Calvert's Miller claims state title in the 400

COLUMBUS — When Emily Miller hit the front stretch, her only competition was Mother Nature.The Calvert senior pressed on through a stiff breeze Friday, claiming the Division V 400 in a personal-best 55.92 seconds and beating her nearest competitor by 74-hundredths of a second."I heard the cheers," she said, "but I said 'Just go, push it. You're almost there.' Before the race, I was like, 'Whatever you do, do not slow down. Just keep pushing.' In that moment, I was like, 'Emily, you're right there. Just push, push.'"I worked all year for this," Miller said.The senior added a fifth in the 200 (25.87) to close out her career for the Senecas."I'm happy with what I got," she said. "I'm happy I got to experience state in two events. I'm happy to be here and enjoy the moment. And if that brought me in first or it brought me in fifth, I'm happy to be here with the people who showed up for me back in December when it didn't mean anything."Carey's Elysa Holinger entered the Division V 300 hurdles final thinking she'd be lucky to get sixth, but the sophomore earned her first state podium visit by claiming third in a school-record time of 45.51 seconds."What went well for me was I actually hugged the curve, which my coach talked about how I didn't do as well in the semis, and I did that and I felt a bigger push," she said."It was my biggest goal in my entire life," she said of reaching the podium. "Last year I came here, that was my biggest goal, just being on the podium and I couldn't make it out (of semifinals). So making it this year was my biggest accomplishment."Bellevue's Kaitlyn Turinsky claimed fourth in fourth in the Division III high jump, clearing 5-4 to tie her PR."I'm stuck on 5-4," she said. "This is my first year in high school doing high jump. I'm mainly a basketball person."Turinsky competed in travel basketball during the previous springs, but seniors aren't allowed to do that so she said she joined the track team this year for fun."It was awesome," Turinsky said. "It was just a great experience."A handful of area athletes advanced to today's Division III finals Friday at the state track meet.Bellevue's Payton Taylor, Natalie Littlejohn, Hallie McCarthy and Amerie Wagner qualified in the girls 4x200 (1:43.99).Wagner also advanced in the 400 (58.14) for the Lady Red.