Speedy at Celina

CELINA, Ohio — The Indian boys have been competing against more than just athletes from other schools so far this season.

They’ve been battling illnesses.

The sprinting depth Friday proved just how strong of a group they have.

Without a state-medalist sprinter, Fort Recovery High School’s boys track team set two meet records on Friday in the Celina Relays.

“We are fortunate that we have a couple of gentlemen that we can interchange and still be successful,” said FRHS coach Kylee Moody, whose team scored 37 points to finish sixth out of eight teams.

Celina won the boys meet with 105 points, as Bryan (80) and Coldwater (65) were second and third respectively. South Adams totaled 51 points for fourth.

Coldwater scored 102 points to win the girls meet, ahead of Bryan (69) and Celina (65). South Adams scored 47 points for fifth, and Fort Recovery was sixth by three points.

“Pleased with the girls program,” Moody said. “The girls program is doing very well.

“The guys, we are just struggling with low numbers and illness.”

Robby LeFevre, who is a three-time state medalist in the 200-meter dash and has also medaled in the 100 dash, did not compete Friday as he’s been under the weather.

Jared Timmerman took his spot in the 4x200 relay. Along with Riley Pearson, Jacob Acheson and Brayden Schoen, the Indians finished with a time of 1 minute, 35.13 seconds, breaking the meet record of 1:35.54 set by Celina in 2015. The quartet managed to do so despite a shaky transition between Schoen and Acheson as the third and fourth legs.

“The biggest part of a relay is the stick, getting the stick around,” Moody said. “There’s a couple kids that are used to handing off to particular people so that presents a challenge.”

Riley Hiser, Henry Knapke, Isaac Knapke and Derrick Shlarman broke the meet record in the 4x100 relay with their time of 45.14 seconds. It surpassed St. Marys’ mark of 45.4 seconds from five years ago.

Additionally, Timmerman had the best leap in long jump — 19 feet, 10.25 inches — and Schoen’s height of 5 feet, 6 inches, was first overall in high jump.

Fort Recovery’s took first place in the 4x800 relay behind the efforts of Cassy Martin, Kierra Wendel, Ava Bubp and Chloe Will. They combined for a time of 10:37.53, a victory of more than seven seconds.

“I don’t think a meet like this really reflects how good we are, but this meet isn’t important either,” Moody said. “The important meets happen in May and June. As long as we’re healthy by then we’ll be OK.”

The only relay victory for the Starfires came on the feet of Acacia Anderson, Hannah Beitler, Isabel Von Gunten and Ali Smith. The quartet combined for a time of 1:54.29 in the 4x200 relay.

Junior Kallee Patch was the overall winner in the 1,600 run, but the winner was determined by the finishing times of four runners. McKenzie Sturwold (fifth), Eliza Harruff (16th) and Ella Neuenschwander (23rd) put the Starfire four in second place behind Celina.

“If I’m taking something out of tonight it’s we don’t have enough girls to compete really well in a relay meet like this because it takes some depth,” said SAHS coach Clint Anderson. “When you’re operating with 13 girls it’s kind of tough. You’re putting them out there quite a bit and you’re asking a lot of them. I never heard anybody complain so I’m pretty pleased with that.

“We come into these meets looking to get kids some quality work, see what they’re made of, and we leave tonight thinking we’ve got a pretty good group.”