Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes McDonald sophomore Naomi Sheesley, left, crosses the finish line at the conclusion of the 3200-meter run during the state track and field championships in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — The first two days of this year’s OHSAA Jesse Owens Track & Field State Championships were a whirlwind for anyone brave enough to compete in the mile- and two-mile events. Add in a relay, and McDonald sophomore Naomi Sheesley logged a lot of time on the track.

Sheesley has compiled a resume for the Blue Devils. She placed fourth in the Division V girls 1600-meter run (the mile) with a time of 5:09:30, while adding a seventh-place finish during the 3200 at 11:14:37. That was in addition to the four medals she received last June during the 800, 1600, 4×400-meter relay and 4×800.

With the change in the schedule this year due to the field expanding to five Divisions, the 1600 and 3200 were run on separate days.

“It’s really tiring, it’s back to back so you just have to have the heart to do it,” Sheesley said. “It’s definitely tough (to qualify in multiple events), but your teammates are there supporting you. Your coaches are there, and it’s just like a big family. It’s tough, but you know you have people there for you that help you through it and get you there.

“My family is a huge running family — my mom ran in college, my dad was an athlete, but grandpa ran and my sister — so I just follow in their footsteps really, it’s just a family tradition.”

Sheesley’s older sister, Selah, was a junior on the Blue Devils’ track and field team. They both placed together during the 4×800 last season, while qualifying during the 4×400 this June.

McDonald’s 4×400 team also consisted of seniors Juliana Krumpak and Rita Domitrovich, placing 15th during the preliminaries at 4:11.90.

Experience at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium helped calm any of Sheesley’s nerves.

“It really set the standard. How can I make it my freshmen year and not make it my sophomore year?” She said. “So I had a big bar set for myself and getting here was pretty important for me. Everybody was really close during (the 1600), you know who you have to run with. You know who you have to compete with, you know who the top dogs are. You really want to run with them for as long as you can, but also know your running strategy and don’t let other people change your race strategies.

“It was a very similar field to last year, I didn’t notice much of a difference.”

McDonald has been one of the more elite track programs in the Mahoning Valley over the course of time, a fact and honor that hasn’t been lost on Sheesley.

“It’s so special, just to be a part of that long line of good competitors, and it really is a legacy. McDonald is known for their runners, so it’s really important for me to come down here and represent them. It’s huge shoes to fill.” Sheesley said.

With two more chances at the state meet remaining in her high school career, Sheesley has some objectives on the horizon.

“The training, I’m going to have to work hard. I have a bunch of time and podium goals that I want to hit,” Sheesely said. “Just staying consistent and having that in my head, to know that’s where I want to be eventually.”