Summit Country Day Shines on Day Two of OHSAA Track State Championships

COLUMBUS, OH — Following a remarkable victory by Luke Schnieber of Cincinnati Country Day in the pole vault, the spotlight turned to the Summit Country Day relay team, marking another triumph for Cincinnati at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) track and field state championships. In this inaugural year featuring five divisions, teams from Fenwick, CHCA, and Summit Country Day excelled among local Division IV competitors, with multiple athletes securing podium finishes. Here’s a recap of the key moments from Friday's events held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The competition continues Saturday with field events for Divisions I, II, and III as well as semifinals and finals for DI and DII running events.

The Summit Country Day girls clinched the 4x100 meter relay title, capturing Cincinnati's sole state championship of the day. The quartet of Maddy Amend, Brielle Bryant, Alaina Williams, and Ama Karikari set a new Division IV state record with a time of 48.59 seconds. Karikari, who anchored the relay, made a remarkable comeback from second place to secure the win against Girard. "We knew the whole season that we were really close to winning... I worked really hard on our handoffs," Karikari reflected. The team also finished fifth in the 4x200 meter relay, with Karikari placing sixth in the 200-meter dash. Despite lacking a track, Summit Country Day ranked highest among local teams, tying for 12th place with 17 points.

CHCA's Wyatt Gockerman stepped up as a leader in the absence of his twin brother, Nate, who has faced stress fractures this season. This shift allowed Wyatt to achieve a personal best of 9:13 in the 3,200-meter run, securing third place on the opening day of the championships. "It honestly helped propel me and give me more motivation," Gockerman stated. He also contributed to the Eagles' seventh-place finish in the 4x800 meter relay. Competing in the 1,600-meter run on Friday, Gockerman concluded his junior season with a sixth-place finish in 4:18.93, while his teammate Jagger Dollenmeyer ended his high school career in 13th place at 4:22.41.

Samantha Long of Fenwick showcased her talent, achieving two fourth-place finishes in the 300-meter hurdles and the 4x400 meter relay. As a veteran member of the track team, Long led by example, guiding a group that included many freshmen. "I passed people early on because I wanted to start out fast," she explained. Looking ahead, Long expressed optimism for the team's future, recognizing the potential of the younger athletes.

In Division V, Serena Cyprien and Jimere Furr made notable impressions in the sprints. Cyprien finished third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.73 seconds, despite facing challenging wind conditions. "It really is all about the start," she noted. Later, she earned a second-place medal in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 25.68 seconds. Furr, running in the 100-meter dash, took second in 11.37 seconds, slightly slower than his personal best, but he felt confident throughout the race. "I made sure I locked in," he shared after finishing just a week after achieving a personal best of 10.75 seconds.