Salem’s Hailey Rozeski hands off to Halle Cochran during the 3200-meter relay Friday at the Div. II state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Salem News/Ron Firth)

COLUMBUS — The Salem girls 3200-meter relay team feels they belong at the state track meet, even if qualifying with an at-large berth.

Senior Haley Rozeski, sophomores Halle Cochran and Carly Hall and freshman Clara Double raced to an eighth-place finish in the Division II state finals Friday.

“We barely made it,” Double said.

“I told them there’s obviously a reason why we’re here,” Rozeski said.

The Quakers ran the best time in the area this season at 9 minutes, 33.27 seconds to earn their second straight podium finish at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

“I didn’t see that 9:33 coming,” Hall said.

“I feel a lot of it is the atmosphere here,” Cochran said.

The Quakers were in fourth place halfway through the race. They dropped to 11th before Hall’s anchor leg got them on the podium.

“We came in 12th and our time was 20 seconds better,” Rozeski said.

“I was so scared,” Double said. “As soon as I heard the gun, I said now I feel good.”

“A freshman at state, I couldn’t imagine anything better,” Rozeski said.

It has been a trying season for the Quakers’ relay team. Only Hall has not been injured.

“It’s no fun,” Cochran said.

“The bottom line is we can be hurt and still perform,” Rozeski said.

Three relay teams will be back for more next year.

“Our team is so young, we have room to grow,” Hall said.

State notes

¯ The Division II boys 3200 relay teams did not have as good of luck.

Salem’s team of seniors Trey Double and Jackson Corbisello and junior twins Hunter Christopher and Cameron Christopher was 13th (8:12.29).

Minerva’s team of seniors Joey Stafford and Taylor Lowmiller, junior Nick Bledose and freshman Connor Shingleton was 16th (8:2.04).

¯ Minerva senior Shelby Wheeler tied for 11th place in the Division II girls high jump (5-0).

¯ Chagrin Falls repeated as the state champion in the girls 3200 relay.

“They weren’t supposed to win,” Rozeski said.

Chagrin Falls had a winning time of 9:18.20.

“I am a senior, they can go catch them,” said Rozeski, pointing to her younger teammates.

¯ Hall and Rozeski will be competing in the state finals in the 1600 and 800 runs, respectively.

“I’m going to try to podum and break the school record,” Hall said.

“I’m also hoping to get on the podium and get the school record,” Rozeski said. “I did it today, there’s no reason I can’t do it (today).”

Late night

Due to a 3 hour and 40-minute weather delay, Division I action did not get completed until 11 pm. Friday.

The meet was halted at 3:12 p.m. due to lightning in the area after the first heat of the Division II girls 400 dash.

It didn’t rain until 5:19 p.m. when a downpour swept through the area. The track was reopened at 6:31 p.m. and events resumed at 6:52 p.m.

No one will get much sleep as action resumes at 9:30 a.m. today.