Stein plans return trip (06/06/05)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Her trip to the state capital didn’t go as well as Holly Stein had hoped. The good news is, she’ll have other chances.

Stein, a Fort Recovery sophomore, competed at the OHSAA State Track and Field Tournament at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus Saturday, finishing 14th in the Division III girls shot put at 33 feet, 21/2 inches.

Defending state champion Stacey Wannemacher, a junior from Ottoville, topped the field of 16, taking the state title again with a toss of 44 feet, 63/4 inches. Nelsonville’s Whitney Maiden was second at 43 feet, 93/4 inches, and Jessie Tanner of Newark Catholic took third at 41 feet 41/4 inches.

Although her state mark was two-and-a-half feet short of her regional distance, Stein took a positive outlook on the day.

“It was very fun and exciting (to be at state), but the performance was not as good as it could have been,” she said. “But, I’m still really young compared to most of the people who are down here and my form is not quite perfect yet. I still have two years, and I’m going to be here next year.”

Her state appearance this season marked the second time in three years that an Indian has advanced to the state’s elite level. Tyler Niekamp finished third in the state in the Division III boys high jump in 2003.

Stein could be in prime position to stand on the state podium next season as she was one of just three sophomores competing in the Division III shot put at the 2005 state meet. And, eight of the 13 girls who finished in front of her graduate this year.

Saturday got off to a rough start as Stein fouled on each of her first two attempts, stepping out of the front of the circle on the first and stumbling out to the left side on the second. Just trying to get on the board, her toss of 33 feet, 21/2 inches came on her third preliminary attempt. It was not good enough to put her in the top nine for the finals.

“Get it in, just put one in,” said Stein of what she was thinking on her final throw. “I just couldn’t foul all three of them.”

“It was disappointing that she fouled her first two,” said Fort Recovery coach Jessica Faller. “You’d like to at least see three get marked, but for a sophomore making it to state we’re just happy for her to be here.

“It definitely wasn’t her best throw. There’s that added pressure when you foul the first two. You just want to get one marked at state. You don’t want to foul all three.”

The visit to Columbus capped an outstanding sophomore season for Stein, who finished fourth at the Piqua regional at 35 feet, 91/4 inches to earn her state berth. She was the Minster district runner-up.

She also won championships in both the shot put and discus at the Mercer County and Midwest Athletic Conference meets.

Stein broke the school record in the discus twice this season, first with a toss of 103 feet, one inch at the Tiger Relays at Ansonia. She shattered that mark with her winning toss of 108 feet at the MAC championships.

The record prior to the season was set in 1991 by Barb Hull at 101 feet, three inches.[[In-content Ad]]