5 more from Scioto qualify for state
RICHMOND DALE — Valley’s Justin Moore, in his own words, fought his way to a podium finish in the Division III shot put last year.
But this season it’s more about Moore’s form – and this time he returns to the coveted state encounter as a regional champion.
That’s because six-foot-four junior Moore won the Region 11 Division III men’s shot put championship Friday at Southeastern High School, breaking a school-record 58-foot-three full inches in the process. .
That’s right, because Moore — eighth-place and all-Ohio at last season’s state meet — is coming back, as his 58-foot-three throw not only smashed the school’s previous record of two feet and two inches, but that put him at the top of the regional awards platform.
Moore’s mashing shot to crush Valley’s previous mark came on his three-pitch final for Friday’s preliminaries – as the best nine preliminary throws from the 16 regional qualifiers automatically qualify for the final.
Moore’s mark also easily held the best preliminary throw, as each finalist then received three final shots – and the best of each contestant’s six throws is the one officially scored.
His second-best throw, which was 56 feet, eight and a half inches, would also have set the new school record – as Moore has made it clear that his shot put performance has never been better.
“Last year, I had no form. It was kind of just beefing it up there and going as far as you could. This year, there is a lot more technique and it’s much better and more fluid. And it’s not as hard on my body as last year. Last year I just threw full upper body and full strength, which is not how you’re supposed to throw,” Moore said. “It’s just a lot better this year, and I’m more confident in my shooting.”
Moore’s other regional throws have all exceeded 51 feet and four and a half inches, including a pair of at least 53 and two.
He discussed what’s different for form with this post-season push – compared to his April and even early May encounters.
Just the feel of the throw, Moore said, secured the school record.
“It all came together. My trainer (Rusty) has helped me the last three weeks to slow down, come out from the back and then explode up front. I did it on the 58-3 pitch and it was amazing. I knew right away that I broke the school record, just based on how I felt,” he explained. “I knew I could break the school record at the start of the year. It took time and criticism on my form to do so.
Bryce Stuart, 6-4 senior, also managed to do it for the Valley Boys, who finished tied for second in the high jump – clearing six-foot-one.
Although his personal best in jumping was 6-3, it was all about performing that day – and Stuart earned his ticket to state competition by tying Randy Banks of Bucyrus.
Stuart was making his second straight regional appearance in the high jump, and in improved weather since late May a year ago.
“I’m super excited to go and declare this year. Especially after last year when I didn’t do as well as I hoped. I feel like I performed well today, but I know I can do a lot better and keep going. The goal every time is PR (personal record) and keep it simple, like every other week,” Stuart said. “State competition is something that I always wanted to be part of and compete with everyone.”
The top four placers from each event at the regional meet advance to the state meet – as Waterford senior Stuart, Banks and Holden Dailey join regional champion Anthony Bell de Carey.
The elder set the Southeast standard by clearing exactly six feet and four inches.
Moore and Stuart combined for 17 Valley team points, as South Webster’s Brody Boggs senior was eighth in the 110m hurdles (16.99 seconds).
Moore’s Indians throwing teammate Lakota Davis advanced to the nine-man final for the Discus Boys – as his best throw was three inches from an even 139-footer.
On the girls’ side, South Webster freshman Marley Kreischer placed sixth in the 1600m race and earned three points for the Lady Jeeps.
Right behind her was East senior Abby Cochenour, as Kreischer’s five minutes and 44 seconds and Cochenour’s five minutes and 47 seconds scored three and two team points respectively.
Friday’s fourth-place time for the one-mile race was 5:19 for the girls.
Kreischer also qualified for regional in the 800m and 3,200m races – but did not place in the 800m and did not compete in the 3,200m.
Notre Dame Junior Kathrine Ball, in the shot put, threw 32 feet, five inches for a single run and an eighth.
Ball was one of many to take his picture with Moore – who stood proudly next to the shot put distance chart, his 58-3 boldly displayed.
Moore said the practice and hard work made Friday’s pitches possible.
“I definitely deserved it. I was in training every day and I didn’t miss a day. And I was there every day for at least an hour and 30 minutes, throwing as much as I could. I was just working on my form and trying to push it out further. It’s definitely by far the best I’ve ever thrown, in training or in a competition,” he said. “My goal is to go back and do well at the state.”
