Photo by Brian Dulik

CVCA senior Christina Blair (left) dominated the girls 3,200-meter run en route to winning the OHSAA state Division II championship. It was Blair's third career state title, having won one in cross country and the 1,600 last year in track.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Medina senior Taylor Burke left no doubt about it Saturday at the OHSAA state Division I meet.

The University of Florida-bound standout is the greatest girls high jumper in Ohio history.

Burke captured her third straight state championship -- with an all-time Ohio record jump of 6-foot-1 1/4 -- on a scorchingly hot day at Jesse Owens Stadium.

And she pulled it off on her 18th birthday with her parents and older sister all standing trackside.

“To set my PR, finish first, and set the state record -- this is definitely my best birthday ever,” said a beaming Burke, who also became the first Medina County girl to win three state championships.

“My coach (Bees assistant Phil Brewer) and I have been talking about me going 6-foot since my sophomore year, so it’s nice to finally get that burden off my shoulders. Going 6-1 or higher, though, was something I never thought about until today.”

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North Canton Hoover junior Maddie Morrow finished second at 5-11, tying the stadium record set by Burke last June 5.

That also was Burke’s previous career high, but fell by the wayside along with the state meet all-division mark of 6-0 by Christina Estrict in 2000 -- and Estrict’s all-time Ohio record of 6-1 established 11 years ago.

“I felt that I hit the bar at 6-foot, but when it didn’t come down, I was like, ‘What?!’” she said, laughing. “Because of how that happened, I think I was more excited about making 6-foot than 6-1 1/4, but I’m obviously ecstatic about it, too.”

Burke started the gold rush by athletes from Medina and Summit County early in the day, but she was far from the only local champion.

Brunswick junior Brianna Neitzel (400-meter dash) and Medina senior Alex Wasik (pole vault) also won Division I state titles, while Woodridge senior Morgan Willis (1,600), CVCA senior Christina Blair (3,200), and Black River senior Becca Herte (pole vault) captured crowns in Division II.

Remarkably, Neitzel continued her tradition of not using starting blocks in the 400, but won an all-out sprint to the finish line in a career-low 54.70. Pickerington North's Zena Kolliesuah (54.77) was second.

"I think it's kind of intimidating, like 'Look at the girl standing up' to the other runners," Neitzel explained. "It seems to be working, so I don't think I'll ever use blocks."

Remarkably, given the Blue Devils' great success in the sprints over the last quarter-century, Neitzel's crown was the first by a girl in school history.

"I'm not going to lie, I thought I was finishing second today because this race kicks my butt so much," she said. "But when I saw (Zena) hitting the wall and I was still going strong toward the end, I went for it and was able to win it."

Wasik won a two-girl pole vault dual over Cloverleaf's Jennifer Foster in one of the more anticipated showdowns at the event. Both seniors cleared 12-2, but Villanova recruit Wasik had fewer overall misses.

"There is so much excitement this weekend with the state meet and graduating -- and having my family and friends with me the whole way -- that it's kind of overwhelming," Wasik said. "I was disappointed I didn't make 12-6 because I've done it in practice, but I guess finishing first is what's most important because I gave it everything I had today."

Willis (5:01.25) also won a terrific battle, taking the 1,600 over teammate, best friend, and future University of Akron roommate Moore (5:01.56). Longtime running foe Maria Arnone of St. Vincent-St. Mary was third (5:03.27), completing a great weekend for the Bulldogs' distance crew.

"Honestly, I didn't care if Maria (Moore) or I finished first, just as long as one of us did," Willis said. "For us to go 1-2 at state in our final race, it's the best feeling. It also was nice having Maria Arnone right there with us because we've raced together for so long. I want to congratulate her, as well."

Blair completed her amazing two-year run at CVCA by winning her third state title. She claimed the 3,200 in 11:04.55, easily beating Elizabeth Heinbach of Cincinnati Indian Hill (11:08.08) in a race that she dominated from the opening gun.

"God has blessed me greatly with this talent to run, so I'm really pleased to finish first in my final race," Blair said. "There is such a legacy of great runners at CVCA, I'm honored just to be a part of it."

On June 29, Blair will begin the next chapter of her life when she reports to the United States Naval Academy. She will take with her two OHSAA state track titles (also winning the 1,600 in 2010) and one Ohio cross country crown.

"When I made a summer visit there, everything just fit for me," said Blair, who plans on pursuing a career in diplomacy and international relations. "The Naval Academy will give me a great base for later on in life."

Herte's title was the first in Black River girls history and came in dramatic fashion. She cleared 11-9 on her final attempt to beat Bryan's Alyssa McBride (11-6), just moments before a 40-minute thunder delay affected the morning portion of the meet.

St. Vincent-St. Mary's 4x400 ended the Division II competition by taking second in 3:55.12. Rachel Hutson, Julia Mendiola, Chelsea Laury and Tessa Weigand scored silver for the Fighting Irish.

