Grove's Auchmuty places twice, Van Buren's Snyder fifth in shot put

COLUMBUS – Columbus Grove's Lauryn Auchmuty made the podium twice in field events, and was part of two relays that advanced to today's finals at the Division III state track meet in Columbus Friday."So far, it's going really well," Auchmuty said.Auchmuty registered a 17-0 ½ in her first long jump attempt, and that was good enough to place fifth."Long jump was just crazy today, seeded 13th or 14th and got fifth," she said. "Did one jump and went from there."Another area athlete, Riverdale's Marissa Bonham, registered a 16-3 ½ and placed 14th in the long jump.Later, Auchmuty cleared 11-4 in the pole vault and finished seventh."Pole vault's (finish) not exactly what I had in mind," Auchmuty said, "but just being able to have the privilege to be down here, pole vault at state, not very many people have the opportunity to do that, so being able to do that was really nice."The field event finishes came after a morning where Auchmuty was part of the Bulldogs 4x100 team that ran in 49.41.Not only was that a school record, but it was the fastest time in either preliminary heat.The 4x1 team also included Allison Thompson, Kendal Palte and Aubrey Schroeder.In the 4x2, Thompson, Auchmuty and Schroeder teamed with Devanie Pingle to finish with the second fastest prelim time, 1:43.6Like Auchmuty, Van Buren's Courtney Snyder found her way to the podium in Division III Friday.Snyder did it in the shot put, where she threw 40-2 ¾ to place fifth.The distance was a personal record for Snyder, a senior."I was really hoping, I've been trying to hit 40 (feet) for the last few years now," Snyder said. "I've been so close; I've definitely hit it at practice, and to finally hit it and have it at a meet, especially here, to get on podium is so amazing."In the Division III discus, Arcadia freshman Shia Watkins threw 113-6,the 16th-best throw.Three area teams took part in the Division III girls 4x800, but none of them made podium.Patrick Henry's team of Mia Amador, Ada Christman,Lani Rosebrook and Karlie Gubernath finished ninth in 9:43.36. Riverdale's team of Allison Woodruff, Summer Boutwell, Paige Vent and Marissa Bonham came in right behind the Patriots, in 10th (9:44.39).Columbus Grove's squad of Pingle, Jade Roeder, Sarah Kamphaus and Lily Montgomery took 14th in 9:53.16.In the Division II 4x800, Ottawa-Glandorf's team of Liana Fortman,Rose Turnwald, Brea Recker and Anna Buddelmeyer placed 10th in 9:44.72In the Division II girls discus, Fostoria's Adori Bishop threw 118-9, taking 12th. Many other area athletes qualified for the finals in the running events, which will take place today, along with the long jump, shot put and pole vault in Division II.Those events begin at 9:30 a.m.