Columbus -- On the clock, Wadsworth demonstrated two weeks ago at the district meet its boys 4x800 was on the verge of something special. The talent was there. The times were in place.
Admiral King's Sheral Robinson, right, clears a hurdle next to Twinsburg's Emily Kazarinoff in a Division I 100-meter heat during the state track meet in Columbus on Friday.
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(John Kuntz / The Plain Dealer)
Columbus -- On the clock, Wadsworth demonstrated two weeks ago at the district meet its boys 4x800 was on the verge of something special.
The talent was there. The times were in place.
But would the heart follow, or be broken once again at the state track meet?
The relay team with a checkered past grabbed the proverbial checkered flag and ran away with it. Wadsworth set an all-division record in winning the 4x800 in 7:39.72.
No Ohio foursome has covered 3,200 meters faster.
Making history, and their hand-timed splits in order, were senior Jacob Sussman (1:53.9), senior Aaron Tipton (1:57), junior Russ McCune (1:57.9), and senior Jake Hiltner (1:50.6).
"This is very cool. We knew since districts we could get the record because we were only about a second and a half off [7:42.95]," Hiltner said.
Hiltner's leg was the most spectacular, sprinting away as he did in the final 200 meters from Canton GlenOak's Christian Jones while the crowd in Jesse Owens Stadium cheered.
"That was the game plan. I've done that to him three times this season," Hiltner said. "I drafted on him for a whole lap and then turned it on the last 200."
Tipton's leg was considered the most crucial because he did not run a good opening leg on last year's fifth-place relay. Tipton, who suffers from asthma, ignored Friday's humid conditions, ran his fastest career split and handed the baton to McCune in first place.
"I just tried to stay positive," Tipton said. "I have asthma and if I start freaking out, I can't get a lot of breath. I wanted it really bad."
Magnificat returned all four runners from last year's state champion girls 4x800 team, but an injury to Katherine Stultz at district knocked the Blue Streaks off track. Magnificat (9:11.64) was second, 2.19 seconds behind North Canton Hoover, whose anchor, Allison Peare, finished strong against Magnificat's Madeline Chambers.
Erin Riley, Mary Whitmore and Katherine Kerr also ran for Magnificat. Medina, which led the first four laps, placed third.
The other Division I events Friday were prelims, but there was plenty of drama among the boys as three team contenders suffered enormous blows.
After helping the 4x200 earn the No. 1 seed with a strong anchor, and running on the 4x100 relay that had the second-best time, Glenville senior standout Latwan Anderson's knee gave way in his best event, the open 400. Anderson was near the lead in his semifinal heat, but limped the last 100 meters to the finish line in last place.
Gahanna Lincoln's Blake Heriot, the defending champion in the 200 and 400, suffered a hamstring injury in the 100 and did not advance in any of the three events. In addition, Trotwood Madison's 4x100 relay was disqualified.
Though he had run the fastest times in Ohio this season in the 200 and 400, Anderson will run neither in the state finals. He failed to get out of the regional in the 200 when a hamstring injury flared.
"I'm kind of upset, but there's nothing I can do about it," said Anderson, who said he will try to run in the relays today.
The day wasn't a loss for Glenville. The 4x400 earned the No. 1 seed, and Shane Wynn advanced in the 100. With Quincy Downing running in the 800 today, the Tarblooders have a shot at the team title.
St. Edward senior Seth Cunningham reached the finals in the 100, 200 and two relays. Berea sophomore Donovan Robertson and Shaker Heights junior Elijha Owens advanced to the 110 and 300 hurdles finals.
Buchtel senior and Ohio State recruit Kachay Hullum is the No. 1 qualifier in the girls 400, and No. 5 in the 200. Joining her in both finals will be Brunswick sophomore Brianna Neitzel.
All Division I field events are today.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661