Honsaker takes state long jump

By Pete Mollica

The Mineral Ridge senior leaped 18 feet, 1 inch to establish a school record.

COLUMBUS — It’s one down and three to go for Mineral Ridge High senior Nicole Honsaker.

Honsaker won her first state championship Friday afternoon in scorching heat as she won the Division III long jump with a personal best and school record distance of 18 feet, 1 inch at the OHSAA track and field championships at Jesse Owens Stadium.

“I finally got one,” said Honsaker. “It’s so exciting just to stand up there and receive your medal, I still can’t believe it.”

It was a very busy day for the senior as she also qualified for today’s finals in the 100 meter hurdles in 15.23 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 44.30. Both times were the best posted in the two events at the trials.

She also ran the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay which also qualified, finishing fourth in its heat with a time of 4:07.16. The other members of the relay were Haley Garris, Andrea Pannunzio and Kristen Basista.

Honsaker is looking forward to today’s finals in the running events.

“It was so hot out there today, but it is still great to be doing well,” she added. “I only hope good things continue for us tomorrow.”

This will make eight events over the past two years that Honsaker has qualified to reach the finals, but this was her first state title.

Last season she qualified in the 100, 200 and 400 dashes finishing third in the 100, sixth in the 200 and 8th in the 400, while she didn’t qualify for the finals in the long jump last year.

Honsaker said that she is still undecided about her future, including college.

“I’ve been accepted at Thiel College and I think I’d like to go there and compete in track, but then I’m not really certain about what I want to do just now,” she said.

“Right now I just want to enjoy this win and then start thinking about tomorrow,” she said.