COLUMBUS — Zaiden Fry couldn’t contain his excitement.

After the Mohawk junior cleared 16 feet on his third try Friday evening, he let out a primal scream and ran into the arms of assistant coach Aaron Ekleberry to celebrate winning his second straight Division III pole vault championship inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

“It was really fun. I didn’t know how today was gonna go. Last night at the hotel I got like zero sleep and my legs just weren’t up to it,” Fry said. “But in the end, my form prevailed; double PR’d. Should have taken it at 16, 4 and a quarter attempt, but I’m happy with today.”

As he should be after going head-to-head with Fort Loramie’s Gavin Kemper. At 15 feet, 8 inches Fry grazed the bar, but it stayed in place, and he moved into a first-place tie with Kemper.

“That was crazy. Sixteen foot was always my goal for this year. I felt like 16 foot was just a massive landmark,” Fry said.

“All season I wanted to hit it, wanted to hit. I had a couple attempts at 15-8. Today everything just fell in line, and I was getting up the pole. Once he (Kemper) cleared 15-8, I’m like, ‘Oh shoot.’ But I realized I had to clear the next bar to win and told my coach, ‘This is for all the beans.'”

“He did it. He’s a competitor,” Ekleberry said. “I mean he loves this kind of stage with people here. He asks me on that last jump, ‘Do I have it?’ I said you gotta make it. Third jumps don’t bother him a bit.”

Fry is talented, but admits some good fortune helped in his quest to repeat.

“A little bit of luck with bumping the bar. But luck played into effect, and I got it.”

He said he “was insanely happy with that jump. On the jumps prior I was stuttering a little bit going into it, so I lost speed and I wasn’t allowed to get in. My coach just said trust in it, so I trusted in my steps. It was just an awesome jump, went right in line and shot up the pole.”

The competition began at 12 feet, 6 inches with 18 competitors. Seneca East’s Kyle Hoepf finished in a four-way tie for 13th place.

“It’s awesome; two-timing. I never thought I’d be able to say that at the beginning of my career, let alone having a chance to possibly come back next year and do it again.”

This was Fry’s first appearance at the OSU facility as last year’s meets were held at three different high school venues due to COVID concerns.

“Last year, I was so nervous. It was at a high school, and it was still a great meet. But it was like 150, 200 people maybe. Looking up in the stands (today) and seeing everyone cheering you on, watching, it’s crazy. Thousands of people here at the meet and they could be watching you.”

Fry admitted there was pressure in that setting.

“I’m just so happy to be able to get my name out. Hopefully, next year, I’m not gonna say anything like I have it in the bag, but I’m just going to go out and do my best. I need to have fun and when I have fun I do way better.”

Regarding the emotion displayed after the winning vault, Fry said the 16-foot attempt “was the icing on the cake. It just made me so happy. I was overwhelmed, I cleared it and landed back on the mat. Everybody was yelling. I was just overcome with joy.”

Ekleberry said Fry “is as cool as a cucumber under pressure. He just performs and does a great job.”

Fry vaulted six inches above his personal record.

“It was a great day. In practice we’ve gone higher. Today, nice weather, a six-inch PR, win state. Best thing ever. Same guy last year he beat,” Ekleberry noted.

Being in the state meet a second time was beneficial, according to his coach.

“That experience helps calm your nerves. You know you do it once, you can do it again. It’s just everybody comes at ya. We talked this week about the big crowd, and it excites him. He likes to perform.”

Ekleberry confessed he was as emotional as Fry with the outcome.

“I’ve been around this sport for a long time. He’s a hard worker. It’s just great to see him succeed.”

SHIPMAN SECOND:Colonel Crawford’s Niyah Shipman took second in the girls’ high jump. She cleared 5 feet, 5inches.Mallory Mullen of Springfield Catholic Central won with a 5-foot, 7-inch jump.Her teammate Liv Krassow placed 13th.

FEIK TWINS PLACE:

Sisters Corin and Julia have been together since birth. They both reached the podium in the discus throw and shot put, respectively, as Colonel Crawford seniors.

