Palte leads Grove to team title

Editor's note: Due to time constraints, a full write from Day 2 of the state track meet was not completed by press time. Full coverage from Friday, as well as Saturday and Sunday, will appear in Monday's edition. COLUMBUS – Columbus Grove's girls just dominated the Division V meet.Led by Kendal Palte, who won the 300 hurdles and was part of the winning 4x400 relay, the Bulldogs piled up podium placers and points, and ran away with the team crown.When it was over, Grove had collected 59 points, outdistancing second-place Minster, which had 44 ½."It means a lot to all of us. We worked so hard," said Palte. "It's a relief."Palte teamed with Jade Roeder, Devanie Pingle and Liv Mayberry to win the 4x400 in 4:03.55. The same four took second in the 4x200 in 1:43.05.In addition to that, Palte teamed with Brynn Halker, Allison Thompson, and Roeder to place second in the 4x100 in 49.6."It was a perfect weekend," said Columbus Grove girls track coach Abbie Norton. We just needed to show up and do our thing."Another area athlete who did her thing was Arlington's Alexis Grieser.The junior placed fourth in the 100 hurdles (12.84) and seventh in the 200 (25.94). She also teamed with Paige Clevenger, Callie Hartman and Olivia Pepple to take fourth in the 4x100 in 50.03.In the Division V girls discus, two area athletes placed. Easton Wymer, a Van Buren senior, threw 143-3 to finish third. Arcadia's Shia Watkins (139-1) was fifth."I got a new PR today, and a school record, so it was a great way to go out," Wymer said.Watkins, a sophomore, said she was also pleased with her finish."I felt great about the way I performed today," Watkins said. Division IV boys notesBluffton's Kain Wright had a phenomenal day, placing first in the 400 (47.87), second in the 100 (11.02) and was part of the second-place 4x100 relay. He joined Kohen Anderson Calvin Derstine, and Ethan Spunger to finish in 3:24.69."It's pretty exciting," Wright said. "I was just thankful I got the opportunity to win today."With the wind in their faces, Liberty-Benton's boys had three relays reach podium. The best finish came in the 4x100, when Jonas Frederick, Karson Griffin, Bradan Bell and CJ Barbara crossed the line second in 42.37.They did it with the win "I was definitely happy the way we finished," Griffin said. "We definitely could have run out faster, but the head wind does set you back, because it's pushing against you."Division's I, II and III will compete today.