Rammel throws her way to state

TROY, Ohio — Another week, another new record.

But this time, she’s got a state berth to go with it.

Whitley Rammel, a Fort Recovery High School junior, improved her own school record in shot put and advanced to the state finals by placing second in the OHSAA Division III Regional track and field championships Wednesday.

The Indians advanced to Friday’s regional final in five events from the preliminaries on Wednesday.

Rammel, who was also fifth in high jump with a height of 5 feet, 3 inches, had a put of 41 feet, 1.25 inches, besting her mark of 40 feet, 2.5 inches, she set on her way to the district championship last week. She was runner-up in the event, behind Madeira’s Yvonne Colson, who threw 41 feet, 10.5 inches.

The top eight from preliminaries advance to the finals Friday, and the top four in each finals event qualify for state June 4 and 5 at Westerville North.

Abbie Francis had a time of 12.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash, and she’ll be the No. 3 seed Friday. Lehman Catholic teammates Kiersten Franklin (12.56 seconds) and Lindsey Magoteaux (12.69) are seeded first and second, respectively.

Francis joined Kierra Wendel, Allysen Fullenkamp and Mara Pearson to earn the fourth seed in the 4x200 relay. The 4x400 relay of Megan Diller, Natalie Brunswick, Wendel and Francis is seeded seventh, while Marie Nachtsheim, Fullenkamp, Pearson and Francis will be seeded eighth in the 4x100 relay.

The FRHS boys’ 4x200 relay team of Owen Morman, Derek Jutte, Reece Guggenbiller and Gavin Thobe earned the No. 5 seed Friday.

With three events scored, Fort Recovery’s girls are currently in first place with 14 points. Maderia and defending state champion West Liberty-Salem are in second with 12 points.