First for the Fort

COLDWATER, Ohio — The Indians set the goal at the beginning of the season.

It came to fruition Friday night.

Needing a victory in the final race of the night, Drew Muhlenkamp crossed the finish line of the 4x400-meter relay with a comfortable lead to secure the first Midwest Athletic Conference championship in program history for the Fort Recovery High School boys track team.

The margin of victory overall, however, was anything but comfortable, as the Indians’ 123 points were just one better than runner-up Marion Local. 

Fort Recovery’s stunning win came just a week after Marion Local had taken the top spot in the 4x400 relay during the Mercer County Meet.

Coldwater’s girls totaled 118 points for its first team championship in 22 years. Versailles finished second with 103 points, and defending Division III state champion Minster had 94.5 points for third place. Fort Recovery’s girls scored 49 points for sixth.

Muhlenkamp, who also won the 800 run in 2 minutes, 2.72 seconds, joined Owen Moorman, Tyler Acheson and Jared Timmerman to take the 4x400 in 3:30.09. The Flyers were more than four seconds behind after beating the Fort Recovery quartet by 0.28 seconds in the Mercer County meet.

The Tribe’s 4x100 relay team of Riley Pearson, Brayden Schoen, Timmerman and Acheson crossed the finish line first in 45.13 seconds, while the 4x200 relay squad of Pearson, Moorman, Schoen and Acheson had a time of 1:33.04 for first place.

Robby LeFevre claimed four individual MAC championships. He was first in the 100 and 200 dash races in 11.56 and 23.24 seconds respectively. The senior and future Fordham Ram also won the 110 hurdle (15.75 seconds) and 300 hurdle (41.37 seconds) events.

Whitley Rammel had the best performance for the FRHS girls as she was runner-up in shot put. Chloe Will was third in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, and Kierra Wendel placed third in the 400 dash.