Three Trojan entries make podium

COLUMBUS – Findlay's Natalie Gutman was just happy to be in Columbus for the Division I girls 800 Sunday.The senior – who reached state in the mile as a freshman but didn't place – said she had medical issues earlier this season.In fact, Sunday marked just her fourth open race of the season."I really had no expectations," Gutman said. "I was just proud that I was able to get here, and I just wanted to fight for my place on the podium."At the end of the 800, Gutman was where she wanted to be.The Trojan made an impressive late charge, and finished sixth in 2:13.25."That's just my whole plan for the race," Gutman said. "With 300 left, I make my move, try to cut people off or take them down, each hundred."Gutman was one of four entries for Findlay at the state meet this weekend. Three of the four made the podium.A few minutes before Gutman's race, the FHS boys 4x100 team of Carter Imke, Dominic Smith, Sonny Hines and Greyson Geiser competed in the finals, and placed sixth in 42.29."Actually, we definitely had a lot more in the tank," said Geiser, a sophomore who anchored the relay. "The handoffs weren't as smooth as we intended, but we're still all-Ohio. We can be happy with that."Imke agreed."We came in with high expectations, so we wanted to push ourselves to be the best," the junior said. "I think we can relax a little bit, but at the same time, we wanted to do better."Geiser and Smith were part of last year's 4x100, which reached state but finished 10th in the preliminaries and didn't reach finals.Smith said the Trojans did not want to miss out on finals again, and were anxious for Saturday's semifinal."It was crazy, I know all of our stomachs were definitely boiling," Smith said. "I know (Saturday) we were probably more nervous than we've ever been in our lives."It was really important that we got out here today," Smith said. "We did what we came to do."Sunday marked the final race for Smith and Hines, who are seniors. Hines just started running this season."I didn't really get to experience it the last three years," Hines said. "It just feels good. It feels good to be on the podium."For Smith, it was an emotional moment after the race."I've been doing track since the sixth grade, and it's just been such a roller coaster of emotions through injuries and ups and lows," he said. "It's been awesome, but I really am sad to leave this sport in the past."It's been such a great experience, and I'm so happy I ever decided to run." On Saturday, Findlay's Russell Stine, a junior, ran in the boys 3,200 and finished eighth.Stine ended in 9:27.87."I just love coming in an underdog, and being able to drive and push myself to keep going," Stine said. "It was definitely a lot of fun; running with all those guys was a lot of fun. Staying late with them is just a big deal."To do that, Stine said he listens during a race."When we all clump, I love listening to my competitors, and making sure that they're all steady," Stine said.The junior said he watches and listens for when the other runners appear to get tired."That's just when I know I can pass," Stine said. "It's so much easier to listen and watch for other people around me, because I know eventually they're going to break down, just like I am. But just being able to thrive late, it's a big thing."The Trojans had one other competitor in Columbus. That was junior Lexie Steffen, who took part in Saturday's girls pole vault.Steffen, making her second-consecutive state appearance in the event, cleared 10-6 and placed 13th. On Saturday, Findlay's 4x100 girls team, consisting of Josey Weihrauch, Olivia Gayhart, Katelynn Carpenter and Steffen, competed in the preliminaries. The quad placed 13th overall (48.95) and missed finals.