Double vision: Stratton cruises to wins in 100, 200

COLUMBUS - There was a time when Bonnie Stratton could be beaten with some degree of consistency in a race.

But her rivals in Saturday's high school state track meet arrived much too late to squeeze through that window of opportunity.

Stratton, a junior, repeated as the Division III girls 200-meter champion and added the 100-meter dash title to her accomplishments. She also combined with Kendra Bassitt, Lindsay Bassitt and Kelsey Goldenetz to finish third in the 800 relay and seventh in the 400 relay.

Stratton and Bluffton boys standout John Guagenti were two of the most dominant performers in the Division III.

But Stratton says when she was really young, there was another runner who dominated her. That would be her cousin, Ashley Fields, who graduated from Bluffton High School last year.

"My cousin and I used to race each other all the time. We'd go down to the end of the road or something and race. She would always beat me. I don't think she could beat me now," Stratton said, with a smile.

"Oh my gosh, I can't even explain how excited I am right now," she said after winning the 200-meter dash for the second consecutive year. "To have two state titles, that's such a great accomplishment for any person.

"I knew when I came down here I had pressure on my back. Last year was a totally different story. I came in as an underdog, it was just a great experience to be here. This year I came in with pressure on my back to win again and get a second state title," Stratton said.

Hermiller repeats in boys 100, anchors relay to win

Delphos St. John's junior Cameron Hermiller won the Division III boys 100-meter dash for the second consecutive year.

He was timed in 11.01 seconds. And one of the first things on his mind after getting his second state win was finding another.

"It's just amazing. Twice individually, not many people do that. The only way it could be better is if we get the 4x100," Hermiller said.

He got that hoped-for victory in the 400 relay a little later Saturday when he and Tony Reindel, Collin Etzkorn and Jay Leininger combined for a winning time of 42.31 seconds. It was the second state relay win for Hermiller in his career.

Last year, Hermiller was not the clear pre-race favorite in the 100 meters. But that all changed this year. Having everyone know his name and having everyone expecting a repeat was not the biggest pressure he faced, though.

"I think my biggest pressure was just getting here and getting to the finals. Then just do your best," he said.

Bergman sweeps hurdles races in boys Division III

Bryce Bergman had a year to think about the win he almost got in the 300-meter hurdles at last year's state track meet.

Now, he will have a lifetime to remember the two wins he got this year in the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles.

The New Bremen senior won the boys Division III 300-meter hurdles in 38.49 seconds after taking the 110-hurdles in 14.78 seconds. Last year, Columbus Grove's Heath Nickles, who finished second in the 300-meter hurdles on Saturday, and Bergman were so close in the 300 hurdles that both were credited with a time of 39.02 seconds.

It wasn't until the officials watched a video replay that they declared Nichols the 2007 winner.

"This is the one I really wanted," Bergman said after winning the 300-meter hurdles. "Last year I thought I had it and I messed up at the end. This one meant a lot to me.

"Last year was tough. I thought I had it. It left a little bit of a bitter taste in my mouth and left a motivation for this year. I used that and kept that in the back of my mind."

Schroeder third in bid to repeat as 300 hurdles champion

Ottawa-Glandorf's Allison Schroeder stood on the top step of the podium as the girls Division II 300-meter hurdles state champion a year ago.

Saturday, she was third in that race, running a 44.50. Akron Buchtel's Tiffany Tucker is the 2008 champion after running a 43.97.

Schroeder ran with a taped ankle after a basketball season sprain. She refused to use that as an excuse, but it did come into play early.

"I came over one of the hurdles on the wrong leg on my bad ankle and it didn't feel the greatest. But I gave it everything I had. I was definitely tired at the end. I don't think I have any regrets about how I ran my race," Schroeder said.

"I told myself before I went in, ‘Give it everything you've got.' And as long as I gave it everything I had I knew I could be happy with myself and sleep tonight," she said.  

"At this level you have to be good, you have to be focused and it takes some luck. Last year, I got that bit of luck that I needed and came away with the state title. This year, I don't know if I was the lucky one. Or maybe I was to get third. But I know good athletes get lucky sometimes and I think that's what made the difference."

Schroeder's winning time last season was 43.32 seconds.