Illness slows Leighty at state meet

Published 9:20 pm Friday, June 5, 2009

COLUMBUS — Ericka Leighty found out what it means to jump on a queasy stomach.

The South Point Lady Pointers senior high jumper had a bad day at the Division II state track and field meet on Friday, but there was a reason.

“I’m sick. I felt bad last night. I took some antibiotics, but it didn’t help,” said Leighty who exited with a jump of 5-foot that left her in a tie for 11th place.

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Katie Davis of Cambridge, who won the Southeast regional meet on fewer misses over Leighty, was the state champion as the only contestant to clear 5-4.

“She wasn’t herself today,” said South Point coach Joe Stevens.

Coal Grove’s Daniel “Oakie” Haynes ran in the Division III preliminaries on Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Haynes, a junior, was sixth in his heat in the 100-meter dash with an 11.39 time. He ran 11.29 in the regional meet.

His 22.86 clocking in the 200-meter dash was also sixth in his heat. Haynes qualified for the state meet with a 22.51 time at the regionals.

Fairland junior Jordan Aldridge ran a 14.94 to win the second heat of the 100-meter hurdle preliminaries. She runs in the state finals on Saturday with the third fastest qualifying time.