By Sam Brauen www.blufftonpirates.com

(TIFFIN) - Bluffton High will be represented at the OHSAA State Track Meet for the 45th consecutive year next weekend by the 4x800 relay team of Asher Antrim, Baylor Garmatter, Luke Young and Simon Derstine.  The squad finished sixth in the event however their time was good enough to earn an at large bid.  Because Jesse Owens Stadium has nine lanes instead of the standard eight, the top two times statewide are given an at large bid, in addition to the top four finishers from each region.  

Several Pirates competed Friday night in the Regional Finals and found some tough sledding.  The Tiffin Regional Meet is known to be one of the most competitive in the state and this year was no different.  

Baylor Garmatter finished sixth in the 800.  The sophomore had a solid qualifying time, sitting 5th of 16 competitors.  Baylor started well and maintained a second place position until with 100 yards to go he got tangled up with another runner and lost momentum and balance.  He kept his feet but was not able to finish in the top four.  Garmatter’s finishing time of 2:00.17 is outside the at large qualification times. 

Abbey Gambrell finished seventh in the 300 hurdles.  The senior concluded an excellent season and career with her regional appearance. 

Asher Antrim also finished seventh, but in the 1600.  The freshman hovered around the tenth position for the first three laps before turning it on in the fourth to close out in seventh. 

Sydney Hoff had a goal of a podium finish in the 3200 and she achieved it, finishing eighth.  The senior was in eleventh place after one lap and tenth after two before settling in eighth position and holding onto it for the remainder of the meet’s most distant run. 

Jackson Steinmetz took ninth in the 3200 running hard from the onset and moving from eleventh up to ninth over the last two laps. Steinmetz finished in 10:21 taking 17 seconds off his PR.

Kaleb Jefferson started the high jump at 5-4 and eventually cleared 6-0 but did not advance to  State.  The senior finishes his career with a State Meet appearance last season which included a career best high jump of 6-2. 

Arielle O’Neal fought a leg injury in the girls discus today and did not advance.  

Kayla Kindle finished outside the top eight in the 800 finishing her career with a Regional appearance.