With little more than a year of pole vaulting experience under her belt, Piketon junior Maddy Reed fell just short of the podium in Saturday’s Division II state track and field competition at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Stadium.
Reed finished in a ninth place tie with Liberty-Benton senior Sam Johnson at a height of 10-4.
Reed cleared every height with ease up to 10-4 but couldn’t make it past 10-8 in her three attempts. The vaulters started at 9-0 with one competitor getting eliminated without clearing that height. Two more competitors were knocked out after failing to clear 9-6. Zane Trace freshman Olivia Pflaumer ended her day in 13th at a height of 9-6. Elida sophomore Tori Bowen ended her day 12 at 10-0, leaving 11 competitors to battle at 10-4. Reed and Johnson tied for ninth at 10-4. Perry senior Kayla Cool was 11th at that same height, but had more misses than Reed or Johnson.
Those who finished in the top eight included the defending state champion Fairless senior Allyson Simmons, who broke her own record, the state meet record and the stadium record regardless of division at a height of 13-4.25. Two competitors from Orville High School earned second and third. Maddie Jarret was second and Allison Plybon was third. Both finished at 11-4, as did the fourth place competitor Buckeye Valley junior Savannah Amato. Fifth went to Warren senior Raelyn Gardner at 11-0, followed by Indian Valley senior Devin Bell (11-0) and Versailles freshman Jenna Frantz (10-8). The eighth and final podium spot belonged to Girard junior Caitlyn Trebella (10-8).
Piketon girls track coach Joel Shepherd said he was extremely proud of Reed.
“Maddy has only been vaulting for just over one season. She started halfway through last year and got a full season in this year,” said Shepherd. “Maddy is quite new to the event, so to qualify for state as new as she is to vaulting is quite impressive. She probably has less vaulting experience than anyone else up here.” more
