DAYTON — The McClain Tigers had two girls’ relays and a discus thrower qualify to the 2024 OHSAA Track and Field Championships held this year at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium.

First up for the Tigers, it was the 4 x 100-meter relay Friday morning.

McClain had to go with two alternates, which put them at something of a disadvantage after running with a set lineup of four during the season. Still, McClain did its best, placing 18th in a time of 51.70.

The top eight qualifying times ranged from 48.83 by Port Clinton to 49.26 by Bellefontaine.

From the New Concord Regional, Steubenville qualified to Saturday’s finals with a time of 49.57.

Also from the New Concord Regional, Circleville was 14th in 50.17, South Point was 15th with a time of 50.20.

The Record-Herald in Washington C.H. spoke with the McClain quartet after the race.

Asked what it was like to be at the state meet, recent graduate Luca Matesic said, “It’s awesome. Running with half a new team was a little tricky. I’m glad that they stepped in.”

Sophomores Mylie Lovett and Becca Bergstrom ran in place of juniors Brenna Wright and Katie Cook.

Wright and Cook, both members of the McClain FFA, were on a trip to Ireland. Wright was also a state qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles.

“This is one of their first times running 4 x 1 all year,” Matesic said. “It was nice of them to step in. It means a lot to us seniors.

“I was expecting it,” Lovett said of having to run in the 4 x 1. “It’s fine. It was a fun experience. Obviously, we didn’t probably do our best. It’s going to happen. We had two new people.”

“It was kind of crazy because everyone was so fast,” Bergstrom said.

“It was great,” Jett said. “I just had to wait and focus on when (Lovett) she got to the tennis ball (used as a marker to let the next runner know when to take off). Everybody else was getting out before me. It makes me want to go, but I just had to wait and calm myself. There was a lot of great competition.”

It was Matesic’s third time at state, while it was the first appearance for Lovett, Bergstrom and Jett.

McClain placed 16th out of 18 teams in the 4 x 400-meter relay with a time of 4:09.81. The top eight times ranged from Gilmour Academy’s 3:57.35 to Ottawa-Glandorf’s 4:00.29.

“We had some girls step up and I was really proud of their effort,” McClain coach Drew Hamilton said. “Our 4 x 4 was pretty close to where it was. The 4 x 1 was to be expected. But, our hand-offs were clean. That’s what we worked on this week. We probably could’ve used a few more reps.”

Hamilton spoke about the runners who stepped in for Wright and Cook.

“They did a fantastic job of coming in there,” Hamilton said. “They stepped up for their team when the team really needed them. I was really happy with the effort they gave and their performance today. (The 4 x 4 relay) ran a good time (considering) they had not (run) together (before). That was Luca’s first (4 x 4) of the year. I’m really glad for the effort she puts into the program, her and Kaitlyn Jett, our seniors.

“We are going to miss this senior class. Their freshman year they won the FAC (Frontier Athletic Conference); their junior year they won the district and their senior year they were FAC champs and district runners-up.”

The young women rewrote many McClain track and field records during their career.

“Their names are on our record board a combined 12 times. So, they’ve really left their mark on this program. They are really going to be missed,” Hamilton said of the seniors. “The leadership and the effort they’ve put in. We’ve never had to question their commitment to the program.”

The Record-Herald spoke with the participants in the 4 x 400-meter relay after their race.

“I had to get out fast,” Jett said. “I had to keep up with them. They’re all really fast. I just had to push myself.”

“I was really nervous and I just tried my best to stay with those girls and keep Becca not in a horrible position,” Larah Henson said. “It was really hard competition and tough to keep up.”

Luca Matesic said how proud she was of her teammates.

“I’m very proud of them,” Matesic said. “Last week at regional they actually beat our school record that was from 1980, so, they beat a 40-year-old record. This being my first 400 of the season, I knew I was running with good people. I just wanted to keep up and keep our place. I tried to stay with the girls on my lap.”

“I’m really proud of us for making it up here,” Becca Bergstrom said. “At the beginning of the season we didn’t think we’d get this far and we did. We proved ourselves wrong and that was really cool.”

Lily Barnes competed at state for the third time in four years in the discus throw Friday afternoon.

She placed 13th with a throw of 115’ 1”.

The winner was Morgan Hallett of Norton with a USA top 50 throw of 152’ 2”. The eighth-place on the podium went to Michaela Stork of Port Clinton with a toss of 126’ 3”.

“Today Lily came up here and competed,” McClain throwing coach Ethan Hurtt said. “She threw a 115. This is the best she’s ever done at the state meet. On her last throw, she had a really good one (in excess of 120 feet). Her foot just hit (the ring) on her finish (causing that throw not to count). That’s all we can ask of our athletes, to compete and give it their best every time. We’re proud of her.”

“I’m honestly pretty happy about it,” Barnes said. “Every time I come up here to state, I feel the nerves, I feel the pressure. I did a good job of settling (down). I got a good throw out there, you know, but I fouled it. I’m happy with it because this is the best I’ve done.

“Obviously, I’d like to thank God. I pray every time before I step in the ring. I’d like to thank coach Hurtt for being with me the past three years. He’s been a really good coach. Coach Hamilton, who is the sprints coach, has been with me since middle school and every step of the way. I’d like to thank my family for coming to everything over these past years, supporting me no matter what.

“And my friends, who ran earlier,” Barnes said. “They came to support me today and I’m really thankful for all of them.”

Barnes will continue her education and track and field career at Ohio University.

“I couldn’t be more excited for the next four years,” Barnes said. “I will be majoring in sociology and criminology. My end goal is to get a job in the FBI.”