Bushey, Plymouth, make big leap at State
By Dan Woodlock
The moment never got too big for Layne Bushey.
The Plymouth junior High Jumper maintained his poise and focus, even after misses on his first attempts on his final four heights--setting a new PR in the event and leaping his way to All-ohio status with a third place finish at 6’4” at the D-III State Track and Field championships at The Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Bushey’s placement was the highest among a strong overall performance by the PHS boys, who competed in four events and secured All-ohio honors in three. He cleared 5’10” to open the day and was able to bounce back on his second attempt, after misses at 6’0”, 6’2” and 6’3”.
After two misses at 6’4”, he came up clutch again and sealed the third spot.
Bushey entered the State competition in a five-way tie for the 14th seed, as he cleared 6’0” at the Heath Regional. But his performance Friday sparked an 11spot climb.
He finished behind only Calvin Willow of Arlington, who had no misses through 6’4” and finished at 6’4”, and D-III State champion Owen Ackerman of Tinora, who topped out at 6’6” and had no misses through that height. Also making the podium were Trinty’s Jordan Thompson Seay (6’3”), Fairport Harding’s Dimari Payne (6’3”), Cardinal Strich’s Breon Hicks (6’3”), South Gallia’s Levi Wolfrd (6’3”) and Hopwell Loudon’s Evan Kreais (6’2”).
It marked one of two All-ohio achievements for Bushey over the weekend, as he also contributed to the Big Red’s run to fifth in the 400 Meter Relay. Gavin Mcclary, Caiden Allen, Bushey and Riley Ramey combined for a run of 43.64 seconds. In
a well-contested race, Plymouth was topped only by Mccomb (43.52 seconds), Marion Local (43.5), Anna (43.5) and champion Youngstown Valley (43.0). Allen East (43.69), Margaretta (43.75) and St. Henry (43.98) were top eight.
Plymouth’s performance matched their initial seed coming into State, as their 43.66-second run at Regionals was the fifth fastest in the State field. The Big Red qualified for the finals with a 43.7-second run for sixth in Friday morning’s prelims.
Ramey followed that up by sprinting to sixth place in the 200 Meter Dash. He was a model of consistency over the weekend in the race, as he followed up his State-qualifying time of 22.47 seconds (which was tied for seventh), with a prelim run of 22.48 seconds (eighth) and his finals PR run of 22.46. Paint Valley’s Cole Miller won the event at 21.8 seconds, followed by Oberlin’s Evan Hudson (22.1), Twin Valley South’s Colton Bishop (22.21), Tree of Life’s Gabe Oppong (22.22), Ashland Crestview’s Adison Reymer (22.27), Ramey, Yellow Springs’
Malcolm Blunt (22.47) and Brookfield’s Aidan Jones (22.65) on the D-III All-ohio list.
Allen, who placed third at State in the 100 Meter Dash a year ago (11.05 seconds) ran a solid preliminary time of 11.12 seconds in Friday’s 100 prelims, but finished 12th in a fast field that saw Bishop of Twin Valley South land the ninth and final spot for finals at 11.07 seconds. Allen came into the State meet as the sixth seed (11.05 seconds), despite earning his spot as an at-large qualifier, as the Heath Region featured five of the top six qualifying times for Division III in the 100.
Plymouth’s collective effort put them 17th as a team in the boys State standings with 13 points. Marion Local won the team championship with 38 points, followed by Columbus Grove and Paint Valley with 30 points apiece. Tinora (27), Ashland Crestview (25), Bluffton (21), Rittman (20), Anna (20), and East Canton (20) filled out the top nine. United, Oberlin and Ottawa Hills finished in a three-way tie for 10th at 18 points.