DAYTON -- Let the games begin.

The preliminaries of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track and field meet begin today and several area athletes will be looking to qualify for Saturday's finals.

South Point Lady Pointers sophomore sprinter Porcha Ball enters the Division II 100 meter dash with the third best time overall.

Ball had a 12.34 time in the regionals. Stephanie Hunt of Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas ran a 12.27 time while Jessica White of Youngstown Liberty ran a 12.28.

Fairland Lady Dragons senior Jennifer Jones ran a 59.43 time in the 400 meter dash, the seventh best time overall coming into her heat in a tightly contested race.

In another tight race, South Point senior distance runner Zach Smith is part of a log jam in the 800 meter run.

Smith has a 1:55.85 clocking which ties him with Aaron Lahman of Pemberville Eastwood for the second fastest time coming into the state meet. Kent Collins of Upper Sandusky has the fastest qualifying time, but it is just barely ahead of Smith and Lahman at 1:55.46.

The 800 does not have a preliminary. Finals will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Fairland's Britani Keeney throws in the discus, Chesapeake's T. R. Hannan competes in the high jump, Michael Hunt the long jump, and Coal Grove's Dan Cordle throws the discus today.