Trio earn berth in state meet

Published 3:15 am Friday, May 29, 2009

BYESVILLE — It was a three-for-one day.

Three local track athletes qualified for the state track meet on the first day of competition at the Division II regional track meet Thursday.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers had two qualifiers as senior Lukas Morris will make a return trip to the state meet along with junior Jon Monnig.

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Morris, who was a qualifier in the high jump last year, leaped 20-10.5 in the long jump to place fourth. The top four finishers in each event advance to the state meet next week at Ohio State University.

Morris will compete in the high jump on Saturday.

Monnig cleared 13-3 to finish fourth in the pole vault and earn his ticket north. Teammate Ryan Sias went 12-6 and was seventh while Fairland senior Kyle Kincaid tied for eighth at 12-6.

South Point’s Ericka Leighty was third in the high jump to advance. Keely Drabick of Richmond Edison won with Katie Davis of Cambridge second. All three cleared 5-2 but the places were determined due to the number of misses.

In the 4×800, Ironton’s Dustin Moritz, Adam Stumbo, Pierce Reeves and Gary Monroe — all sophomores — were 11th at 8:44.26 while Fairland’s team of Jevon Hayes, Eddie Adkins, Kyle Taubenheim and Joe Stewart was 13th at 8:45.98.

South Point’s 4×200 relay of Tevin Mitchell, Matt Button, Zach Cremeans and Drew Lynd was 15th at 1:36.80.

In the girls’ meet, Fairland Lady Dragons junior Jordan Aldridge had the fastest qualifying time in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.21 seconds. She was 11th in the 300 hurdles.

Ironton’s Lorna Ceaser was 12th in the shot put at 32-1.25.

South Point’s Kayla Fletcher just missed the finals. Fletcher was ninth at 13.33 seconds.

The Lady Fighting Tigers 4×100 relay of Cinnamon Fletcher, Morgan Weisgarber, Johnna Seward and Cortney Rister were 12th in the preliminaries with a 53.71 clocking.