And in what might have been the most impressive endurance feat on a day when the temperature soared past 90 and the heat index neared triple-digits, Foster added a third in the high jump (5-8) to her second in the pole vault.

Competing in those back-to-back events meant the Cloverleaf senior spent six straight hours in the sun, somehow setting a career-best pole vault of 12-2 late during that period.

"My right hip and back were bothering me from all the attempts, but I was so pleased with the way things were going that I wasn't going to stop," Foster said. "I never imagined I'd finish third in the high jump, so to do that and be second to Alex in the pole vault, it's a great accomplishment."

On Friday, Woodridge's 4x800 of Moore, Miranda Stockton, Emelie Moeller and Willis finished second in Division II, as did Manchester's Christina Matheny (high jump). Rootstown's Ashleigh Pickens was second in the Division III high jump.

+++ DIVISION I STATE PLACERS +++

High jump: 1. Taylor Burke (Medina) 6-1 1/4 (Ohio all-time record); 3. Jennifer Foster (Cloverleaf) 5-8.

Pole vault: 1. Alex Wasik (Medina) 12-2; 2. Jennifer Foster (Cloverleaf) 12-2.

400: 1. Brianna Neitzel (Brunswick), 54.70.

1,600: 3. Anna Boyert (Medina), 4:55.86; 4. Caroline Sauers (Hudson), 4:57.81.

100: 4. Brianna Neitzel (Brunswick), 12.22.

Shot put: 4. Hannah Gospodinsky (Wadsworth), 44-0.

800: 5. Natalie Zidd (Highland), 2:14.43.

4x400: 6. Green (Amy McLaughlin, Emily Hooker, Erika Rector, Kristen Bergmeyer), 3:54.46.

4x800: 6. Medina (Taylor Wickey, Maria Scavuzzo, Alexis Smith, Anna Boyert) 9:17.72.

Long jump: 7. Amanda Pinheiro (Green), 17-10.

300 hurdles: 8. Taylor McDonald (Nordonia), 46.78.

Top 5 teams and SportsInk.com schools: 1. Reynoldsburg 47; 2. Cincinnati Withrow 39; 3. Middleburg Heights Midpark 33; 4. Medina 29; 4. Lebanon 29; 11. Brunswick 15; 15. Cloverleaf 14; 35. Wadsworth 5; 35. Green 5; 35. Hudson 5; 44. Highland 4; 66. Nordonia 1.

 +++ DIVISION II STATE PLACERS +++

1,600: 1. Morgan Willis (Woodridge), 5:01.25; 2. Maria Moore (Woodridge), 5:01.56; 4. Maria Arnone (St. Vincent-St. Mary), 5:03.27.

3,200: 1. Christina Blair (CVCA), 11:04.55; 8. Sammi Vaughan (Crestwood), 11:27.41.

Pole vault: 1. Becca Herte (Black River), 11-9.

4x400: 2. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Rachel Hutson, Julia Mendiola, Chelsea Laury, Tessa Weigand), 3:55.12.

800: 4. Karlie Lieberth (Crestwood), 2:14.84.

4x200: 5. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Chelsea Laury, Kyla Crater, Rachel Hutson, Nashay Willis), 1:44.60; 6. Tallmadge (Kaycee Harris, Marisa Rinaldi, Briana Burgan, Hallie Allen), 1:45.25.

4x100: 6. Walsh Jesuit (Emmy Jenkins, LaTonya Johnson, Malia Musso, Kennedy Payne), 49.97; 8. CVCA (Rachel Miller, Lisa Worthey, Alina Tiber, Chanel VanDyke), 50.07.

400: 7. Keishawnna Burts (North), 58.17.

4x800: 2. Woodridge (Maria Moore, Miranda Stockton, Emelie Moeller, Morgan Willis), 9:12.42; 3. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Tessa Weigand, Anna Mion, Marissa Rossetti, Maria Arnone), 9:13.63; 6. CVCA (Taylor Myers, Christina Blair, Alexandra Blair, Mallory Myers), 9:24.65.

High jump: 2t. Christina Matheny (Manchester), 5-5.

Discus: 4. Megan Tomei (St. Vincent-St. Mary), 127-1.

Top 5 teams and SportsInk.com schools: 1. Columbus Bishop Hartley 47; 2. Toledo Rogers 30; 3. St. Vincent-St. Mary 28; 4. Woodridge 26; 5. Columbus Eastmoor Academy 20; 13. CVCA 14; 23. Black River 10; 36. Manchester 7; 39. Crestwood 6; 56. Walsh Jesuit 3; 56. Tallmadge 3; 69. North 2.

+++ DIVISION III STATE PLACERS +++

High jump: 2. Ashleigh Pickens (Rootstown), 5-5.

Top 5 teams and SportsInk.com schools: 1. Steubenville Catholic Central 41; 2. Versailles 37; 3. Findlay Liberty-Benton 31; 4. Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas 30; 5. Waynesfield-Goshen 29; 8. Rootstown 8.