D-V boys fill up the podium

COLUMBUS — One year after three of Carey's four finals entries took eighth, the Blue Devils moved a few spots up the podium.Two fourths and a fifth helped the Blue Devils score 15 points and tie for 14th at the Division V state track meet."I think coming from last year, coming down here and watching the other guys get eighth in everything and just thinking, 'Man, I just wish I was out there' and now I'm up there in the 4 spot," said Mace Puckett, who helped Carey take fourth in the 4x100. "It's pretty awesome."Blue Devils Tripp Phoenix, Dalen Walter and Lucas Smith-Hayward joined Puckett on the squad that ran 43.58 seconds in the relay."Being a senior and this being my last ever sport, you can't finish any better," Smith-Hayward said.Phoenix added a fifth in the 100 (11.44), battling a stiff headwind and speedy competition."It was awesome. Last year, taking eighth and this year I bumped up three spots and got fifth," he said."I'm happy with fifth place. I ran an 11.4, the headwind was pretty bad so I can't complain about it," Phoenix said. "Getting fifth in the state as a junior, I can't get mad about it."Teammate Landyn Miller added a fourth in the 800 (1:56.26).Phoenix, Walter, Smith-Hayward and Lincoln Ritter took eighth in the 4x200 (1:31.11).Other area boys found their way to the Division V podium.Hopewell-Loudon's Aiden Ewald capped his prep career by claiming third in the shot (57-9 ¼) one year after falling short in his bid to reach the finals in the same event.Friday's effort came one day after he took runner-up honors in the discus for the second year in a row."I maxed out the season. I can't be mad about how I did because I got a PR in the disc, I came in with a PR in shot. That's all you could ask for," he said.He leaves H-L with school records in both events after making huge strides over the past couple of seasons. And while he put in the work, Ewald credited family, friends and coaches Justin Carvallo, Adam Heckler and Helen Coleman with helping."I love them all and you couldn't ask for better people," he said. "Family and friends, they push you to go as far as you can go."Buckeye Central's Collin Perry placed in two sprints, capturing fourth in the 100 (11.44) and seventh in the 200 (22.8).Old Fort's Aidan Chapman had a hand in two placements.He ran fourth in the 400 (49.74) and anchored the Stockaders to eighth in the 4x400 (3:28.04).Isaac Gallagher, Brayden Davis and Aiden Dick rounded out Old Fort's relay.In D-III, Clyde's Dekin Crockett reached the finals in the 300 hurdles (38.76).