Barnett leads area contingent's OHSAA state track effort with 4 All-Ohio medals

COLUMBUS − While no area state qualifier finished at the top of the podium at the 2026 Jesse Owens OHSAA State Track and Field Championships this weekend, several local standout student-athletes secured All-Ohio honors with finishes in the top eight in the entire state.

Competing against Ohio’s elite at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, these local competitors capped off their stellar seasons by securing a spot on the state podium and cementing their names among the best in their respective divisions.

Leading the local charge on the podium was Shenandoah’s senior multi-sport star Braxton Barnett, who put together a massive individual weekend in Division IV, climbing the state medal stand four separate times. Barnett earned individual state runner-up honors by placing second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.28) and second in the 300-meter hurdles (37.61). He added a third-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 21-09.25 and locked up fourth place in the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 2 inches to wrap up a historic four-medal state meet performance.

On the track, John Glenn junior standout Ashlynn Kuklica put together a historic distance showcase to claim two separate All-Ohio spots in Division III while taking on rigorous three-race ironwoman schedule. Kuklica unleashed a career-best performance in the 1600-meter run with a state runner-up spot with a career best time of 4:51.33. Returning to the track for the 800-meter run, she fought her way onto the podium yet again, claiming seventh place at 2:19.01 to lock up her second state medal. To cap off her big day, Kuklicia battled her way to a 10th place finish in the 3200-meter run with a gritty time of 11:21.40.

John Glenn senior Ethan Zell closed out his decorated distance career by capturing All-Ohio accolades with a premium podium performance in the Division III boys 800-meter final. Zell went toe-to-toe with the fastest half-milers in the state, shattering his own school record to lock down an 3rd-place finish overall in Ohio with a blistering, personal best time of 1:52.94.

Meadowbrook’s Sophie May delivered an elite performance against the premier Division III field in Ohio. May stepped into the state shot put ring and unleashed a throw of 37 feet, 8.50 inches to battle her way to a fifth place overall, capturing All-Ohio accolades for the Lady Colts.

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Cambridge freshman sensation Paisley Williams shocked the state in Division III. Putting together a clutch, elite performance on Ohio’s biggest stage, Williams cleared a spectacular height of 12 feet, 6 inches to finish in third place in pole vault. Williams’ performance earned her All-Ohio honors and cemented a historic debut season for the Lady Bobcats.

Caldwell’s Camy Crock stood tall in a loaded Division V throwing field, headlining a busy weekend in both throwing circles. Crock launched a premium mark of 127 feet, 11 inches in the discus to place seventh overall in Ohio, earning her spot on the podium. She also doubled up her workload at the state meet by competing in the shot put, hitting a mark of 34 feet,8.50 inches to place 13th overall.

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• Vincent Campbell (Meadowbrook) − Boys 1600 & 3200-Meter Run: The elite Colts freshman concluded his breakout debut season with a double effort at the state meet. Campbell placed 10th overall in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:25.40. He returned to place a hard-fought ninth overall in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:25.92.

• Jaylee Theodosopoulos (Cambridge) − Girls 100-Meter Dash: in her first state track meet appearance, placed 17th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.92, four-tenths of a second slower than her personal best 12.51 she ran last week at the regional meet.

• Bailey Anderson (Cambridge) − Girls Discus: The Lady Bobcats junior placed 15th in the discus at the State meet with a throw of 109 feet. Anderson finished fourth in the regional meet with a season-best throw of over 117 feet to qualify for the State meet.

• Audrina Gibson (Cambridge) − Girls 100-Meter dash & 300-Meter Hurdles: Gibson placed 16th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.76, almost four-tenths of a second slower than the school record 12.30 she ran at the regional meet last Saturday. In the 300-meter hurdles, Gibson placed 14th in 46.56, just a bit slower than her personal best time of 46.09.

Vincent Campbell (Meadowbrook) − Boys 1600 & 3200-Meter Run: The elite Colts freshman concluded his breakout debut season with a double effort at the state meet. Campbell placed 10th overall in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:25.40. He returned to place a hard-fought ninth overall in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:25.92.

Jaylee Theodosopoulos (Cambridge) − Girls 100-Meter Dash: in her first state track meet appearance, placed 17th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.92, four-tenths of a second slower than her personal best 12.51 she ran last week at the regional meet.

Bailey Anderson (Cambridge) − Girls Discus: The Lady Bobcats junior placed 15th in the discus at the State meet with a throw of 109 feet. Anderson finished fourth in the regional meet with a season-best throw of over 117 feet to qualify for the State meet.

Audrina Gibson (Cambridge) − Girls 100-Meter dash & 300-Meter Hurdles: Gibson placed 16th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.76, almost four-tenths of a second slower than the school record 12.30 she ran at the regional meet last Saturday. In the 300-meter hurdles, Gibson placed 14th in 46.56, just a bit slower than her personal best time of 46.09.

• Ida Estadt (Shenandoah) − Girls 1600-Meter & 3200-Meter Run: Completed a grueling distance double, crossing the line 10th overall in Ohio in the 1600-meter (5:16.48) and duplicating that 10th place finish in the 3200-meter run (11:19.51).

• Alyssa Crum (Shenandoah) − Girls 800-Meter Run: Showcased great tactical pace in a blazing middle-distance pack, finishing 11th overall in the state with a time of 2:21.03.

• Logan Gabel (Shenandoah) − Boys 400-Meter Dash: Battled fiercely in the explosive sprint prelims, placing 12th overall in the state field with a time of 50.59 seconds.

• Ethan Resor (Buckeye Trail) − Boys Discus: The standout junior competed hard against a premier throwing field. Resor launched a throw of 144 feet, 6 inches to finish 12th overall in the state.

Ida Estadt (Shenandoah) − Girls 1600-Meter & 3200-Meter Run: Completed a grueling distance double, crossing the line 10th overall in Ohio in the 1600-meter (5:16.48) and duplicating that 10th place finish in the 3200-meter run (11:19.51).

Alyssa Crum (Shenandoah) − Girls 800-Meter Run: Showcased great tactical pace in a blazing middle-distance pack, finishing 11th overall in the state with a time of 2:21.03.

Logan Gabel (Shenandoah) − Boys 400-Meter Dash: Battled fiercely in the explosive sprint prelims, placing 12th overall in the state field with a time of 50.59 seconds.

Ethan Resor (Buckeye Trail) − Boys Discus: The standout junior competed hard against a premier throwing field. Resor launched a throw of 144 feet, 6 inches to finish 12th overall in the state.

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Caldwell Boys 4X200-Meter Relay (Talon Bettinger, Garnar Gaydos, Aiden Danford, Alex Sheanshang): The Caldwell speed unit logged a strong performance on the state track, clocking a fast 1:33.92 in their heat to place 11th overall in Ohio.

Ladyn Hanes (Barnesville) − Girls Pole Vault: Represented Western Belmont County on the state runway, fighting over the crossbar at 9 feet, 6 inches to wrap up her tournament trip in 14th overall.

KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Shenandoah’s Braxton Barnett leads area at OHSAA track state finals