ST. JOHN Central Academy's Sadie Watts clears the high jump bar during Monday’s qualifying for the Cal Giffin OVAC Track and Field Championships at Red Devil Stadium in St. Clairsville.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Half the field is set.

The annual OVAC Cal Giffin Track and Field Championship got under way in a mixed bag of weather conditions at Red Devil Stadium Monday evening.

The 1A/2A and 3A classifications began their quests for the conference title with qualifying rounds in all events. The 4A and 5A schools will qualify today with the championships set to be presented on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m.

3A

Bellaire, Linsly, Magnolia and Barnesville all enjoyed solid rounds of qualifying in this division both on the boys and girls sides of the competition.

Bellaire, which has won the last two OVAC titles, appears to be the favorite for a third straight.

The Big Reds got their day of qualifying started by pacing the shuttles in a time of 1:06.52.

Mayson Sochor continued his brilliant rookie campaign by pacing both the high and intermediate hurdles in 15.69 and 42.88.

Sophomore Ray Ray Pettigrew paced the 100 in 11.57.

Senior Jacob Defibaugh had quite the day in the distance races. The cross country All-Ohioan was the top qualifier in the 1600 (4:46.00), 800 (2:07.10) and 3200 (10:14.77).

In the field, the top seeds kept coming. Junior Colt Sechrest erased one of the longest-standing OVAC meet records when he launched the platter 170-ft-9 to pace the discus. He topped the previous mark, which was owned by OVAC Hall of Famer Craig Miller of Bridgeport by one inch. He then shifted to the shot put circle and led that field with a mark of 48-8 1/2.

Linsly’s boys picked up the top qualifying spot in the 4×2 with a time of 1:36.49. The Cadets’ 4×1 posted a 46.19, which was the top qualifying mark.

Sophomore Nathan Coleman was the top finisher in the long jump with a mark of 19-8.

George Donovic and Max Washington were two of the four high jumpers who cleared 5-6.

Martins Ferry was the top boys 4×8 qualifier in 8:47.18.

Senior Evan Carpenter was among four jumpers who paced the high jump with a 5-6 clearance.

Magnolia senior Jason Beisel was the top 400 meter dasher qualifier in the class with a time of 52.86. He also led the way in the 200 with an impressive 24.30.

The Blue Eagles also set the pace in the 4×4 with a 3:42.04.

At the high jump, senior Gavin Postlethwait was one of four jumpers to clear 5-6.

Barnesville’s boys paced the pole vault thanks to A.J. Detling clearing 10-6.

Linsly’s girls expect to score points in bunches both on the track and in the field.

Junior Mara Carlisle got things rolling with a top seed in the high hurdles with a time of 18.38.

In the 100 meter dash, Sydney Glessner was the top qualifier with a solid 12.95. She came back to the track and led the 200 meter dash in 27.14.

The Cadets made it three consecutive top seeds when they led the 4×2 in 1:53.23.

Linsly’s 4×1 team turned in a 53.60 to lead the qualifying.

Senior standout Molly Heron had another brilliant showing. She paced the 400 in 64.35 and came back to lead the way in the 800 with a time of 2:31.69.

Linsly’s 4×4 team was tops by five seconds over Barnesville with a 4:33.15.

Senior Brinley Steen was one of four finishers to clear 4-6 at the high jump to pace the qualifying.

Barnesville’s girls were strong in the distance races. The Shamrocks 4×8 foursome demonstrated that early when the Shamrocks quartet paced the qualifying with a time of 11:00.68.

Freshman Marah Bethel paced the 1600 meter run in 5:34.39.

Senior Grace Detling skimmed eight hurdles in 53.20 to lead the way in the 300 low hurdles.

Sophomore Aubrey John son was the top 3200 meter finisher in the class with a time of 13:13.48.

In the field, junior Anna Yater was the top mark with a throw of 119-2. Alana Trigg and Grace Detling were two of the three pole vaulters to clear 7-feet in the pole vault.

Magnolia’s girls led the shuttles with a time of 1:17.38.

Senior standout Mady Winters re-wrote the Class 3A record book in the shot put. She claimed the shot put record with a throw of 42-5, breaking the previous mark, which had stood since 2006.

In the long jump, junior Jaci Rohde was the top finisher with a mark of 15-11. She then was one of four jumpers to clear 4-6.

CLASS 1A/2A

Shadyside got off to a strong start when both of its pole vaulters — Brendan Schrader and Andrew Osman — cleared 9-feet to advance. They were the only two jumpers in the class.

The Tigers also had two of the top three high jumpers thanks to senior Jordan Joseph and junior Wyatt Reiman. Both cleared 5-6.

Senior Jacob Visnic was the top qualifier in the shot put with a mark of 46-2 3/4.

Sophomore Holden Salgat ran two laps in 2:10.87 to lead the 800 qualifying.

The Tigers led the way in the 4×4 qualifying with a time of 3:36.71.

Steubenville Catholic will push the Tigers on Saturday.

Senior Joe Rohde was the top qualifier in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.55. Earlier, he led the way in the 400 with a solid 51.47.

The Crusaders 4×2 team passed the baton to a time of 1:36.62 to lead the way.

Beallsville’s Brandon Louden qualified with the top time in the 100 with an 11.36.

Toronto’s Josh Fancher spun the discus to a mark of 146-7 to reset the class record, which had stood since 2013, by four inches.

Wheeling Central freshman Aidan Scott turned in the top qualifying times in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. He ran 4:47.43 and 10:24.31.

The Maroon Knights also led the qualifying in the 4×1 with a time of 46.60.

Shadyside’s Alie Hawthorne, Gianna Mills-DeFelice and a pair of Clay-Battelle jumpers all cleared 7-feet to pace the pole vault.

Junior Paige Gorby continued her fine season in the long jump, advancing with a mark of 15-1, which was the best in the class.

The Tigers’ 4×1 team paced the lap relay with a time of 54.75.

Steubenville Catholic Central figures to be right in the thick of the team chase on Saturday. The Crusaders paced five events.

Junior hurdling ace Clara Symington was once again impressive in both events. She paced the high hurdles in 16.06 and later led the way in the lows with a 50.59.

Junior Rebecca Bolster was the top 400 meter dasher in the field with a time of 64.93.

The 4×4 team’s effort of 4:27.70 and the 4×2’s time of 1:51.95 were the top qualifying times.

River freshman Mara Beard was the top 3200 meter runner in the 3A field with a time of 12:31.16.

Toronto’s Leah Price was the top high jumper at 4-6.

Paden City senior Hope Weber was the top qualifier in both the shot put and discus. She produced marks of 31-9 1/2 and 108-1.