Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes John F. Kennedy sophomore Annie Phillips places fourth in the Division V girls 400-meter run at 56.77s. She’s the first athlete to place for the Eagles in the girls’ meet since 2015.

COLUMBUS — After not earning a spot on the podium last spring, Warren John F. Kennedy found success during this year’s OHSAA Jesse Owens Track & Field State Championships.

Placing in the relay events requires teamwork, chemistry, speed, and trust. The Eagles displayed that in the Division V boys 4x200m, earning seventh place with a time of 1:30.57 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Senior Dominic Salero-McCoy was the first leg of the Eagles relay. He previously was an alternate on the Kennedy’s 4x200m squad that earned state-runner up honors two years ago in Dayton.

“I always try to start off strong and get somebody in front of me and pick up the stagger, that’s what I am for,” Salero-McCoy said. “It’s important to me, I know coming in that I wanted to win and put the best out for the team every time we set up on the track.

“It’s amazing to come down to represent the team. I’ve come down and watched before, I was an alternate my sophomore year, but actually running felt good. All of these guys are young, they need to know what I expect from them next year and they’re going to put in the work to be better next year.”

The second leg of the relay was run by sophomore Jordan McEachern.

“The competition was pretty hard. We went against many of these opponents before, but nothing that we’re not used to,” McEachern said. “(The crowd) gives me a boost of energy so it gives me the confidence to run harder.

“This place is really big with a lot of competition down here, but it didn’t really make me nervous down here.”

He then passes the baton to fellow sophomore Christian Dixie. Dixie also qualified as an individual in the 300m hurdles, where he placed 17th in the prelims at 42.01s.

“I’m very proud, we worked very hard during the season to get here and we didn’t get the spot that we wanted in the race, but at least we got on the podium,” Dixie said. “We are with each other every day working hard, pushing each other. (Salero-McCoy) has been our ole reliable ever since he got into high school.”

Lastly, Giovanni Valentino anchored the relay. Like Dixie, Valentino was also seen elsewhere, taking 12th place in the 200m prelims with a time of 22.94s.

“Being the anchor really shows in a sense that you’re the fastest on the team, but really it’s about finishing. It’s all about the team at the end of the day,” Valentino said. “It’s really tough, but you can’t let the nerves get to you.

“Being in the hotel with my friends, it’s just nice. I get to experience all of this with them. I love the big crowd, I like to think they’re all cheering for me.”

Kennedy’s 4x100m of Nick Branca, Salero-McCoy, McEachern, and Valentino was 11th in the prelims at 44.26s.

SPEEDY 400M

Annie Phillips has never qualified for the state meet before, but didn’t allow the challenges of the situation phase her. Running a new personal-best time of 56.77s, Phillips took fourth place during the Division V girls 400m.

She became the first athlete to place for Kennedy in the girl’s state meet since Antonella LaMonica found the podium during the 100m and 200m dashes over a decade ago in 2015.

“It’s very exciting,” Phillips said. “I was very nervous at first, but I knew that once I turned the corner I just had to go as fast as I could. It’s how you pace yourself and how you want to get around.

“My mom, she ran in high school so I just ran because of her. I was just put in the 400m in seventh grade and I just never went back.”

Of course, making it to state is a process.

“It was a really good season, I have a lot of good teammates. Regionals and districts were really fun to go through to get here. I like to show my school,” Phillips said. “It gives me a lot of energy, it really helps in that last 100.”

When Phillips isn’t running on the track, she stays busy by playing volleyball and basketball.

“I have a lot of endurance for both of those sports, so (track) helps me stay on the court longer and make it a little bit easier,” Phillips said. “I can’t imagine anything without sports. I hope to come back with a lot of confidence now that I know what it’s like.”