By Ben Stroup
Big Walnut senior Ellie Jindra punched her ticket to the upcoming OHSAA state showcase in style, winning a regional title in the high jump with a school-record leap of 5-07.25 on the first day of the Division I regional championships Wednesday in Pickerington.
Jindra, who finished second in last week’s district competition to teammate Kaley Rammelsberg, captured the regional crown with relative ease. She was the only jumper to clear 5-05, and did it on her first try. She then cleared 5-07.25 on her second attempt at the height to punctuate the performance.
“Ellie started high jumping only two months ago and it’s been amazing how fast she has improved,” BW jumps coach Mike Ryder said. “She is now positioned as one of the top high jumpers in the state and, with a week of practices left, she’s going to be one of the girls to beat.”
New Philadelphia’s Aaliyah Currence finished second with a height of 5-04. Rammelsberg, who won the district title with an effort of 5-06, barely missed state qualification, finishing fifth after falling to Athens’ Alexis Zatta in a jump off at 5-02.
In boys’ action, four more area standouts locked up tickets to states — three in the pole vault.
Liberty’s Ryan Jones won a regional title in the event, clearing 15-0 to take top honors. Fellow Patriot Canaan Cook finished third with a mark of 14-0 while Olentangy’s Kyle Brookshire finished fourth with an effort of 13-08.
Big Walnut’s Abe Myers was the other local athlete to keep his season alive with a strong regional showing. The sophomore finished second in the discus with a toss of 165-0. Reynoldsburg’s Mark Gooden won the event with a mark of 181-0.
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