COLUMBUS – Track and field athletes all want the same thing: The top spot on the podium. The road to state is a difficult one, but on Saturday at the Ohio High School Athletic Association state meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, all the locals with medals on their chest agreed the road was well worth it.
Saint Ursula Academy senior Annie Heffernan's high school career came to an end Saturday, and she couldn't have envisioned a more-fitting conclusion.
Heffernan, who has signed with Notre Dame, defended her Division I state championship in the 1,600 meters (4:48.39) and also won a state title in the 3,200 (10:38.04). Heffernan finished her career outdoor state championships for the Bulldogs.
"It was awesome, I'm so glad I was able to stick it out for two races," Heffernan said. "It's kind of difficult because (the races) are within an hour of each other. I owe a lot of it to my coaches and my teammates for all of their support; it makes you think of all the hard work you've done to get to this point."
Danielle Springer finished in a tie for 12th place in the high jump. Alexandra Goss finished the 100 Hurdles in 15.50 in the preliminary competition. The team relay finished 13th in the 4x800 relay with a time of 9:34.02. The Bulldogs finished in 8th place overall in the team competition.