A full list of Division III Region 11 Athletics competition results can be found at www.oh.milesplit.com.
Section II Region 7
CHILLICOTHE – Scioto County also enjoyed having a regional champion in the Region 7 Division II encounter at Herrnstein Ground in Chillicothe – as Portsmouth senior Dariyonne Bryant won the high jump championship boys.
On the second day of competition, and on a sunnier Saturday than Thursday’s first day with competition suspended due to torrential rain, Bryant beat the other 15 regional qualifiers – being one of three jumpers to clear exactly six feet and a thumb.
The others were West Holmes’ Kyle Maltach and Zane Trace’s Lucas Ray, but Bryant beat them both – based on the least missed tiebreaker.
This will be Bryant’s first state meet – as his second PHS season, as Stuart of Valley, was canceled due to the threat of the coronavirus.
Bryant became the third high jumper from a Scioto County club, and the second in Division II in two days, to qualify for the state meet – which returns this season to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
Stuart did it for the boys in Division III on Friday, and North West senior lady Ava Jenkins broke a personal best 5-2 to advance to statehood starting Thursday (see www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com and the Saturday, May 28 print edition of Portsmouth Daily for this report).
By winning the high jump by Bryant, the Trojans collected 10 points, including 23 for the whole team.
Bryant was also a member of the Trojans’ 4x200m relay quartet, which finished fifth in Saturday’s timed final in 1:32.77.
He was the only senior on the team and was joined in that foursome by second Devin Lattimore and juniors Nolan Heiland and Beau Hammond.
Cambridge (1:32.08) claimed that fourth-place finish, and the ensuing state berth, by a mere – albeit very slim – 69 hundredths of a second.
These Trojans collected five team points, while runner-up Charles Putnam placed fifth in two events – his specialties of the 1,600m (4:25) and 3,200m (9:52) races.
However, Putnam will race at the state meet in the mile (1,600m) – thanks to his overall qualification of this event, one of two statewide to be selected.
The other is Gates Mills Hawken’s Nick Garcia-Whitko, as Whitko with a 4:24 and Putnam with a 4:25 had the two fastest times – outside of the top four automatic placers per region.
Fourth place in Chillicothe was just two seconds ahead of Putnam – Garaway’s Bobby Palmer in 4:23.
If Putnam had qualified for the two miles, he should have run at least 22 seconds faster.
Putnam scored eight points for the Trojan team, while senior Dante Hamrick had one with the 100m.
In the girls, and in another field event, Wheelersburg senior Karley Kouns qualified for the state in the discus throw.
She finished third with a best throw of six for 110 feet and an inch, making it back-to-back encounters for the Lady Pirates in the discus.
Justus Steward represented Wheelersburg in that same event last season, as Kouns’ trip will be his first and only, as his second season was also canceled.
Kouns scored six Lady Pirate team points, while fellow senior discus thrower and teammate Nalah Kirkendall (eighth place) had one.
Like the shot put, the discus has six throws in total – three preliminary, then three more for the finalists.
Speaking of shooting, Wheelersburg junior Joden Blackburn finished seventh in the boys.
A full list of Division II Region 7 Athletics competition results can be found at www.oh.milesplit.com.
Valley senior Bryce Stuart finished tied for second place honors in the Region 11 Division III Boys’ High Jump Championship Friday at Southeastern High School, clearing a height of six feet and one inches .
Valley junior Justin Moore won the Region 11 Division III men’s shot put championship Friday at Southeastern High School, shooting a record throw of 58 feet, three inches.
South Webster freshman Marley Kreischer (centre) placed sixth in the women’s 1,600m race, part of the Region 11 Division III Athletics Championship meet Friday at Southeastern High School.
Valley senior Bryce Stuart finished tied for second place honors in the Region 11 Division III Boys’ High Jump Championship Friday at Southeastern High School, clearing a height of six feet and one inches .
Valley junior Justin Moore won the Region 11 Division III men’s shot put championship Friday at Southeastern High School, shooting a record throw of 58 feet, three inches.
Contact Paul Boggs at (740) 353-3101 ext. 1926, by email to [email protected]Or on Twitter @paulboggssports © 2022 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved