GRANVILLE — Breyton Richmond didn’t wake up feeling like it was going to be a great day, but that’s how it turned out.
“As the day went on, we tried this new Mediterranean place. I got something there and it tasted pretty good,” the Ridgedale junior said. “I came here expecting rain and there was no rain. My day just got better and better as it went on. I felt it really motivated me to run that 1:56.”
Richmond won the Division V boys 800-meter district race Saturday, May 23 in Granville, turning in a time of one minute, 56.43 seconds. He helped power the 4×400 relay team to a victory in 3:31.34 less than a half-hour later. Add all that to the 4×800 relay’s dominant win earlier in the week with an 8:05.48, and Richmond and the Rockets are entering the D-V regional at Cuyahoga Heights with momentum.
“I’m glad this season I took a step back from the 800 and ran the 400 some more because it felt really nice to switch things up,” Richmond said. “Today I wanted to beat Liam Stalnaker (of Mount Gilead) in D-IV. That was my goal. One of my friends from indoor went 1:57 in his district. I wanted to beat them. That’s all the motivation I had.”
Mechanicsburg won the boys title with 121 points, but the Rockets brought home the district runner-up trophy with 94 points, easily outpacing third-place Fairfield Christian Academy that had 62 points.
Besides the two relays with Britton Pottkotter in the shot put and discus and Colt Rawlins in the high jump, Ridgedale will need to take a bus to the regional set for May 28 and 30.
With the top four advancing to next week, Isaac Lust was third in the 800 in 1:58.05, Brogan Weston was second in the 1600 in 4:29.07, and Elliot Weston was fourth in the 1600 in 4:33.82. Brogan Weston was also third in the 3200 from earlier in the week in 9:58.21. Mylo Richmond was third in the 110 hurdles in 16.91, while Mason Turner was second in the 300 hurdles in 41.76, and Vince Shuster was fourth in the in the 300 hurdles in 43.8.
McKenzie advances in three events
Ridgedale junior Maddie McKenzie will remain busy next week.
Besides advancing to the Cuyahoga Heights regional in the long jump from earlier in the week, McKenzie is going in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, too. She was runner-up in both in 16.19 and 50.22.
“That’s my main goal, to go to state in the 100 hurdles. For the 300s, I’m glad I get to go to regionals for that, and I hope I do well, but I’m mostly focusing on the 100s,” she said.
That McKenzie is going to the regionals in the long jump with a fourth place in 14 feet, 7 1/4 inches is the most incredible feat she achieved at districts. She took it up less than two weeks ago, a day before the Northwest Central Conference meet.
“I think it’s crazy. It’s only my second meet jumping long jump. I can’t believe I qualified. I’m really proud honestly,” she said.
Mount Gilead girls get a trophy
Mount Gilead scored 108.5 points to finish second behind the 121 points by Grandview Heights. Danville was third with 73 points.
Advancing to the Cuyahoga Heights D-V regional on the track are Adriana Hershner who was third in the 3200 in 12:30.56 and Kenlee Trainer who was third in the 100 hurdles in 17.24. The 4×800 relay was already third in 10:22.44, but all the other relays are advancing. The 4×100 team was fourth in 56.25 as was the 4×200 relay in 1:53.52 and the 4×400 squad in 4:24.99.
Watch Tuesday, May 26, at MarionStar.com and its app for which other Marion-area athletes advanced on the track to regionals in the other divisions.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Ridgedale will be sending a busload to track regionals
Reporting by Rob McCurdy, Marion Star / Marion Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
