Ready ... Set ... Go

CELINA - Track and field athletes traveled from near and far.

Because Celina's Varsity Track offered them a long-awaited chance to compete.

Saturday's Back on the Track Open was the first of two summer meets held in Celina. The meet featured roughly 100 participants and 190 event entrees. Coach Dan Otten was in a familiar role as meet manager. And under COVID circumstances, Otten and his team of workers managed to put together a successful event. The entire Bulldog coaching staff helped out, along with various alumni, current athletes and community members.

"It went smoother than I thought it would," Otten said.

"The helpers were really good," he added. "And with the COVID stuff, people were really good about spreading out. Our trainer, Allie Wright, came and she did a really good job of training. The city donated their system. We were done before noon - I couldn't believe it."

The field consisted of participants ages 8 and up. The majority of area schools were represented, along with competitors from Ohio, Indiana and Massachusetts. The meet included a number of former collegiate athletes. Winning the award for furthest distance traveled was former Bulldog and University of Colorado standout Michaela Wenning, who journeyed to her hometown while making the move from Boston to San Diego.

"Michaela Wenning loves competing," Otten said. "I just texted her a little bit ago and said 'glad you could make it home.' She's hoping to make it back for the second meet on (July) 25th."

Wenning won the long jump and high jump. She wasn't the only former Celina track star competing on Saturday. Bekah Carr, who ran for Eastern Michigan after her graduation, won the 100-meter hurdles and triple jump and placed second in the high jump. Former Cincinnati Bearcat Elizabeth (Lizz) Carr won the high jump. Kyler Bourne, now at Huntington University, won the triple jump and pole vault.

Celina's Mitch Williams and Ethan Ly finished 1-2 in the 800. Ly claimed the 1,600 title with fellow Bulldog standout Roman Mitchell taking third. Celina had the top-three 3,200 finishers in Andrew Goodwin (first), Kale Sudhoff (second) and Jennalee Dameron (third). Brennen Piper won the long jump and Lyndi Woods was second in the 300 hurdles.

University of Findlay-bound Jessica Break of Coldwater won the girls pole vault by clearing 11-6. Coldwater's Shelby Giere won the 300 hurdles and placed third in the 100 hurdles. Coldwater's Tanner Muhlenkamp had third-place finishes in the 100 and 200. Coldwater cross country coach Pete Lisi, who ran for Bowling Green State University, competed in the meet as well.

Other notable area performances:

Fort Recovery state-qualifier Riley Pearson placed third in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 100 dash. Marion Local's Charlie Hueslman won the 400. New Bremen's Lenna Rowland won the discus. St. Henry's Tate Lefeld placed third in the shot put.

Luke Himes, a student at the Indianapolis-based Heritage Christian, won both throwing events. Using a 1-kilogram disc (junior high standard), Himes threw a 176-6 and with a 4-kilo shot put, he tossed a 49-5 1/2.

"He is probably the best middle-school thrower I've seen in 45 years," Otten said. "That 176 is amazing for a middle school kid. We barely get any kids throwing 100."

Findlay High School's Ben Ireland ran the fastest fully-automatic timed 100-meter dash in Varsity Track history with a mark of 11.08 seconds.

Otten said that he received a number of thank-you messages after the meet. He anticipates the next meet on July 25 to be a bigger success.

"It went really well, and I think the word will spread even more for the next one," Otten said.

Sign-ups for the next meet are already underway and will be open until 10 p.m. on July 23. There is no race day registration. The second meet is open to anyone ages 5 and up. For more information on the upcoming meet, visit https://www.celinaschools.org/DanOttenSports.aspx.