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DIVISION III Regional TRACK
Cedarville senior wins regional discus title
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
DAYTON — Cedarville senior Katie Gerhardt had enough to win her third consecutive regional title, but she couldn't beat her past performance — a sign of just how strong she's been during her prep career.
Gerhardt won the girls discus with a toss of 149 feet, 2 inches in the rain at the Division III regional track and field meet at Dayton Welcome Stadium on Tuesday, May 27. The throw was just 11 inches off her regional record toss of 150-1, which she set as a sophomore in 2006.
Cedarville's Katie Gerhardt throws her way into first place in the discus Tuesday, May 27, during the Division III regional meet. Her toss of 149 feet, 2 inches was good enough to win her a third straight title. Staff photo by Bill Lackey"I was disappointed," Gerhardt said, "but it was a little slick today."
The top four in each event qualified for the Division III state meet, which will be held June 6-7 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
West Liberty-Salem junior Nate Bratka won his second regional title, winning the discus (159-11).
Mechanicsburg's Carl Conley finished eighth in the discus (135-10).
Catholic Central senior Leslie Purnell was 10th in the girls discus (95-7).
The better the field, the better Gerhardt gets.
"I knew I had some good competition," Gerhardt said. "I got really excited and had a good throw."
Gerhardt, who will attend Barton County Community College in Kansas next season, is still looking for a state title after finishing third last season and 10th in 2006. She said it will come down to "exploding through the circle."
"I'm ready to get my big throw," Gerhardt said. "I've had them in practice. I just have to get one of them in a meet."
For Bratka, who donned "retro" white socks with thick stripes of black and orange, the harder it rained, the better he did.
"I have no idea why I throw 118 when it's dry and 159 when in the rain," Bratka said.
The junior has improved each season at the regional meet. Last year, he won with a toss of 155 feet.
"It's good to beat yourself each year," Bratka said.
Like Gerhardt, he's still waiting for a monster throw.
"It's better to save it for next week," Bratka said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.
