(May 27th-29th, 2015) – TIFFIN: Individuals and relay teams from Montpelier, as well as an individual from Pettisville, will be attending the State Track Meet as participants.
Montpelier junior Dylan Snyder played a vital role in the Locomotive effort at the Regional Track Meet on May 27 and 29. As an individual competitor, he was able to claim fourth place in the long jump. In order to do so, he landed a leap of 21’03.25”. His best jump of the year, 22′ even, would have been enough to net him first place honors.
He did, however, finish first in the 110 meter high hurdles. After qualifying in first place during the preliminary run with a time of 15.29, Snyder was actually able to improve significantly on that time in the finals. He retained first place by finishing with a time of 14.77 in the final run, punching another ticket to State.
Snyder was also part of a Loco 4X100 meter relay team which also earned its way to Columbus. Finishing the preliminary race in fourth place with a time of 44.39, the squad of Dallas Royer, Simon Wang, Hunter Shaull, and Snyder set themselves up in good position to succeed in the Regional finals. They did just that, holding onto fourth with a 44.07 showing.
One Montpelier runner will not able to join his teammates in Columbus, however. Michael Blake, facing some stiff competition in the 800 meter run, finished eleventh in the event. The sophomore’s time of 2:04.01 was less than ten seconds behind that of the winner of the race, who ran a 1:56.87.
Pettisville will also be sending a hurdler to State. Ethan Brakefield will be taking on the best in Ohio when he takes part in the 300 meter hurdles in Columbus. Qualifying for Regional finals in first place by running a 39.68, an improved upon time was not enough to hold on to the top spot. Running a 39.57, Brakefield came less than a millisecond short of first place, taking second place to the first place finisher’s 39.55.
Kyle Lantz represented the Blackbirds in the one mile run at Regionals. A junior, Lantz claimed tenth place in the race, running a 4:44.51.