Rough day for state finalists

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COLUMBUS — 0 for 4.

That’s how Greene County area athletes fared in their respective finals, Friday June 2 at the OHSAA state track and field championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the Ohio State University campus.

Early in the day, Carroll’s Nikki Gazzerro and Yellow Springs’ James Browning both bowed out early in their high jump finales.

Gazzerro placed 12th in the girls Division II championship with a jump of 5 feet, 2 inches, which was two inches better than her regional jump a week ago.

A few hours later, Yellow Springs junior James Browning finished in a three-way tie for 13th place in the boys D-III high jump final. Browning tied with Edgerton’s Chance Evans and West Alexandria Twin Valley South’s Payton Gates at 6 feet, 0 inches, but he had cleared 6-1 at last week’s Dayton Regional.

Browning appeared to have cleared the bar on his final attempt at 6-2, but the back of his leg grazed the bar enough to bring it down.

In the Division I boys and girls 3,200-meter relay events, Beavercreek failed to medal as well. But both teams bettered their regional times with ease.

In the girls 3,200, the quartet of Stephanie Pierce, Jordan Grant, Jodie Pierce and Lauren Shuman placed ninth with a time of 9:16.25. That time was 10.5 seconds quicker than their regional seeding time of 9:26.60.

In that same girls D-I race, the winning team from Mason set OHSAA Division I, state meet and Jesse Owens Stadium records with a winning time of 8:56.62.

The boys Beavercreek foursome of Ian Johnson, Jacob Benigno, Riley Buccholz and Ben Ewert placed ninth with a time of 7:51.17, nearly 14 seconds quicker than their seeding time from last week’s regional championships.

Yellow Springs senior James Browning clears the high jump bar at 6 feet, during Friday’s June 2 finals in the Division III high jump at the OHSAA state track and field championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/06/web1_JamesBrowningIIIHJ.jpgYellow Springs senior James Browning clears the high jump bar at 6 feet, during Friday’s June 2 finals in the Division III high jump at the OHSAA state track and field championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Jacob Benigno hands the baton off to Beavercreek teammate and anchor man Ben Ewert during Friday’s June 2 Division I state final in the boys 3,200 meter relay. Despite turning in a time nine seconds quicker than what they ran at last week’s regionals competition, Beavercreek finished ninth at the state championships in Columbus.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/06/web1_HandofftoEwert_PS.jpgJacob Benigno hands the baton off to Beavercreek teammate and anchor man Ben Ewert during Friday’s June 2 Division I state final in the boys 3,200 meter relay. Despite turning in a time nine seconds quicker than what they ran at last week’s regionals competition, Beavercreek finished ninth at the state championships in Columbus. John Bombatch | Greene County News

Beavercreek’s Jodie Pierce takes off down the track after receiving the handoff from girls D-I 3,200 relay teammate Jordan Grant, during Friday’s June 2 state championship final at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2017/06/web1_JordanGrantJodiePierce3200_PS.jpgBeavercreek’s Jodie Pierce takes off down the track after receiving the handoff from girls D-I 3,200 relay teammate Jordan Grant, during Friday’s June 2 state championship final at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. John Bombatch | Greene County News

By John Bombatch

[email protected]

You can reach John Bombatch at 937-372-4444, Ext. 2123.

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