Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Mineral Ridge sophomore Jonathan Culp III reacts to a good throw during the Division IV boys discus at the state track championships in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — Through two track seasons, Jonathan Culp III has already piled up the medals at the OHSAA Jesse Owens Track & Field State Championship. Coming off a sixth-place finish during his freshman campaign, Culp returned to Ohio State and placed two more times for Mineral Ridge.

The sophomore thrower improved in the shot put, earning fourth during the Division IV boys competition, marking 57-02.25 feet, before finding his first discus placement, taking eighth after a toss of 166-04.

Just earning the state qualification in two events is a tough task.

“(In) shot put I had a really consistent series, it definitely wasn’t what I wanted, but I can’t complain about getting fourth, especially with discus. Going from not even making regional finals to going on to podium at state is a blessing,” Culp said. “With shot put I knew what I had, I knew I had it in me to make it to state, so there was that.

“In discus, I just had to throw the thing. I was trying too hard last year. I really wasn’t competing how I should in discus, so I took that in mind and cleaned up my technique and made it move.”

The throws area at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is away from the grandstands, across Fred Taylor Drive with the shot put and discus sectors adjacent to each other. It allows for a jam-packed environment that creates an atmosphere for the athletes and fans alike.

And Culp knew what he was walking into.

“We were in the same ring as last year, so it felt nice having the experience and having the same visual cues in the place.” Culp said. “Mineral Ridge had a great season. I’m blessed to be a part of it, and I’m just really humbled to be here.”

With his junior season on the horizon, Culp is looking forward to this fall’s football slate as a guard and a defensive linemen for the Rams.

“We’re going to go straight into football. It’s a nice break when you get a little bit tired of one sport to go into the other, so it keeps me ready for both.” Culp said.

RUNNING RAMS

As a senior, there’s nothing left to do besides laying it on the line one final time.

Josiah Toth had state experience, but the spot on the podium eluded him following a 13th-place finish during the 800-meter run last June.

That all changed this go-around, as Toth climbed the ladder to earn fifth place during the 800, running a speedy time of 1:58.45.

“It’s really special, I’ve been working at this for four years, along with my coach. It’s a combination of good training, a good field to race against and a lot of help from God,” Toth said. “You don’t cut in and see people until 300 meters into the race, so you really have to know your pace, you gotta get out hard. When you break, you have to kind of find everybody and settle.

“The last 200, you give it all you got and hope it’s there.”

Toth originally wanted to run the 3200, but as others graduated, the need for some middle-distance runners on the team opened up and Toth found a love for the event.

He also credited his father, Ron, as being a coach that worked to build him up.

“He’s been encouraging, he knows all of the right things to do at home and keeps me accountable. Eat right, sleep right, prep right and just holding me accountable to training during the offseason,” Toth said. “There’s 12 months of the year, the season is four months. So you do four months of track, four months of cross country, you still got four other months for rest or buildup.

“It’s a grind, but if you do it right, you can build a lot of rest in there.”

ALSO COMPETING FOR MINERAL RIDGE

Sophomore Malayna Wilson took sixth place during the Division IV girls 300 hurdles with a new personal-best time of 45.94 seconds. … Fellow sophomore Jocelyn Traw competed in both throwing events (13th in discus, 119-05 feet; 15th in shot put, 34-07 feet). … Sophomore Kadence Conaway was ninth in the discus at 124-07 feet. … Sophomore Kamari Wright was 15th in the 100 hurdle prelims at 16.48. … Senior Kaden Shaffer was 16th in the 300 hurdle prelims at 41.97.