COLUMBUS (WLIO) — West Central Ohio athletes made a strong statement on the opening day of the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, collecting several state titles and podium finishes.

Minster captured the Division 5 girls 4x800 relay championship with a school-record time of 9:13, while Columbus Grove finished as state runner-up. Ridgedale claimed the Division 5 boys 4x800 state title behind anchor Breyton Richmond, with Minster, St. Henry, Pandora-Gilboa and Russia all earning top-10 finishes.

Coldwater's Ava Schmitmeyer won the Division 4 pole vault title, while teammate Jonah Gruss placed third in the high jump. Allen East sophomore Jackson Werling captured the Division 4 discus championship with a throw of 192 feet, 5 inches, and Columbus Grove's Trevon Baxter won the Division 5 long jump title.

Russia's Hazel Francis added another state championship by winning the girls high jump, while Columbus Grove's Nicole Nesby finished second in the shot put. Other local medalists included Patrick Henry's Payton Boyer (discus runner-up), Anna's Adyson Landrum-Bales (third in discus), New Knoxville's Addi Albers (third in high jump), McComb's Carter Frater (second in long jump), Columbus Grove's Gavin Baxter (fourth in long jump), Coldwater's girls 4x800 relay (runner-up), Versailles' girls 4x800 relay (fifth), and Liberty-Benton's Josie Hochstettler (fourth in pole vault).

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