Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Mineral Ridge senior Ava Hulett crosses the finish line during the 100-meter hurdle finals, earning third place, with a time of 14.76 seconds. She’d later earn third in the 300-meter hurdles as well, with a time of 44.68.

COLUMBUS — One of the more successful local squads at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium was Mineral Ridge, a team that mixed some prior state medalists with some fresh faces.

Four Rams found themselves on the podium throughout the weekend, while Mineral Ridge had representation in eight events at Ohio State during the Division III meet.

THREE TIME MEDALIST

Senior hurdler Ava Hulett is no stranger to state competition. She’s had the prestigious opportunity to compete in the state meet all four years of her high school career, but this year she finally achieved one of her biggest goals; finding the podium early Saturday with a bronze medal for the girls 100-meter hurdle with 14.76 seconds.

She’d later post a time of 44.68 for the 300 hurdles, an event she placed seventh in a year ago.

But the 100 hurdles was the event she qualified in all four years, and she was proud to finally break through in the event.

“It was my first year to go back to finals in the 100-meter hurdles after all four years, so it was really good just to get that back,” Hulett said. “I definitely take a lot of things to just recover really fast (in between events), I walk a little bit, but you just have to warm up right away and get mentally ready for the next race.

“Just being at Jesse Owens this year, just having the experience of how it was ran in the past years, it helped me to stay calm and prepare and motivate me more.”

As a senior, she reflected on her team’s strong effort this season.

“It’s really special, especially because there’s a lot of underclassmen and freshmen that have made it here,” she said. “Just knowing that I’ll be watching them from the stands the next three years, it’s going to be really fun.”

STATE VETERAN

Fellow senior Dominic Pappagallo wasn’t shy to what the state level brings either, having competed in the 3200-meter run last year in Dayton, earning 15th. This year’s iteration of the 3200 brought a much better result.

Running almost 27 seconds faster than his 3200 state race his junior year, Pappagallo clocked a time of 9:20.97 at Ohio State, earning fourth place, while also posting a new personal best for the Rams senior.

“Everyone gets out really hard because it’s the state meet, so you have to run very smart, especially with the heat, it really gets you at the last mile. I just had to hang on there with the middle mile and take the last 800,” Pappagallo said. “All season long, we basically ran in cold and rainy weather, so coming in today, all week leading up to today, we trained in the heat.”

Pappagallo’s meet began early on Friday, competing in the 4×800-meter relay with Josiah Toth, Thomas Holko and Mitchell Bitner, placing 12th, 8:12.60. It was the first time Mineral Ridge qualified for the 4×800 at state.

“Competing (on Friday) let me get a feel for the track, and what it feels like on my spikes,” he said. “We stayed here until three to watch and support our throwers, Johnny and Kate, so being in the heat helped too, just being in the atmosphere.”

Having placed in cross country before was nice, but having that medal at Jesse Owens made his final meet a memorable one.

“Going into this race, I just thought of every single workout that I’ve ever ran. All my meets from middle school, even before that from cheering on my brother, to this very moment where I’ve reflected all of my training on today, that was my motivation overall,” Pappagallo said. “This meet excites me, because everyone here has proved themselves. Everyone here has put in all the hard work, the sweat and tears for this moment, so it’s really special being able to compete with everyone at that level.”

Freshman Kylee Molnar also found the 3200 podium during the girls portion of the meet, clocking a time of 11:22.74 for an eighth-place finish.

FRESHMEN THROWER

Across the street, over at the throws area, freshmen Jonathan Culp III made a statement early on his track and field resume. With a mark of 55-11.50 feet, the freshmen earned sixth place in the boys shot put, competing in a field that had four finalists post new personal-best marks.

“It’s great, I just wanted to go on the podium. I didn’t expect how far I would go,” Culp said. “My parents (Jonathan Culp Jr. and Jennifer Culp) have always been track coaches, so I just kind of got into the business.

“I wanted to go to state forever. I just wanted to do better for them. Usually, it’s such a positive environment and it helps me get there.”

As with any track season, there’s ebb and flow. Around the midway point of this season, Culp saw his marks improving, gaining confidence in the process after marking a 57.

“I just started getting at that level, and I ended at that level. It’s everything. It makes me feel like I can actually do it.” Culp said.

ALSO COMPETING IN FINALS EVENTS

800: Josiah Toth, 13th place, 1:59.53. … Girls discus: Kate Cross, 10th, 119-7 feet.

PRELIMS

Girls 300 hurdles: Malayna Wilson, 47.68.