COLUMBUS — Zaiden Fry was flying high. But so was Marion Local’s Nate Buschur.

Fry, a two-time state champion, finished second Friday night in the pole vault finals during the OHSAA state track and field meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Fry and Buschur put on a vaulting exhibition, with the latter clearing 15-feet, 10 inches to the Mohawk standout’s 15-feet, 6 inch showing.

“Earlier this season I went through straining 3 muscles in my groin. It was kind of a big step back and today I felt really good clearing those bars,” Fry said showing poise during his post-podium interview.

Five other competitors stopped at 14-feet, 2 inches.

“I went through my bag and didn’t have a stiff enough pole. I couldn’t really adapt or do anything about it. It wasn’t giving me the pop-off that I need,” he said.

“Kind of disappointing, but I can walk away saying that I’ve won it twice. So, I’m not really too upset.”

After clearing 15-6 on his first attempt, Fry appeared headed for a three-peat.

“I was really pumped up. I tried to go up poles because that’s what I needed. All I had was in length, but it was too soft. By that point, it was too late, and we realized I probably should have gotten stiffer poles,” Fry said.

Fry won last year at 16 feet, his personal record.

“I guess it’s just how the ball dropped. It wasn’t my day. He (Buschur) had a good day. I’ll give it to him.”

Putting it into perspective, Fry realizes how much he accomplished this season and during his career in a Warrior uniform.

“With as many setbacks as I’ve had this season, I’m not too upset with second. I’m just more upset with myself than anything because my physical capabilities are way better than that,” Fry said.

“In practice I clear bars higher than that all the time. When it came to this meet, I just didn’t show up,” he said. “I think it’s a tough one to bite … To be able to walk away with a runner-up and a two-time champion I’m happy.”

Fry has committed to running track and furthering his education at the University of Houston.

“That’s what I’m most excited about, building on becoming a better vaulter and a person in general.”

Fry chose the Cougars because he felt a connection.

“They reached out and I just got a friendship with their coach and one of their athletes. It was just kind of like, going on my visit, it felt different than anywhere else I’d been. It just felt like home,” he said.

On a lighter note, Fry said he decided to wear corn rows in his hair for the state meet.

“I had my friend’s mom just throw this up into my head and I thought why not? I just liked it,” he said.

TYRRELL TIME: Bucyrus junior Emma Tyrrell qualified for the finals in the girls 400-meter run.

“It felt amazing coming in here. I was sitting last and from regionals I knew I had to pick it up. It’s awesome, a PR and a new school record, breaking the one I broke the first time so that was super nice.”

She earned a PR and broke her own school record clocking in at 59.60 to finish fifth in her heat and eighth overall.

“It was tough competition. It was definitely motivating because I knew that coming in it wasn’t my fastest time. The competition is hard, and I knew it being my only race, I had to leave it all out there,” she said.

BANK ON IT: Teammate Randy Banks cleared 6-feet in the high jump for a 16th place finish. Owen Ackerman of Tinora cleared 6-6 to win the event.

Banks tied for 13th last year.

VOGT IN FINALS: Trevor Vogt has a chance to get on the podium this weekend after a second-place finish in the 300-meter hurdle prelims on Friday.

Kellen Schlagbaum edged the Colonel Crawford junior, 39.05 to 39.50.

The boys 4×200 relay, comprised of Lane Kozinski, Ethan Holt, Vogt, and Ryan McMichael clocked a 1:33.05, good for 16th place.

ROSTON THIRD: Gabby Roston found her rhythm in the pole vault and placed third. She matched her PR of 11-4 and nearly cleared 11-8 on her second and third attempts.

“It feels really good because last year I didn’t even get on the podium. This year I had to do the 4X4 and we made the finals, so my mood was already better. I had a lot of time to rest and that helped,” he said.

Lehman Catholic’s Katie McFarland won with a vault of 12-8.

Roston admits she has work to do.

“My run needs some work, but I definitely made a lot of improvements,” she said. “I love pole vaulting.”

Roston said losing all-Ohioan Katie Ruffener meant finding new athletes to step up.

“We had people to replace in spots, and they all worked hard this year and I think we got what we deserved.”

SHIPMAN SAILS: Colonel Crawford’s Niyah Shipman took a 4th place in the girls high jump.

The junior cleared 5-foot, 3 inches. Macy Miller of Fairbanks won with a 5-5 jump.

“Practice, practice and practice,” Shipman said of her efforts. She placed second a year ago.

Shipman is part of the Lady Eagles strong junior class.

Shipman also jumped 14-2 then fouled her next two attempts in the long jump. She placed 18th.

Shelby Grover of Lucas won the event, going 18-feet, 5 and 3/4 inches.

CC RELAY ADVANCES: Lady Eagles 4X400 relay of Reagan and Rylee Ritzhaupt, Gabby Roston and Mira Holt finished second in their heat and fourth overall to advance to the finals.

Their time was 4:03.17.

12TH PLACE: Galion junior Linkon Tyrrell finished 12th in the 110-meter hurdles. His time was 15.04 and he knows he has something upon which to build next year.

“It was something I was looking forward to at the beginning of the year. I wasn’t sure obviously, but I’m proud I made it. I was expecting more,” Tyrrell said.

The meet was held under sunny skies, but the temperature reached 93 degrees by mid-day.

“It’s toasty out here,” he said.

Tyrrell ran indoor track and worked out with Ohio Speed Academy, which he credits with his improved times.

“My very first run of the season I was a second faster than I had last season, so I realized I had a chance if I was dialed in.”

OTHER PLACERS

· Girls 4X800: Lilly Schiefer, Cami Lantz, Jaidyn Kagy-Alexander, and Valerie Bordner ran 10th for Seneca East in the 9:51.24.

· Girls 4X800: Colonel Crawford’s quartet of Cecelia Chase, Rylinn Edgington, Izzy Roston, and Olivia Hardy finished 15th in 9:59.73.

· PLOTT PLACES: Carey’s Lexi Plott repeated as state runner-up in Division III high jump. She topped her jump from state last year, clearing 5 foot 5 inches on her second attempt.

Live updated results can be found at http://milesplit.live/meets/557757