turn trailing the entire field. “I didn’t even know that I was last,” he said.
One by one he surged past others, just as planned.
“My coach told me to go out with a kick and take it easy in the beginning,” Bench said. “That was kind of the plan. I didn’t know it would work that well.”
DIVISION III: There’s no beating Minster in the 1,600 relay. At least not the last two years.
“We knew that we could get back here and get the job done,” said anchor Derek Collins.
The Wildcats did, posting a school-record 3:21.30. Joining Collins from last year’s unit were Troy Kauffman, and Korey Schultz and newcomer Paul Dues.
• Cedarville senior Zeke Young tied up in the final turn and placed fifth in the 400 (49.78). Covington sophomore Lane White was fourth (49.59).
• Clayton Murphy of Tri-Village was fourth in the 1,600 (4: 16.81).
DIVISION I: Centerville senior Benny McGowan was consistent in placing fourth in the shot put (58 feet, 4.25 inches).
• Middletown junior Jalin Marshall won (23-0.75) and Wayne sophomore Jordan Latimer was fourth (22-3).
• Miamisburg junior Zak Kruer was fifth in the pole vault (15-0).