Corin took fifth with a toss of 126 feet, 9 inches. Aleah Johnson of Botkins won with a 137-5 effort.

“I was so excited once we pulled in here. I’m like this is going to be a fantastic day. I’m gonna hit my PR. It felt good off the bat,” she said hitting her best toss in her first attempt.

“It was almost my most perfect throw. It was probably my most technically sound that I’ve thrown all season. It was the school record breaker, and I was about to cry.”

She threw the saucer 122 feet at regionals.

“My goal was maybe top four, but fifth place is fine with me.”

Sharing the time with her sister was special.

“It was so much fun. I couldn’t have imagined a better person to be with than my twin, just having fun outside doing the things we love.”

The Feiks have a shot put and discus pad at their house.

“We just threw at home this week, not very much. Then we’d come to school and lift a little bit with (throwing coach) Adam (Stuckert).”

The large crowd didn’t bother the girls.

“I just tried to zone it out. I think I just stared at the mesh fence for I don’t even know how long.”

Julia placed sixth in the shot, with a throw of 39 feet, 1/2 inch. Molly Winner of Marion Local took top honors with a heave of 43 feet.

RUFFENER ADVANCES:

Teammate Katie Ruffener continued her winning ways.

She broke the state record in the 100-meter hurdles with a 13.87 time in her prelim race. She beat Lucas’ Shelby Grover and Margaretta’s Kenna Stimmel.

She clocked 45.01 in the 300-meter hurdles, putting her third overall into Saturday’s finals behind Grover (44.51) and Marion Local’s Sam Hoelscher (44.70).

Ruffener also finished fifth in the long jump going 17 feet, 8 and 1/4 inches and sixth in the 100 meters in 12.36.

BANKS MAKES HISTORY:

Randy Banks, Bucyrus junior, finished tied for 13th in the boys’ high jump, clearing 6 feet.

The last time the school had a high jumper compete at state was Brittany Ruhe in 2005.

“He jumped consistent, so he should not be disappointed with anything he’s done this season or today,” said Redmen head coach Kevin Boggs.

“He kept his composure. He knew what it would take to be here. We know there’s a lot of 6-4 guys coming down. He’s had a great season getting down here and he’s still got another year. Something to grow on and motivate him.”

Banks said he enjoyed the experience.

“Seeing all the good jumpers. I love jumping with Anthony (Bell of Carey). I’m sad it’s his last year It’s a bittersweet thing. Same with Carter (Valentine of Colonel Crawford). I have jumped with them throughout the season.”

Bell placed second with a jump of 6 feet, 6 inches.

Boggs said the future is bright for his program.

“We’ve got a good group of middle schoolers coming up and a lot of good kids coming back.”

TIGERS ROAR:

Seneca East qualified for the finals Saturday in the boys 4X100 meter relay.

The team of Jesse Beckman, Korbin Beamer, Taylor Young and Dylan Young clocked a time of 44.01 seconds, good enough for fifth in the prelims.

Springfield Catholic Central’s A squad registered the best time of 43.23.

VALENTINE LEAPS:

Crawford’s Carter Valentine took fourth in the boys’ long jump, going 21 feet, 7.75 inches. The top spot went to Collin Haj Abed of Grandview Heights with 22 feet, 2 and 3/4 inches.

RELAY JUST MISSES:

The Lady Eagles 4X400 meter relay finished fifth in their heat with a 4:07.37 and missed out on advancing to the finals by .26 seconds.

The quartet of Mira Holt, Rylee Ritzhaupt, Reagan Ritzhaupt and Gabby Roston had a stellar season.

“It was a really fun experience. It’s really overwhelming. I’ve never seen this many people at a track meet,” Reagan said.

Holt added they “knew coming in the group would have to PR to make it out. We gave it our all. I’m wanting to stand on the podium next year.”

The group is comprised entirely of underclassmen.

Rylee said it was “a roller coaster of emotions, going from being nervous and excited. But it’s been fun. This is definitely another level. I’m already thinking of next year. It’s going to be a new journey and very motivating.”

The meet continues Saturday morning in Divisions I, II and III.