Riverdale's Bonham, Woodruff each place in running events

DAYTON – Riverdale's Allison Woodruff celebrated her 17th birthday in style Friday at the Division III girls state track meet at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.Woodruff – who was part of four state-qualifying events – placed seventh in the 1,600 run. She did it in a personal record time of 5:03.16.And she did it in sunglasses, even though the race was run in the evening and with the sun not really a factor."I run with them until it's dark out," she said. "When the (stadium) lights turn on, I'll take off my glasses."I just don't like squinting."Whatever the reason, it's working for Woodruff, who later ran in the 3,200, placing 12th in 11:30.84. On Thursday, she anchored Riverdale's 4x800 relay squad, which just missed the podium, finishing ninth. She also was part of the 4x400 relay, which did not make finals.But her best performance was the 1,600."Coming into the state meet, I really wanted to place in at least one of my events," Woodruff said. "It feels really good to get seventh (in the 1,600) when I was ranked much lower than that."Woodruff wasn't the only Riverdale runner to have a big weekend. Marissa Bonham had the best individual area finish in Friday's events, placing sixth in the 400 in 59.04."You've just got to learn to go out strong and then finish strong, too," Bonham said. "And stay with the front of the pack, or try to."Bonham, a freshman, was also part of the Falcons' 4x800 and 4x400 teams.It was a big season for Riverdale's girls, who won their first BVC title three weeks ago, and then had a strong showing in the postseason."We all worked hard throughout the whole year and we all learned to work together," Bonham said.Other area athletes reached the podium Friday.Columbus Grove's girls 4x200 team placed fifth. That team, which included Allison Thompson, Kendal Palte, Lauryn Auchmuty and Jade Roeder, ran in 1:44.23. The same four runners finished sixth in the 4x100, in 50.22.In the 800, Bluffton's Nora Matthews, a freshman, ran 12th in 2:20.79.