McClain's Jhaela Coleman finishes 14th in State Div. II 100m dash
McClain junior Jhaela Coleman took part in the OHSAA State Track and Field Tournament for the first time in her high school career on Friday, racing in the Division II 100-meter dash.
Coleman's heat had two false starts. On the third try, the race took place with the McClain sprinter finishing with a time of 12.78, 14th overall and seventh in her preliminary heat at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University.
To qualify for the state finals, racers must have a Top 9 prelim finish.
Earlier this week, Coleman spoke with the Highland County Press about the way she races and making it to the state event.
"Honestly, it feels great to make it to state," Coleman told The Highland County Press. "I like the new competition. I've pushed all winter to get where I am now, and I'm finally staying steady, so it is good.
"I've worked on my starts a lot this year and just digging. With the race itself, it is about my start and finishing to the very end. Those two parts of the race are huge."
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To get to the state tournament, Coleman finished with a time of 12.99 at regionals, a third-place finish at Muskingum University.
The prelim best time belonged to Liberty Union junior Michaela Butler with a time of 11.67, setting a new state meet Division II record, breaking the past best time of 11.80.
In second in the prelims was Cleveland JFK junior Diamond Cummings with a time of 12.03. The rest of the Top 5 included North College Hill junior Jazmin Smith with a 12.09, followed by Steubenville junior Lysaih Rice at 12.16 and Kenton Ridge sophomore Jamari McDavid with a time of 12.20.
The rest of the Top 10 in the prelims were Ottawa-Glandorf senior Madison Stechschulte at 12.20, Butchel senior Briana Brauchler at 12.23, Ursuline senior Alexandra Carnathan at 12.23 and in 10th was Meadowdale senior Allison Mayfield-Brown at 12.26.
The 11th-place finisher was Beachwood freshman Mia Knight (12.32), followed by Keystone junior Beth Plas (12.572), Portsmouth freshman Lynsey Shipley (12.58) and Coleman. In 15th was Philo sophomore Taylor Evans, and Rossford’s Regan Clay had a DQ due to a early start.