WIAA State Championships - Day Two

Day Two of the WIAA State Championships provided some great moments for the Jags!

Action got started at 10:20 this morning with the two-time SPSL Champion and reigning WCD champion in the men’s shot put, Jonah Mains, who took the ring in his flagship event with the intention of earning his first podium finish at the state track meet after getting sick at this time last year. After an early foul, the three-sport-star established himself among the best in the field and twice broke his own Emerald Ridge School Record en route to a fourth place finish and five points toward the team total. If it weren’t for two other huge personal bests in the field, Jonah’s mark would have ranked him second among 4A competitors coming into the weekend.

Following the tone that Jonah set early in the day, freshman Asher Ogden took the track just before 5:00 knowing that he would have an opportunity to score for the Jags. Ogden was the seventh and last qualifier out of our district championships last week, almost missing an opportunity to run at the State Championships. After running a personal best last night to make the final, everyone was content that the only freshman in the field would be running in the final and getting his first state medal, except Ogden himself. Toeing the line in one of the deepest events at the 4A state meet, Ogden took advantage of a great start and led for the first half of the race, only to be overtaken by an athlete that is currently ranked in the top-100 nationally. As Ogden crossed the finish line in second place, the excitement, enthusiasm, and energy that only a freshman can possess overtook him as he raced across the infield and fence-line, high-fiving and hugging everyone in sight! The highest finish ever for a freshman in that event, Ogden just missed the all-time freshman state record by one-hundredth of a second, running 14.70 for second place. Asher also catapulted himself from #8 on the ER all-time list all the way up to #3 over the weekend. The men finished the day in fourth place in the team standings.

The lone competitor on the women’s side on Friday, sophomore Carley Huber ran the 300 hurdles during the windiest stretch of the day and finished in twelfth place. Although disappointed not to make the final, Huber was grateful to be competing at the State Championships after only taking up the event earlier in the season.

Roz Slichko will be our lone competitor on Saturday, as she takes the track at 4:25 in the women’s 3200.