COLUMBUS — North Union junior Gabby Lindsey first went to the OHSAA state track and field championships as a freshman in 2024 when it was held in Dayton, ending 15th in the Division II girls long jump.
Last year, she made her state debut in Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium as a runner, taking a surprise D-II state runner-up spot in the girls 400 meters after failing to get out of the 200 semifinals.
This year she returned to state as both a jumper and a runner, competing in all three events. And after taking podium finishes in all three, Lindsey feels complete.
“It shows how much I’ve been working toward this,” Lindsey said. “My goal was to be able to (podium) all three and I got that. I feel like my season ended up pretty well. Hopefully next year I can do it again.”
Lindsey started her long weekend on June 4 by becoming the state runner-up in the Division IV girls long jump at 17 feet, 9 inches. She earned the spot on her last attempt, getting her personal record, too, by 3/4 of an inch. Only La Mya Hicks of Willard went farther at 18-2 1/4.
Lindsey followed it up June 5 with a fifth in the 200 meters in 25.8 and a third in the 400 in 56.98.
“It was a full-circle moment there. I got everyone here supporting me. There was nothing wrong with this weekend. I was really happy with it,” she said.
In her freshman season, she went 16-6 and failed to make the podium. As a sophomore, she posted a state runner-up time of 55.83 in the 400 after going 56.5 in the semifinals. Also, she was 12th in the semis with a 25.35 in the 200.
Her progress is noticeable, and it’s something she wants to continue into her senior year.
“I’m going to do what I always do and play my hardest in everything I do and hope it translates into being a good person. Hopefully it all works out,” she said.
Also for North Union, Griffin Osborne was fifth in the Division IV boys long jump at 21-9.
More on Ridgedale’s weekend
The Rockets won the Division V state championship in the boys 4×800-meter relay, turning in a time of 7:51.73, the 10th-best recorded by an Ohio foursome regardless of division.
Two of those runners were not finished posting podium finishes. Junior Breyton Richmond was third in the 800 at 1:55.54, and senior Brogan Weston was sixth in the 1600 at 4:23.21. Weston also ran the 3200 and was 13th at 10:03.69, and senior Isaac Lust was 14th in the 800 at 2:00.16.
Richmond surprised himself at the start of the 800.
“I was feeling it on that (second) turn. I saw I cut across (the break line) first, and I said, ‘Shoot, I’m in first place?’ I could hear the kids behind me trying to challenge me. I said I’m going to give it all I’ve got until I get to the end,” he said.
Richmond led for the next 200 meters and used a strong kick to hold his third-place position down the stretch. He was sixth in 1:56.6 in his first state 800 race as a sophomore.
“It felt windier (this year), but I felt more confident in myself and my abilities because I know I wasn’t seeded the best here because (a regional time of ) 1:57 isn’t going to put yourself very high,” Richmond said. “I know what I’m doing. It’s not my first year out here. I’ve got to go out there and give it all I’ve got because that’s all I can do.”
As for Weston, he used an unorthodox approach to his 1600, laying back anywhere from 14th to last among the first two laps before turning it into an 800-meter run. He said he gained a lot of confidence after his leg of the 4×800 that put the Rockets into first place for good.
“I knew I could kick that last half-mile and that’s exactly what I did,” he said. “I found myself in a place that I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming because I thought I was about to wake up.”
Kuba adds to her medal haul
Elgin senior Julia Kuba ended her career with eight state medals from podium finishes, including back-to-back girls seated shot put runner-up spots.
“It means a lot. Being the first wheeled athlete at my school and the only one has been amazing but lonely sometimes,” she said.
Kuba was second in the shot put at 13-10, 8 1/4 inches ahead of third place as Abigail LaPole of Massillon Jackson set the girls stadium and state meet records with a throw of 21-7 1/2. Kuba was also sixth in the seated 100 in 30.2 and the seated 400 in 2:06.02.
Craig is a first at River Valley
Colt Craig became the first River Valley freshman boy to reach the state meet in the pole vault. With a seventh-place finish at 14-10 in Division III, he becomes the first to make All-Ohio and land on the podium, giving him the rare chance to be a four-time state placer.
“I’m ecstatic for it. I put in a bunch of work throughout the season. I had back problems and fought through that. I’m just happy to be here,” he said.
As an eighth grader he vaulted 13-1 to win the OHSAA junior high state title and then went 12-6 to win a national meet. To go 14-10 on Ohio’s biggest high school stage in his first state meet is pretty heady stuff.
“I will admit my ego is through the roof. I don’t let it show or define my personality because of that,” he said.
Fellow RV pole vaulter Finley Blevins was 10th in D-III girls with a 10-6. The top eight make All-Ohio podium.
Morrow County athletes end on the podium
Highland junior Kynzie Green was fourth in the Division III girls discus with a throw of 129-7. That mark came on her final throw of opening round after a pair of fouls. It was more than enough to get her into the finals and on the podium. She is the first Highland thrower to become an All-Ohioan.
“I was feeling very nervous and stressed. I had to have an open mind going into the last throws. It seemed to work because it got me fourth,” she said after finishing 16th in the shot put a day earlier.
Also from Highland, Jett Black was fourth in the D-III boys pole vault at 14-10, a year after finishing fifth at 14-6.
Mount Gilead’s Tae Davis was third in the D-IV boys 110 hurdles in 14.68, a year after failing to get out of the state semifinals.
“I’m more than happy with that. I can’t complain,” Davis said. “For the prelims, it definitely gave me a lot more confidence. I knew I should be here and it’s not just a fluke run. Finals was a new thing, but I’m glad with how I did.”
Teammate Kaden Wallace failed to make the finals in the 300 hurdles, but he was good enough for fourth in the D-IV pole vault at 14-4.
“Obviously it’s not my PR, but whatever gets me on the podium and gets me a good place, I’ll take that,” Wallace said. “Competing with other people is all that matters. It’s not always about height.”
Northmor’s Brooke Bower took sixth in the D-IV girls 400 with a 58.14.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: North Union’s Gabby Lindsey leads Marion-area medal rush at state
Reporting by Rob McCurdy, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rob McCurdy, Marion Star | USA TODAY Network
