Shelby track athletes take part in boys/girls in state indoor meet
Qualifying Shelby boys and girls track athletes competed in the Ohio Indoor State Meet at SPIRE Institute in Geneva on Saturday.
Athletes had to be in the top 24 in the state from the qualifying meets during the 2024 indoor season. Shelby competed in the D2/3 events.
Qualifying athletes for Shelby in the girls events:
– Long jump: Madison Henkel ranked 13th with 17-2.5. Henkel did not place in the state meet
– 60 meters: Ava Bowman ranked 7th with a 7.87. Bowman placed 9th in the state meet with a new personal record of 7.83.
200 meters: Bowman ranked 10th with a 25.97. Bowman finished 17th in state meet, 26.52.
– 4x200: Bowman, Princess Timko, Henkel, and Jeleeza Zehner ranked 5th with a 1:48.96. Shelby finished 5th in the state meet, 1:47.28.
– 4x800: Channon Cundiff, Kaylin Mahon, Kailyn Schwall, Courtney Stiving ranked 13th with a 10:38.05. Shelby finished 15th, 10:31.25.
– 800 meters: Channon Cundiff placed 22nd with a 2:27.26. Cundiff finished 17th in the state meet, 2:26.38.
Shelby ladies coach Patience Lewis spoke about the girls’ participants.
“We had Madison Henkle in the long jump qualifying for the meet with a jump of 17’ 2.5” Had an off day with three foul jumps. Ava Bowman ran in the 60m dash and the 200, Channon Cundiff had an indoor PR in the 800. We had two relays, 4x800 (Channon, Kailyn Schwall, Kaylin Mahon and Courtney Stiving) and 4x200 (Princess Timko.”
Lewis said noted the many great performances on the track Saturday.
“Our 4x800 relay and some strong splits to head into outdoor with. They were very competitive. Then Ava Bowman ran a 7.83 (in the 60 (two personal bests) missing the podium by .002.”
Lewis added: “I was very excited about our 4x200 relay. They were our only podium athletes of the day, but I was more excited that they dropped more time.”
This group will compete in the Nike Indoor National Emerging Elite race on Friday at 3:17 in the Armory in New York City.
“Channon Cundiff will also be heading to NYC to run the 800 after her personal best time. There has been a lot of sickness going around and several of the girls, including Channon, weren’t feeling 100% Saturday so I’m really glad they get to run again at NIN,” said.
In the boys competition featuring Shelby participants:
– 4x800 meters: Marshall Moore, Luke Lesseuer, Sean Finnegan, Indy Mayer ranked 1st with an 8:10.79. Shelby finished 5th, 8:08.61.
– 800 meters: Moore ranked 9th with a 2:00. Moore finished 11th, 1:59.60.
Shelby boys coach Chris Zuercher spoke about the boys finishers.
“We ran well,” he said. “Unfortunately top 2 weren’t in the cards for us today. We raced up front for most of the race. Marlington made their move on the third leg and pulled away,”
Zuercher said. “It was a very physical race and we got tripped up on the final leg a bit. Indy (in final leg) got spiked really solid.”
He said Shelby could have been anywhere from third to fifth and finished fifth.
“We were happy for that performance” and “excited to go at it again next weekend in NYC,” Zuercher said.
“Next weekend we will change up the order and hang on as long as we can in the Championship sections of the Nike Indoor Nationals,” he said.
The girls’ 4x200 and 4x800 relay teams and Cundiff (800 meter) will compete in the emerging elite national races.
The boys’ 4x800 relay team will compete in the national championship race.
Races will take place at the Nike Indoor Nationals at The Armory in New York City, March 8-10.