Rocket men soar again at state

June 7, 2015 at 12:06a.m.

COLUMBUS

Seven months after winning their sixth state cross country title, Maplewood’s dominating distance runners added another team trophy on Saturday.

Behind junior Tristan Dahmen’s state-championship performance in the 3200 meters, the Rockets piled up 37 points to finish second to Warren JFK (48 points) at the Division III state track and field meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Maplewood also finished second in 2002 and tied for first in 2000.

“Coming into track, I didn’t know if we even had a chance to win a trophy, to be honest,” said Dahmen, who won the individual 5K title last fall.

“We can win cross country as a team, but this is a whole new ballgame. There’s a lot more races, a lot more that can happen. It’s a great reward.”

Dahmen led off Maplewood’s state championship 4x800 relay on Friday, while each of the other relay runners scored points in Saturday’s individual races: Jake Hall (fourth in the 800), Derek Morrison (fourth in the 1600) and Allen Sparks (third in the 1600, eighth in the 3200).

Dahmen’s winning 3200 time of 9:16.99 puts him in striking distance of the Division III state meet record of 9:12.01, set by Independence’s Kyle Pholman in 2013.

“I definitely think I can drop some time,” he said. “It [that record] could possibly go down.”

Mineral Ridge senior Logan Smith placed second in the 3200 (9:18.16).

Western Reserve senior Joe Falasca (third in the 110 hurdles) and South Range senior Joe Alessi (third in the 100) were the only other area athletes to finish in the top three in Division III.

Robbins takes silver

West Branch senior Zach Robbins placed second in the Division II high jump for the second straight year. Both times he cleared 6-foot-9.

Columbus Linden McKinley junior Jeffery Floyd repeated as state champion, equaling last year’s winning height (6-10).

“I knew 6-10 or 6-11 was going to be the winning height and all my first attempts went well up until 6-8 or 6-9,” Robbins said. “[Clearing] 6-10 is just a hurdle for me. I just can’t get my hamstring over.”

Other Division II notables

United senior Riley Fillman placed third in the 300 hurdles, capping a strong career that saw him finish second in the long jump on Friday. … Poland’s 4x100 relay of Gino Centofanti, Matthew Holsinger, Doug Rutana and Austin Wilson placed third in 43.18. … Ohio State running back recruit George Hill, a junior from Hubbard, finished sixth in the 100.