“The official said I flinched,” said Tyree, who was disqualified for a false start. “I didn’t feel like I did, but it didn’t matter what I felt like.”
»» RELATED: Wildcats junior heeds call to jump
That was the only downer in an otherwise spectacular performance by the Wildcats boys. Otherwise super-charged by Tyree, who advanced with a personal best in the 110 high hurdles, Springfield also qualified two relays to state that Tyree ran on.
That means the bearded flash will run in three events at the season-ending D-I state meet at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Friday and Saturday. The top four regional placers in each event qualified.
“I didn’t make it in my main event, but it is what it is,” Tyree said. “It’s all for the team.”
»» RELATED: Cougars fall in district championship
Wayne and Centerville tied for the boys team title, each with 57 points and Springfield was 10th (22).
The West Liberty-Salem girls (96 points) won three of four relays and had two more individual wins to win the D-III team title at Troy also on Friday. The D-II regional at Piqua was Saturday.
Tyree started his regional adventure by placing third in the highs in a personal-best 14.50. He joined freshman Logan Richardson, sophomore Dovon Williams and sophomore Elijah Johnson in adding another third in the 800 relay with another season best (1:28.73).
»» RELATED: Indians, Tigers in regional finals
Then, the unthinkable 300 hurdles DQ. “I was really hurt by that, but I used my anger in the (1,600 relay),” said Tyree.
Springfield coach Mike Davis said Tyree’s second-leg 400 in the final race was “47-something” following another lead-off by Richardson. That jettisoned senior Dane Klosterman among the leaders on his third leg and sophomore anchor Cameron Elliott sped to another season-best third (3:20.85).
Davis said that was the fastest Springfield 1,600 relay “in a long, long time.”
“This means a lot, especially to have two relays that weren’t even relevant last year or the year before,” Tyree said. “It’s great and I’m looking forward to (state).”
»» PHOTOS: D-I regional track at Wayne, Day 1
Springfield senior Tiffany Moss was eighth in the 100 hurdles and junior Raymans Cole ninth in the high jump.
• The WL-Salem girls swept the 3,200 (9:22.22), 1,600 (4:00.63) and 800 (1:44.66) relays at Troy and were second in the 400 relay. Other Tigers’ firsts were by freshman Megan Adams in the 1,600 (4:59.08) and freshman Emily Hollar in the 400 (57.69).
Also first in the two-day meet were Catholic Central junior Addie Engel in the 3,200 (11:04.22), freshman teammate Mallory Mullen in the high jump (5 feet, 4 inches) and Southeastern senior Charlie Bertemes in the discus (156-0). Engel also was second in the 1,600.
»» FACEBOOK: For more sports you should like Marc Pendleton
Other runner-up girls were Northeastern freshman Gianna Cameron (100), WL-Salem sophomore Katelyn Stapleton (800), junior Lydia Moell (pole vault) and freshman Megan Adams (3,200). Placing third among girls were Hollar (200) and Grace Adams of WL-Salem (3,200). Fourths were by Cameron (200).
Area boys D-III state qualifiers and placing second were Mechanicsburg sophomore Chayse Propst (100), Cedarville senior Trey Gruet (300 hurdles), Cedarville sophomore Ethan Wallis (3,200) and the Cedarville 3,200 relay. Third-place boys placers were Triad junior Eli Obrien (200) and Northeastern senior Max Queen (long jump). Fourth-place state qualifiers were Queen (200) and Mechanicsburg senior Joey Mascadri (pole vault).
»» TWITTER: You should like @MarcPendleton
About the Author