Wynford’s Ruffener, Carey 800 relay qualify for state

Wynford’s Corri Ruffener (middle) beats her competitors to the final hurdle in the 100 hurdles Friday in the regional track and field meet in Tiffin. Ruffener was first in the event and second in the 300 hurdles, qualifying for state in both.

TIFFIN — Wynford’s Corri Ruffener is on to the state meet in both hurdles events and she will be joined by Carey’s 800 relay team as area schools completed the Division III regional track and field meet Friday at Tiffin Columbian.
Ruffener took first in the 100 hurdles in 15.28, easily beating out second-place Morgan Imbrock from Patrick Henry. Ruffener (45.92) was edged out for first place in the 300 hurdles by Edon’s Sydney Stoll, who posted a 45.39.
“Corri had a good day,” Wynford coach Julie Crall said. “Her 100 was really nice and smooth and she kept making her way toward the finish. Then (the 300), she’s OK. She’s a little disappointed, but she’s got a week.”

Wynford’s Ellie Richmond (left) stays close to two other runners Friday in the 1600 run during the Division III regional meet. Richmond, a freshman, took 10th place in the event.

Both of her times were improvements from Wednesday’s preliminaries when she finished in 15.40 and 46.50. Ruffener, a senior, made the state finals in both events last year, placing fifth in the 100 hurdles and coming in ninth in the 300 hurdles.
The Royals also had a pair of freshmen competing Friday, with Ellie Richmond improving two spots on her seed time to come in 10th in the 1600 run in 5:41.28, while Samantha Lambert moved up three places from her seed distance to 11th place in the discus with a best throw of 106-1.
“It was a pretty good day,” Crall said. “We had the two freshmen in the discus and running the mile. They still got their second- or third-best results ever, so it was a good day.”

Carey’s Oriana Billock reaches forward to pass the baton to teammate Lauren Wenner in the 800 relay. The Blue Devils took third in the event in 1:46.26.

Carey’s team of senior Oriana Billock, sophomores Lauren Wenner and Gwen Wentling and junior Amber Spurlock finished the 800 relay in 1:46.26 to finish in third. Norwalk St. Paul won the event in 1:44.99.
The same group of Carey runners missed a state qualifying chance in the 400 relay because of a false start, while the 1600 relay team of Wentling, senior Jenna Jesko, freshman Joanna Worst and Spurlock took sixth, one spot better than its seed, finishing in 4:12.76.
“We were happy to have three relays in the finals,” Carey coach John Knickel said. “There’s nothing like it. Our 4-by-2 ran the best time of the year for us and we were really happy with that. That’s a special sprint relay for me because none of those girls are what you call sprinters. They’re all just blue-collar runners and they’ve been doing that all year for us. It’s unfortunate what happened with us in the 4-by-1, but that happens sometimes.”

Carey’s Taylor Decker heaves the discus during regional competition Friday in Tiffin. Her best throw of 115-10 was good enough for seventh place.

Senior Taylor Decker, who placed eighth in the state meet last year, missed qualifying for the final weekend this year with a seventh-place finish in the discus. She had a top throw on the day of 115-10.
On Wednesday, the Blue Devils advanced Dana Newell to the state meet with a 5-3 high jump that was good for third place.
“We’ve got a high jumper going. We’ve got a relay team going,” Knickel said. “It’s the last week of track and field and we’re still in it. We’re very happy.”
Mohawk no longer is in it, with its season coming to an end with two events Friday. Just like in the 3200 relay on the first day, Mohawk had a fifth-place finish in the 3200 run as junior Julia Daniel finished in 12:22.48.
“It’s a little frustrating to come in fifth in a couple of the races, but the kids ran well and they tried hard,” Mohawk coach Brock Cleveland said. “It’s hot and you can’t fault that. … There’s nothing you can do. The kids ran hard.”

Mohawk’s Julia Daniel (left) and Riverdale’s Hannah Frey run side by side during the 3200 run Friday in Tiffin. Daniel took fifth place in 12:22.48, while Frey came in seventh in 12:34.62.

Daniel matched her seed and finished more than 10 seconds behind fourth-place runner Arden McMath of Arlington. Riverdale senior Hannah Frey took seventh in the same event, finishing in 12:34.62, while Mohawk senior Heather Daniel came in 12th in 13:03.72.
The Warriors’ Lynsey Trusty, a junior, was 11th in the 800 run in 2:30.49.
“The girl (McMath) that ended up beating (Julia Daniel) ran the mile and I was hoping with the weather, that would tire her out a little bit and we just didn’t get lucky enough and run fast enough,” Cleveland said. “But I’m glad they’re here. She’s a junior. Lynsey had a great 800. You can’t be disappointed.”
Only two boys, both from Carey, competed in the second day of the Tiffin regional. Senior Brandon Distel was 11th in the 800 run, while sophomore Tommy Arredondo tied for 10th in the high jump by clearing 5-8.
Cory Larick qualified for state in the pole vault for the second year in a row by clearing 14-4 in the pole vault on Wednesday.

Carey’s Brandon Distel stays with a pack of runners during the 800 run on Friday. He started strong but fell back to finish 11th in the event.

The state meet begins with Division III track preliminaries at 9:30 a.m. Friday and field events the same day at 1 and 4 p.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.

Girls
Team results (top 10 and local)
1. Toledo Christian, 57; 2. Bluffton, 52; 3. Waynesfield-Goshen, 49; 4. Fremont St. Joseph, 44; 5. Arlington, 38; 6. Van Buren, 32; 7. Sandusky St. Mary, 28; 8. Archobld, 22.5; 9. Crestline; 10. McComb, Wynford, 20; 13. Carey, 17; 26. Mohawk, 8; 41. Riverdale, 2.
Individual results
Friday’s individual results
800 run: 11. Trusty (M), 2:30.49.
1600 run: 10. E. Richmond (W), 5:41.28.
3200 run: 5. J. Daniel (M), 12:22.48; 7. Frey (R), 12:34.62; 12. H. Daniel (M), 13:03.72.

Carey’s Jenna Jesko takes off after receiving the baton from Gwen Wentling during the 1600 relay Friday in the Division III regional meet at Tiffin. The Blue Devils took sixth in the event.

100 hurdles: 1. Ruffener (W), 15.28.
300 hurdles: 2. Ruffener (W), 45.92.
400 relay: Carey (Spurlock, Billock, Wentling, Wenner), FS.
800 relay: 3. Carey (Billock, Wenner, Wentling, Spurlock)
1600 relay: 6. Carey (Wentling, Jesko, Worst, Spurlock), 4:12.76.
Discus: 7. Decker (C), 115-10; 11. Lambert (W), 106-1.
Wednesday’s placers
High jump: 3. Newell (C), 5-3; 7. Gottfried (W), 4-10.
Boys
Team results (top 10 and local)
1. Liberty-Benton, 72; 2. Columbus Grove, 54.5; 3. Tiffin Calvert, 41; 4. Old Fort, 40; 5. Tinora, 39; 6. Lima Central Catholic, 36; 7. Toledo Christian, 34; 8. Bluffton, 31; 9. Fairview, 28; 10. Van Buren, 27; 26. Carey, 5.
Friday’s final results
800 run: 11. Distel.
High jump: 10 (tie). Arredondo (C), 5-8.
Wednesday’s placers
Pole vault: 4. Larick (C), 14-4.

By LONNIE McMILLAN
Sports editor

Posted by Daily Chief on May 26, 2012. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry