Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Girard sophomore Braxton Sloan competes in the Division III boy’s 400 finals, earning eighth place with a time of 49.58 seconds.

COLUMBUS — Earning a state runner-up nod is a difficult enough task as an individual, but a relay squad requires consistency and teamwork to land on the podium at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Girard has a track and field program that has sent a slew of relay teams over the past several seasons, and its girls 4×100-meter relay team added to the Indians success at state, taking the silver medal in the Division IV meet with a time of 48.70. The Indians missed gold by 0.11 seconds behind Summit County Day.

Senior Laiyah Pappa brought veteran knowledge of the state meet into the race as the first leg, having ran on the Indians state qualifying 4×100 team last June.

“We came in day one sitting first, we had a bad day and got fourth, so we came back and got second. It’s not what we wanted, but it’s better than we ran (in the prelims), so we can be thankful for that,” Pappa said. “This is my third time here, so placing for the first time and getting second is kind of great. It’s good to be up high on the podium.

“Honestly, I’m such a nervous person. It could be the first day here and it would still feel the same. It’s fun to podium, I’m sad they’re all underclassmen and juniors, so I get to leave them behind with this and that’s nice.”

Off the blocks, Pappa handed the baton to junior Terri Gregory.

“We didn’t have a great run in (prelims), but we were going to come back today and do better. Do what we had to do. I know that second place isn’t what we wanted and we can do better, but we still ran great,” Gregory said. “I’m very grateful that we got second.”

Junior Khloe Pieton, the third leg of the relay, felt that outdoor state is a lot more challenging compared to Girard’s eighth-place run during the 4×200 at the indoor state meet.

“It’s honestly really crazy,” Pieton said. “This is so much different. There’s more competition, and you have to work way harder out here. It makes us a little nervous, but we can get through that.”

Freshmen Janaya Riley anchored the race, while taking in the whole experience.

“Being in high school, the competition, being able to compete with a bunch of different girls in different grades, it’s definitely different.” Riley said. “(Being the anchor) is tough, especially coming out here, there’s definitely some people that are as good as you. Back where we are, there’s not a lot of competition where we are, so there’s a lot of competition being the fourth leg.

“This is definitely giving me a lot of motivation. I want to come back next year and be able to win.”

During the preliminary rounds, Gregory ran a personal-best time of 26.06 seconds in the 200 to earn 11th. Riley was 16th during the 100 dash with a time of 13.07. The Indians 4×200 team of Nevaeh Clinkscale, Avery Chambers, Pieton and Gregory was 13th at 1:46.34.

PODIUM RUN

Girard sophomore Braxton Sloan is busy year-round, whether it’s on the hardwood or gridiron. Over the weekend, he displayed his speed on the track, finding the podium during the Division III boys 400, running a time of 49.58.

It was his second time in Columbus in as many years, previously running for Southern last June.

“I’m just thankful for it all. Most people don’t get this opportunity, and when I’m out here, I just want to show what I’m doing and just knowing I’ll be back the next two years,” Sloan said. “I chose the 400 because I know that I’m one of them that’s different from the rest and I’m more mentally tough than most of the guys out here.

“Most people don’t want to do the 400 because of how tough it is, but I stepped up and I want this battle every single night.”

The Division III finals were held late into the evening of Day 3 due to multiple weather delays, leading to events in nicer temperatures.

“I just spent time with my family, keeping my mind out of bad places, trying to keep my mind in a good routine and off of this race,” Sloan said. “I think it’s really good to run in the cool weather. When it’s more hot, you have to have really good hydration, and if you don’t, then it might not go well at the end of the day.”

Knowing what he was walking into helped heading into the finals.

“Last year, it put this feeling in me. My goal this year was to get on that podium, no matter if it was first (or) eighth. Next year I’m coming for that top three.”

With the non-stop grind year round, Sloan enjoys basketball the most, but sees the benefits between the court and track.

“The grind, I love it. You just have to have a different mentality, you just have to keep going and wanting to put in the work every day,” Sloan said. “The 400 is probably one of my most favorite things of all time. I want to train for it every day, and I want this track meet to come around every single year.

“This is really special, it’s a great event they have every single year and the fans show out for every school. There’s so many different people here from all different areas. I think it’s one of the greatest events in the state of Ohio.”