By JIM WALKER

Tribune Sports Editor

OAK HILL — The Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers weren’t about to be outdone by their male counterparts.

A day after the Ironton boys’ 4×800-meter relay team won the event on the first day of the Division II district meet, the Lady Tigers’ 4×800 relay team followed suit with a win in the event on the first day of the Division III district meet.

Ariel Schweickart, Maggie Thomas, Shannon Walker and anchor Taylor Hacker ran a 10:38.78 time to win the event ahead of runner-up Wheelersburg.

The top four finishers in each event qualify for the regional meet next week at Lancaster Fairfield Union High School.

Coal Grove’s Jake Murphy has only resumed pole vaulting on a regular basis since the end of baseball season, but it was enough time for him to clear 11-6 and win the event. Teammate Kyle Estep went 11-feet to finish second as they advance to the regionals.

Coal Grove boys’ 4×800 relay team became the third area group in the event to win as Jordan Beals, Bryan Steele, Jake Jewell and Jacob Pauley post an 8:37.10 clocking.

The Hornets had another winner and qualifier as Greg Bender easily won the discus with a toss of 156-9.

The Lady Hornets got into the act of qualifying for the regional meet as Doni Winters won the shot put with a heave of 35-0.25.

The Hornets Boo Woods just missed advancing in the long jump. Woods leaped 19-0.5 and finished fifth.

The second day of the meet will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.