Colonel Crawford's Mira Holt and Team Clinch All-Ohio Title in Season Finale

COLUMBUS - Adam Scott has been in disbelief lately.

At regionals last weekend he couldn't believe he needed to run a 1:55 to qualify for the Division III state meet. And on Saturday, he couldn't believe how fast the field that was led by champion Beau Hesler of North Adams (1:51.78) ended up being.

"I took out the first lap a little too fast and I was trying to hang on, ended up in fourth," Scott said, he ran a 1:56.02. "And then I tripped at the end. ... I didn't expect that crazy competition with me going in (seeded) third, but I'll take fourth."

He was part of a big pack after the first lap and when it came to rounding the bend for the final 100 meters, Scott had McDonald's Carson Klase and Ridgedale's Michael Richmond nipping at his heels. Klase was two-hundredths of a second behind Scott in fifth, Richmond 0.56 behind him.

"I wasn't really thinking about them, I was just looking forward and heard the crowd," Scott said. "I couldn't hear anything else, I was just looking at the finish line."

And an hour later he led off the 4x400 relay alongside classmate Brady Hill, junior Jacob Cochran, and sophomore John DeGray. For some added difficulty to an already lightning fast race, Hill was nowhere near 100% for his leg.

"Last night I got like four and a half hours of sleep — not good," he said. "I was sick all night, it was terrible. This morning I was still pretty rough ... but it's my last race ever, so I gotta push through and do it for my guys to get All-Ohio again.

"I just want to thank God for everything he's done for me in my life, he has been such a big part of my faith and I give all glory to him — I wouldn't be here without him."

It wasn't the Eagles' best race by any means, but it was good enough to see them earn a spot on the podium and that's all their goal was.

"All-Ohio, top eight guys in the state, it's really awesome to be here again," Hill said as his career wrapped up. And he had some parting words for the two returnees and state alternates who will hopefully lead the relay back to Columbus.

"Just keep working, keep grinding, keep putting your faith in each other and in God."

STATE TRACK DAY 1: Trio of area long jumpers earn All-Ohio honors

Hardworking Holt ends on a high note

The 100-meter dash didn't go quite as planned for Colonel Crawford senior Mira Holt .

"It wasn't a bad time, but I obviously wanted to podium in it," she said after finishing ninth.

That was just added motivation ahead of the 400 an hour later. Turns out, it's exactly what she needed as Holt turned the final corner and closed out in an all-out sprint for a personal best, and school record-breaking time of 57.47 and a sixth place finish.

"I was more nervous than I think any race," Holt said. " Knowing this was the last race of my career , I just wanted to give it everything.

"I got out how I usually do, but in the last 100 there was that feeling of — it's my last time, I want to be up on the podium — and I was chasing our school record, which I ended up getting. That was a big motivator for me."

She also knew her competition enough to get a sense of pacing mid-race.

"I knew (Riverdale's Marissa Bonham) inside of me ran a high 57, so I knew I'd get it if I caught her," Holt said. "She was a little ways ahead, but I really pushed to get to get and ended up getting there right at the end."

Holt caps off her career as one of the most decorated athletes in Colonel Crawford history having earned All-Ohio eight times in two different sports. She won a state title as a freshman in track, and as a senior she helped guide the Eagles to their first league title in basketball since 2013 and the program's best record since 2000 .

"Sports has been my whole life," Holt said. "Being able to get coached by these people ... being down here having so many people supporting me, it just helps so much in competitions."

Bucyrus' Boggs lays the foundation for a return

Disappointed, but not devastated.

Bucyrus junior Karter Boggs wasn't exactly thrilled with a 4:31.28 in the 1,600-meter run which saw him place 13th. But he also understood what it would take to get to the podium — 4:19.96 was the final spot.

"I knew it was going to be tough," Boggs said. "I put myself in the spot I wanted to be in on the first two laps — top eight — then my legs just didn't respond when I needed them to.

"Some of that could be just getting used to the summer training because I'm still training as if it's spring. And I always struggle with the heat when it comes to getting back into it."

But like so many state track qualifiers before him, Boggs got to use Saturday's race as a learning experience.

"I just wanted to get here this year," he said. "I didn't really — I mean, I wanted to place top eight — but I knew it was gonna be a long shot this year. Next year is very doable considering we'll be Division V and there will only be like four people I know of that'll contend for it, myself included.

"But I still have a summer elite meet and potentially nationals, so the goal is to get back to it and hopefully get under 4:20 this summer."

zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Colonel Crawford's Mira Holt and boys 4x4 end the season as All-Ohioans