Lucky and good: United’s Bates is discus champion

By Joe Scalzo

Lordstown senior Kayla Ellks placed second in the long jump with a career-best leap.

COLUMBUS — One of the wonderful things about Victoria Bates’ story — and when you consider that the girl looks like she should be running the 400 and instead just won state title in the discus, there are more than a few wonderful things about her story — is this: She knows she got a little lucky.

Obviously, talent and hard work helped, too. But Bates won a Division II state title on Friday with a throw (122 feet, 11 inches) that wouldn’t have put her in the top five in Div. II last year. What’s more, the throw wouldn’t have even placed in the top eight last June in either Div. I or III.

But there she was, sitting on top of the podium at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Friday with a grin the size of Columbiana County.

“I was sitting there waiting to go on the podium and it started to hit me, but it still hasn’t hit me yet,” said Bates, who finished third at last week’s regional meet with an identical throw and won the district title with a better toss. “This was my goal, but I’m not sure it was possible.

“But it’s even greater when that’s the outcome.”

It was United’s first state track title since Chris Heim won a 300-meter hurdle title a decade ago.

Bates’ winning throw came in the semifinals and she figured it had no chance of holding up, so she kept trying to break the school record of 130 feet in the finals, figuring that would be good enough.

“I popped that 122 out there and was like, ‘All right, I’ve got to get out there farther because that’s not going to make it,’ ” she said. “But it did.”

United has had a strong track team for years, but Bates was the only Eagle girl to advance to Columbus, so she felt responsible to represent her school well.

“I was really proud today,” she said. “Really proud.

“I told my coaches I didn’t want one of those bronze-colored medals anymore. I wanted a shiny one.”

Lordstown senior Kayla Ellks nearly got one, too, but settled for silver in the Div. III long jump with a personal-best leap of 17-10.

It was a school record — Elks had never before cleared 17 feet — and she nearly bested it on her last jump. She fouled by a quarter-inch on a leap that would have cleared 18 feet — and won her the title.

Instead, Tipp City senior Kylie Kopp won the gold with a jump of 17-11 º.

“I’m a little disappointed I fouled on my last jump, but I’m still happy with how I did,” said Ellks, who may run track at Tiffin next year. “I knew this was my senior year and I wanted to go out doing my best.

“I think I exceeded my own expectations.”

scalzo@vindy.com