Comet Boys Need Big Day Today at State Track Meet

After a tough opening day, Solon's boys' track and field team will have to step it up during today's finals at the Division I state track and field championships at Ohio State University.

The Comets failed to advance to the finals in four events yesterday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Solon, coming off a regional championship last weekend, finds itself 10 points behind Cincinnati LaSalle at the start of today's action. The Comets will be looking to improve on last year's sixth-place team finish.

Solon's Paige Yaeger advanced in the 300-meter hurdles as she clocked in at 44.91 for the ninth and final spot. Yaeger also anchored the 4x200-meter relay with Tinisee Kandakai, London McNair and Jelvon Butler (1:41.38) that qualified for the finals.

The boys' 4x800-meter relay of Zack Zimmers, Max Haiss, Eric Hansen and Paul Arters (7:58.67) ran 13th in its event. Khoury Crenshaw ran 11.21 and did not advance in the 100 meters, Rod Jackson failed to make the cut in the 110-meter hurdles after a 14.87 clocking and Matt Thompson could not advance after running 22.25 in the 200 meters.

Solon will need a big day out of thrower A.J. Hicks today. Hicks will look to win both the shot put and discus state titles. Last year, Hicks placed third in the discus and was fifth in the shot put.

 Also competing today are pole vaulter Karl Pierce for the boys and distance ace Therese Haiss in the 1600 meters for the girls.

Conditioning will be a key factor this afternoon as temperatures are expected to climb to above 90 degrees in Columbus.