Kaylee Hurley collects 4 runner-up finishes at state tournament
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — McClain sophomore Kaylee Hurley improved on her debut state performance from last year by collecting four state runner-up finishes at the 2015 edition of the OHSAA State Track & Field Tournament.
Hurley competed in the wheelchair division of the state competition, as she and six other racers competed four times over the two-day event at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
The McClain sophomore raced in the 100-meter, 400m and 800m events, along with throwing in the shot put event.
"I'm pretty excited," Hurley told The Highland County Press following the 400m dash event. "I PR'd (Personal Record) on Saturday, so I've done pretty well. My ultimate goal is to win the gold … having her (Jenna Fesemyer) in front of me really pushes me to go further."
On Friday, Hurley earned her first runner-up finish in the shot put event, throwing her personal best distance of her career at 16-00.75, defeating five other competitors in the event.
Hurley's first throw was 14-09.25, followed by throws of 15-00.00, 15-09.25 and 16-00.75.
"I really was pleased with my throws Friday," Hurley said. "I PR'd by two feet."
Last year at the event, Hurley's best state throw was 14-07.50. Entering the event this year, her state-qualifying throw was 13-08.00.
On Saturday, Hurley competed in three racing events, starting the day around 11 a.m. with the 800-meter race, ending with her second-place finish of 3:03.47.
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In the race, Hurley's first lap was 1:21.662, and the second lap in the event was 1:41.802.
"I started out a little too hard on that one, so by the second lap I was a little worn out," Hurley said. "Adrenaline really kept me going on that one."
As for the MHS senior, her second-place finish was better than where she placed last year as a freshman in the event, when she was third in 2014 with a time of 2:56.02.
The third state event of the weekend for Hurley was the 400m dash, a race the sophomore finished with a personal best time of 1:14.36, only falling to eventual state champion in Southwest senior Jenna Fesemyer, who finished with a time of 1:11.87, a new state record.
Last year as a freshman at the state level, Hurley was a state runner-up in the 400m race with a time of 1:17.20.
Hurley's final event of the day was a second-place finish in the 100m dash at 21.59. That time was an improvement of her state time as a freshman when she was third at 23.78.
"Kaylee had a really good tournament," MHS co-head coach Lori Jones said. "The 800 race, Kaylee was a little disappointed with her time, but it was still a good time to have.
"She finished strong, and the 400 race was really exciting to see. Last year, the races wen't as close as they were this year. In the 400, she gave Jenna a run for her money around the last corner, so I was proud of her getting a PR in that event.
"She's excited to be back here, and this year she didn't seem as nervous as last year, and she raced so much better and pushed harder. She's improved a lot.
"We're pleased, and we are excited. It was an exciting two days."
Fesemyer was state champion in all four events, and the Southwest senior ended her three-year state tournament career with 12 state titles, going undefeated in three years.
In the shot put throw, Fesemyer threw for 19-00.50, and in the 100m dash she had a time of 20.51. The 400m dash saw Fesemyer have a time of 20.51.
In two years at state, Hurley has six second-place and two third-place finishes.
Hurley competed in the wheelchair division of the state competition, as she and six other racers competed four times over the two-day event at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
The McClain sophomore raced in the 100-meter, 400m and 800m events, along with throwing in the shot put event.
"I'm pretty excited," Hurley told The Highland County Press following the 400m dash event. "I PR'd (Personal Record) on Saturday, so I've done pretty well. My ultimate goal is to win the gold … having her (Jenna Fesemyer) in front of me really pushes me to go further."
On Friday, Hurley earned her first runner-up finish in the shot put event, throwing her personal best distance of her career at 16-00.75, defeating five other competitors in the event.
Hurley's first throw was 14-09.25, followed by throws of 15-00.00, 15-09.25 and 16-00.75.
"I really was pleased with my throws Friday," Hurley said. "I PR'd by two feet."
Last year at the event, Hurley's best state throw was 14-07.50. Entering the event this year, her state-qualifying throw was 13-08.00.
On Saturday, Hurley competed in three racing events, starting the day around 11 a.m. with the 800-meter race, ending with her second-place finish of 3:03.47.
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In the race, Hurley's first lap was 1:21.662, and the second lap in the event was 1:41.802.
"I started out a little too hard on that one, so by the second lap I was a little worn out," Hurley said. "Adrenaline really kept me going on that one."
As for the MHS senior, her second-place finish was better than where she placed last year as a freshman in the event, when she was third in 2014 with a time of 2:56.02.
The third state event of the weekend for Hurley was the 400m dash, a race the sophomore finished with a personal best time of 1:14.36, only falling to eventual state champion in Southwest senior Jenna Fesemyer, who finished with a time of 1:11.87, a new state record.
Last year as a freshman at the state level, Hurley was a state runner-up in the 400m race with a time of 1:17.20.
Hurley's final event of the day was a second-place finish in the 100m dash at 21.59. That time was an improvement of her state time as a freshman when she was third at 23.78.
"Kaylee had a really good tournament," MHS co-head coach Lori Jones said. "The 800 race, Kaylee was a little disappointed with her time, but it was still a good time to have.
"She finished strong, and the 400 race was really exciting to see. Last year, the races wen't as close as they were this year. In the 400, she gave Jenna a run for her money around the last corner, so I was proud of her getting a PR in that event.
"She's excited to be back here, and this year she didn't seem as nervous as last year, and she raced so much better and pushed harder. She's improved a lot.
"We're pleased, and we are excited. It was an exciting two days."
Fesemyer was state champion in all four events, and the Southwest senior ended her three-year state tournament career with 12 state titles, going undefeated in three years.
In the shot put throw, Fesemyer threw for 19-00.50, and in the 100m dash she had a time of 20.51. The 400m dash saw Fesemyer have a time of 20.51.
In two years at state, Hurley has six second-place and two third-place finishes.