(May 19th, 2015) – AYERSVILLE: With the Division III District track meet taking place in Ayersville, schools from throughout the area, including the entirety of the Buckeye Border Conference (BBC), as well as portions of the Green Meadows Conference and the North Western Ohio Athletic Conference gathered together to battle for the right to move on to Regionals.
The Pettisville 4X800 meter relay team of Elizabeth Sauder, Nichole Foor, Mikala Avina, and Alexa Leppelmeier did just that, taking second place in the event with a time of 9:49.1. Several of these girls advanced in individual events as well. Leppelmeier earned third place in the one mile at 5:17.11, and second place in the 800 meter run, thanks to her time of 2:23.3. Foor would go on to finish in second place in the two mile run, crossing the finish line at 12:11.53.
Leppelmeier, Avina, and Sauder were also part of a Lady Blackbird 4X400 team that brought home third place, as the girls joined forces with Kyra Behnfeldt to do so. Together, they ran a combined time of 4:14.99.
Yet that wasn’t fast enough to top the Stryker 4X400 team of Paige Speelman, Gabrielle Paxton, Brittany Breier, and Audra Rupp, who took second place in the event by running a 4:12.2. That same group will also be attending Regionals for their efforts in the 4X200 meter relay, which saw them finish in third place at 1:49.5. Speelman will also be moving on for her performances in the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes, as she took third place in both events with respective times of 13.15 and 27.3. Paxton will be advancing as an individual for her showing in the 300 meter hurdles, earning fourth place at 48.86. Taking third place in the 400 meter dash, Rupp will also compete at the Regional in a non-relay event as well.
But they weren’t the only BBC 4X200 meter relay team to make it to Regionals. The Pettisville squad of Jordyn Pursel, Kendal Pursel, Sarah Herring, and Behnfeldt finished fourth in the race, running a 1:50.69. Pursel will also be moving to the next level in the pole vault, claiming the District championship in the event with a first place finish by clearing a height of 9’6”.
Hilltop junior Madeleine Routhier had a spectacular day as well. Setting school records in both the mile and two mile with times of 5:32.78 and 12:16.53, she’ll be advancing to Regionals for the latter event. She also received the Dafler Sportsmanship Award, which marks the first time that the distinction was not awarded to a senior.
Montpelier also saw one of their number make it to Regionals. Senior Baylee Hageman earned first place in the shot put. Her winning throw traveled 39’00.5”.