Watkins Memorial boys track makes themselves at home for LCL-Buckeye title

PATASKALA — Normally, a third-place finish wouldn't trigger a massive celebration, but that wasn't the case for the Watkins Memorial boys' 4x400 relay Friday evening.

On the final event of a long night, they secured the necessary spot for a Licking County League-Buckeye Division track championship, edging out rival Granville 97-94 and sending both Watkins teams sprinting the length of the turf at the Warriors' Ascena Field.

"It feels amazing. It feels like you're at home," said relay anchor T.J. Lowe. "There's so much love here, and I love running here."

Watkins used its depth to take the title, but victories by the 4x200 and 4x100 relays certainly helped the cause. The 800 relay of DaaVon Long, Lowe, Isaac Scott and Jaleel Sales clocked a 1:30.43, and the 400 quartet of Jacob Holbert, Long, Scott and Sales won in :43.05. Both were season bests.

"The beginning of the season was a little upsetting, with the weather, injuries and everything, but we're finally healthy," Sales said. "It's a good feeling, when your team is happy, because we've run together for so long. We're content with today, but not completely happy. We have that state mentality, and this is the first year we've had that. We know we can go faster. We just have to get better on those little handoffs."

Granville girls rule

With summer-like weather in the 80s finally descending upon what has been a chilly, rainy and windy track season, LCL athletes embraced it, resulting in many season and even personal best performances.

Granville's Danielle Varrasso ran a personal record :45.44 in a familiar 300 hurdles duel with Watkins Memorial star Jenna Lucas, who also turned in a PR :45.99. Varrasso also dominated the 100 hurdles (:14.96) and ran on two victorious relays that clocked season bests: the 4x100 (:50.29) with Kylee Lescas, Caitriona Sproul and Delaney Pruden, and the 4x400 (4:06.33) with Sproul, Cate Schieber and Zoee Lehman.

Lehman also ruled the 800 in 2:17.18 as the Blue Aces piled up 140 points to 112 by runnerup Watkins to earn the girls Buckeye championship.

Lescas took a nasty spill in the 100, but bounced back up to anchor the 4x200 relay of Hope Mahl, Avery Ogg and Sproul to a season best 1:45.64. She also ruled the 200 in :26.28.

"I was just helping the team and had to do it, and my competitive side took over," Lescas said of overcoming the injury. "It's exciting because this is the first time we've competed with this group (in the 800 relay), with two freshmen, a sophomore and a senior. Last year we had mostly upperclassmen, but the freshmen are always pushing, because they see the high expectations set by me and Danielle."

Lilian Eckels (PR 5:16.21) and Regina Rose (5:19.63) finished 1-2 in the 1,600 for Granville.

Intriguing battles

Lucas, also second in the 100, leaped a personal best 17-7 in adding the long jump title to her high jump championship. "With the warmer weather, I just felt coming in, that today was going to be a good day," she said. "I fouled on my last two jumps, and they would have been farther. So hopefully, I can get into the 18's."

While Lucas and Varrasso battled in the hurdles, Watkins Memorial's Victoria Harvey and Ella Laughbaum of Granville staged another showdown in the pole vault, where both rank among the best in the state. Harvey cleared 12-0 on her first try to claim the title, and tried to better her school record at 12-4 (she has done 12-3 indoors) before coming up short. Laughbaum was second at 11-6.

"That's two wins against each other now this year," Harvey said. "If I win, she has to wear Watkins stuff to school, and if she wins, I have to wear Granville. I came in with a game plan today, starting at 11 feet and saving my energy for the bigger vaults. I feel I can get higher, with 12-6 being the lower goal and 13-0 being the bigger one. I'll start working on a bigger pole, pray that God will help me with the stress, and just have fun. I want to keep a smile on my face on that runway."

Granville's indoor 800 state champion Dylan Christian competed in the 400 and 1,600 at the Buckeye meet, using them as training for his signature event. He won the 400 in :49.50. In the 1,600, he and Licking Valley's Rylan Felumlee ran stride for stride for the first three laps, before Christian kicked it in for a 4:29.16 victory. Felumlee ran 4:31.84.

"I like challenges, and it's always fun to run against Rylan. He tries so hard," Christian said. "We both knew it would come down to a kick, so it became a mental game. I wanted to sit and kick. Sit and kick, and my coaches didn't want me to get gassed for the 400. I want to be peaking for my event."

Felumlee then responded with a PR of 1:58.72 in taking the 800, with Granville's Owen Kirkham and Lane Hannahs also eclipsing two minutes.

"I had run that fast of a split in the 4x800 relay, but not in a race," Felumlee said. "I knew I had to give my all, after that 1,600 finish. He (Christian) played a perfect game plan, but it helped me to run this race, and I was able to help the Granville kids out, too."

Heights shines

Led by D.J. Fillmore, who blazed to wins in the 100 (:10.72) and 200 (:21.58), Licking Heights turned in a strong third-place Buckeye showing with 87 points. He also ran with Da'metrious Boyd, Jalynn Fillmore and Kellen Fields on the victorious 4x400 relay (3:29.51).

"I was hoping for something faster, like a :10.5 or :10.6," Fillmore said. "But I can't wait for the district." He was excited to see Temi Jaf-ogunlayi of the Hornets win the girls' 100 in a personal best :12.49. "Her block start is crazy," Fillmore said. "She was able to fix it, and look what happened."

Teammate Emmanuel Ennin heaved the discus a personal best 156-10, winning by 25 feet. After finishing 13th in the state last year, he's ready to take his place on the podium.

"I've been focusing on my form, getting off the back and staying in, which helped me PR," Ennin said. "I want to throw over 160 feet. This year I'm back, bigger and better. Last year, I was pretty much self coached, and this year, I have a coach helping me."

Greyson Baird of the Hornets cleared 5-10 to win the high jump.

After finishing second in the Buckeye girls shot put last year, Licking Valley's Reese Osborn brought home the gold this time. Her 36-10 throw was just an inch and a half off her personal best.

"I'm happy about it," she said. "I've been working towards 37 feet, inch by inch. Today, I felt a little more relaxed, more comfortable. I would like to get to state. Last year, it took 38 feet to make the regional final. I'm just going to keep working at it, and see what happens."

Valley's defending state 400 champ Reagan Campbell looks to be right on pace, turning in a season best :57.81 Friday.

In the 3,200 Granville's Ethan Guglielmi nipped teammate Andrew Harris in a near photo finish (10:46.91 to 10:46.92). Scarlett Loevenguth of Watkins took the girls race in 12:23.72.

dweidig@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Watkins Memorial boys make themselves at home for LCL-Buckeye title