Morning Journal/Ron Firth
United’s Mason Laibe points upwards before the Eagles’ Div. III 400-meter relay prelim on Thursday at the state track meet in Dayton.
DAYTON –The United boys are a cut above the rest at the state track meet.
The Golden Eagles, running without their golden locks, posted the top time in the Division III state semifinals of the 400-meter relay Thursday at Welcome Stadium
Juniors Danny Milburn and Kollyn Wells and sophomores Cayden Pitts and Mason Laibe had the top time of 43.44 seconds. Black River is next at 43.57.
The Eagles will be going for the school’s seventh state track title at 7:10 p.m. today.
“Normally we’re not the target, we’re chasing,” Wells said.
“I think we’re going to win,” Milburn said. “That’s the goal for everyone.”
The Eagles are sporting a new look after the foursome cut their hair off last weekend following their regional victory.
“We made a bet at the beginning of the season, if we made it to state, we would get buzzed,” Wells said.
“We made it to state, oh crap, we have to cut our hair,” Milburn said. “I figured if Kollyn did it, I would do it. He loves his hair.”
The new haircuts drew a lot of good-natured laughter.
“I didn’t think they would do it,” United freshman hurdler Brinsley Hiscox said. “I was expecting worse.”
“Did you see my hairline?” Milburn said. “You should have saw their faces when my dad made the first cut.”
“I don’t like the look, but I love the message,” Wells said.
The Eagles are looking good after Thursday.
“That was awesome,” Milburn said. “I’ve got a great team around me.”
“Not our best time,” Wells said. “We were still running hard, but our heat was not that fast.”
It has been a season of steady improvement for the Eagles.
“We started off 45.08 at the beginning of the year,” Wells said. “It wasn’t good. We kept climbing and climbing. We put in the work. We practice handoffs every day.”
There was a point when the United relay team knew it could have a shot at state.
“At the Tusky Valley meet, we ran under 45, which was a big deal at the time,” Milburn said.
It could be a bigger deal tonight.
“We push each other a lot,” Milburn said.
State notes
¯ Milburn was fifth in his heat and 13th overall in the 200 dash (22.66).
“The 200 is not my specialty,” he said. “I got a really bad start.”
Oberlin senior Evan Hudson posted the top time (21.86).
¯ United junior Trent Ellyson was 17th in the Division III boys discus.
He fouled twice before throwing 126-7.
Ashland Crestview senior Wade Bolin won at 187-10. Malvern freshman and school-record holder Parker Bowe was fourth with a toss of 170-7.
Fans got their money’s worth, having to take a shuttle to get to the discus area down the road. Some of the throwers probably could have hit Route 75 with a wayward toss.
¯ Columbiana’s 1600 relay team of seniors Parker Bush and Ian Less and juniors Liam Surgenavic and Aidan Radcliff sixth in its heat 17th overall (3:33.66).
Marion Local posted the top time (3:23.16) and Lowellville was second fastest (3:23.75). Springfield was second behing Lowellville in its heat and fourth overall (3:27.66).
¯ The Eagles spent Thursday morning playing putt-putt golf.
“Kellyn won,” Milburn said. “He beat me by two strokes.”
