COLUMBUS – Emma Ray hit a point she was climbing to reach June 7 throughout her entire career with the Newark girls track team.
Ray, a senior, cleared 11 feet, 6 inches to place seventh in the pole vault during the Division I state championships at Ohio State. Ray tied the school record and earned her first All-Ohio honor.
“It feels great. Everybody together really just pushed each other,” said Ray, who added she fed off the energy of the atmosphere and her fellow competitors. “It’s a big relief when we have all of this pressure and stress that we can just joke around and have fun. We can relax around each other, and we’re OK.”
Ray, who will compete collegiately at Ohio Wesleyan, became the first Newark girl to qualify for state for the pole vault. She had to wait a little longer than planned to make more history.
Because of the storm June 6, the pole vault was postponed until the following morning. When Ray returned, she was down to her last attempt to clinch a place, and she delivered.
“It feels amazing to be here,” Ray said. “To be the first girl pole vaulter to be at state from Newark ever, that’s a huge opportunity I am proud of.”
Ray’s junior teammate Larissa Harper finished 15th in the discus (105-11). Junior Mitchell Chavis also finished 15th in the discus (143-5) for the Newark boys.
Senior Ray Hardiman finished his career on the podium for the Watkins Memorial boys. Hardiman, who will compete collegiately at Wright State, placed eighth in the 100 (10.88).
“It feels really good, especially having to miss the 100 last year and not really getting a chance to run it in the postseason,” said Hardiman, who competed in the 400 relay during the June 6 preliminaries. “It was nice having my teammates supporting me and watching me. Getting to run with them was great.”
Sophomore teammate Ethan Martinez finished 15th in the 800 (1:56.64), and sophomore Kate Michael finished 18th in the 800 (2:23.60) for the Watkins girls.
Freshman Kennedy Rutledge finished 15th in the long jump (16-5.5) for the Licking Heights girls. Senior teammate Phoebe Sayre finished 17th in the shot put (31-3.5).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Newark’s Ray, Watkins Memorial’s Hardiman finish on state podium
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
