COLUMBUS (Crawford County Now) — The Tigers came out roaring Saturday morning in the Division III state track and field meet. The Seneca East boys 4X800 meter relay capped off a stellar season with the crown jewel — a state championship— at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

The quartet of Evan Schiefer, Bradley Smith, Ayden Perkins and Owen Gahring hit the tape in 7:57.32.

“We were just going in and not trying to put too much pressure on us,” Schiefer, a senior, said. “We wanted to be as controlled and relaxed as possible.”

Perkins said team chemistry among the four has been great.

“Even when we didn’t have practice together, we’d hang out and go to each other’s houses. To win this with such close friends is amazing,” Smith said.

Head coach Ed Phillips praised his group’s work ethic.

“Last year they were runners-up, and they were happy about that. But as soon as it was finished, it became their mission to win it this year.”

Phillips said he saw the team’s focus “not only in meets, but in practice and in the way they do things.”

Perkins, a sophomore, ran the third leg.

“It was pretty hard. I knew I just had to keep my pace and know what I can do,” he said. “When Crestview passed me I had a chance. I knew I could beat him. So I kicked it in in the end to give Owen the lead.”

Gahring finished things off nicely.

“Honestly, I was scared most of it. Once I got to the end it was amazing. Just seeing my teammates with their arms up.”

“They ran so good. He (Perkins) finished amazingly. All props to him. Evan sets the tone. Brad ran great. Everyone ran great,” Gahring said.

Ironically, the new guy this season was Gahring. The other three were on a relay team with senior Leo Schreiner that finished second last spring in 8:01.72.

“It’s huge. The community, like our send-off yesterday … there was so many people. It was so cool seeing everyone celebrate with us,” Gahring said.

He is also running in the 800 meters on Saturday morning while Schiefer competes in the 3200 meters. The 4X100 and 4X400 relay teams also earned spots in the finals for Day Two.

The 4X800 relay also won the indoor state championship this winter.

“To come here today, that’s a lot of pressure for a group of kids to handle and to perform against some great, great teams out there. When you’re beating the likes of McDonald and Crestview it’s a fantastic day,” Phillips said.

McDonald finished second in 8:01.38.

Seneca East had 10 athletes represented in seven events, pointing to the strength of the program.

“Super proud of it. It’s a school record getting that many kids here. It’s a lot of fun,” Phillips said. “I’ve been doing it a long time and that’s why I keep doing it.”

The group thanked their coaches and the community, as well as alternate Andrew Fay, another senior.

  • Lucas Bordner competed in the high jump, finishing ninth with a 6-foot-4 clearance.
  • Brett Martin took 11th in the discus throw at 150-11.

“Lucas has knocked on the door for a couple of years. He kind of kicked that down last week. Brett has been really good for us all year. But he kind of exploded and had a 10-foot PR at regionals last week to get here,” Phillips said.

“That’s what makes it exciting when you can get kids to peak at exactly the right time.”

Good things are still on the horizon, he believes.

“We’re not going to be slow next year. The kids expect that of themselves. Some are going to move on, but they believe in each other and in the program,” he said.

“It’s exciting today and exciting for the future.”