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Union Local captures D-II district title

T-L Photo/SETH STASKEY A PACK of runners, including Union Local's Andrew Martin, Martins Ferry's Francis Toohey and St. Clairsville's Nate Thornburg take part in the 800 meter run during Saturday's Division II District Championship at Meadowbrook. Martin went on to win the race.

BBYESVILLE — Union Local just continues to check the boxes off on the goal sheet.

Whether it was Buckeye 8, OVAC and now district, the Jets have achieved it all, but they’re not done or content.

The Jets added the latest piece of hardware to the collection Saturday afternoon at warm and sunny Meadowbrook High School as the Division II Eastern District Championship wrapped up.

Union Local finished with 91.5 points, which was 6.5 points better than runner-up St. Clairsville.

“We’ve been battling St. Clairsville all year,” a relieved and excited Todd Blake said before taking a water bucket dumping courtesy of senior Zac Bateman. “These kids are so easy to coach because they want to get better and push each other. These seniors lead the way and they want to continue to raise the bar.”

On top of winning the team title Saturday, the Jets qualified exceptionally well to next week, which this time of the year is ultimate goal.

“It’s a blessing that we were able to qualify as well as we did,” Blake continued. “It’s nice that they’ve done so well all season long, so this shows how well they’ve done and continue to do it while not peaking out too early.”

All told, Union Local will run in the regional in nine events.

Taking it a step farther, they’ll enter those events as a district champion in four events.

The Jets put the cap on the day when the team of Liam Vinskovich, Shawn Coe, Zach Bateman and Andrew Martin posted a 3:35.12.

Prior to that race, all four of those competitors made their presence felt elsewhere, too.

The same quartet of Jets got the meet started on Thursday by winning the 4×8 in an impressive time of 8:11.51.

Vinskovich got Saturday started well for the Jets by claiming the high jump with a leap of 6-2.

Martin will head to Chillicothe as an individual district champ. He put forth an impressive two laps to win the 800 run in a ULHS record time of 1:59.86.

Coe dipped under the 10-minute threshold in the 3200 for the first time, circling the oval eight times in 9:58.94.

Bateman was third in the 400, posting a 52.06.

The Jets’ 4×2 team finished second with a solid 1:32.43 effort.

Junior Sawyer Moore was fourth in the 100 with an 11.47.

Sophomore Hayden McCrate continued his fine campaign in the high hurdles. He placed second with a time of 15.61.

Senior Nathan Meyer qualified in the long jump with a mark of 20-5 1/4.

St. Clairsville advanced to regional in five events.

The Red Devils’ lone regional title, on the track, came in the 4×2. The foursome of Ian Dagan, Colin Oberdick, Nathaniel Ellison and Austin DaRe passed the baton to a time of 1:31.92 and the gold medal.

During Thursday’s action, the Red Devils 4×8 team finished second in 8:32.89.

The Red Devils’ 4×4 was second in 3:36.33. The Devils’ 4×1 placed fourth in 45.15.

Individually, the Red Devils qualified well in the field with junior Avery Henry throwing the discus to a mark of 143-4.

Sophomore Karl Kain heads to the regional as a champion in the pole vault with a mark of 13-6.

Steubenville finished fifth in the team standings and will sent several competitors to the regional. All told, Big Red will take part in five events.

In the intermediate hurdles, Steubenville advanced a pair. Sophomore Micah Mitchell was the champion in 41.37, while Savior Faulks was fourth in 43.16.

Junior Caleb Noble was third in the 1600 with a 4:39.81.

Senior Nasari Jackson was second in the 100 with a 11.35.

Big Red’s 4×2 was third in 1:32.44 to advance.

Sophomore Micah Mitchell advanced by virtue of finishing third in the highs with a 16.05.

Bellaire will take part in five events next week.

Leading the way will be junior strong man Colt Sechrest, who advanced in both the shot put and discus. He won the discus on Thursday, spinning the platter 169-5. He added the shot put by placing second with a mark of 49-1.

Freshman Mayson Sochor was the district champion in the 110M high hurdles, skimming 10 timbers in 15.43 for the title.

Senior distance ace Jacob Defibaugh advanced in a pair of events. He was second in the 1600 with a 4:32.36 and third in the 3200 with a 10:20.61.

Barnesville will send a representative to the regional in four events.

Shamrocks senior A.J. Detling was third in the intermediate hurdles in 43.15.

Junior Tyler Jenkins was fourth in the 1600 with a 4:40.57.

The Shamrocks’ 4×8 qualified on Thursday by placing fourth in 8:36.38.

In the field, junior Avery Clouse was fourth in the discus with a mark of 142-5.

Martins Ferry punched a regional ticket in three events.

Individually, Francis Toohey earned a spot in the 800 with a solid 2:00.95 clocking.

The Purple Riders’ 4×4 finished fourth to advance. The Riders 4×8 was third in 8:33.72.

Indian Creek’s Russell Lough will represent the Redskins in the 400 after he placed second in 51.61.

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