Jump-off decides title for Ashley Galbraith

By Pete Mollica

After making 5-7, the Struthers athlete had to beat another at 5-6.

COLUMBUS — Struthers High senior Ashley Galbraith was the Valley’s first state track and field champion Friday at the Jesse Owens Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. It just happens to be the place Galbraith will be spending the next four years as a Buckeye.

Galbraith had to outduel Bellefontaine’s Tomika Brown to win her first state title. Both jumpers cleared 5 feet, 7 inches and were tied in missed jumps.

“You can only go down one height to check on fewer misses and we were still both tied at 5-6,” Galbraith said.

So next up was a jump off, starting at 5-7, and each jumper got one try. They both missed that height and when the bar was lowered to 5-6, Galbraith cleared the height and Brown missed, giving the title to Galbraith.

“The heat was really bad, it made things very uncomfortable,” said Galbraith.

She finished third (5-6) in this event a year ago and was second her sophomore season. She felt those experiences helped her prepare for this year’s trip.

“I was thinking today that I better be getting used to this track since I’m going to be spending a lot of time here over the next four years” she added.

Galbraith has received a full scholarship from the Buckeyes to compete in track.

Galbaith qualified for state with a jump of 5-6 and has been over 5-7 several times and keeps flirting with the 5-8 mark.

“I really thought today was going to be the day I cleared it, but that’s OK because I still got the championship and that what this trip was all about.

Galbraith also qualified for today’s final in the 300 meter hurdles as she finished fourth in her heat in Friday afternoon’s trials with a time of 47.7 seconds.

mollica@vindy.com