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Emch returns to Columbus

Crestview’s Ryan Emch competes in the long jump at the Div. III regional meet on Wednesday at Massillon Perry High School. (Photo by Ron Firth)

MASSILLON — Crestview senior Ryan Emch pulled off a big surprise at the Massillon Perry Division III regional track meet Wednesday.

Emch took second place in the boys long jump to earn a berth in the state track meet.

“Everyone was surprised,” he said. “I overheard a lot of people saying, ‘Who was that?'”

Emch leaped a personal-best 21-feet-3 — more than a foot better than he had before Wednesday — to vault from fifth place into second.

“It’s kind of crazy to do that — beating your best by a foot at the end of the season,” Emch said.

The top four in each event advance to the state meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium next weekend.

Emch had his best three jumps ever on three consecutive attempts — 20-2 3/4, 20-8 and then 21-3 on his next-to-last attempt.

“When I jumped off the board, it felt great,” he said.

He didn’t feel it coming, though, pulling within a foot of Dylan Huff’s school record.

“I did not,” Emch said. “It kind of came out of nowhere. I don’t know if anybody expected that.”

Wellsville senior Valen Krzyston finished 11th (19-feet-6 1/4) in the long jump. Krzyston came in with the top jump after winning the Springfield district last week.

Emch was pulled from the 3200-meter relay to lessen his load at regionals to three events.

“It helped a lot,” Emch said. “It warms you up, but it tires you out. It’s my least favorite race in track.”

Having a history of being a distance runner has helped him in the long jump.

“I’ve been a distance runner since the seventh grade and focusing more on the sprints this year,” Emch said. “Having the experience of being tired helps.”

It has been a tremendous senior season for Emch, a key player on the Rebels’ state runner-up soccer last fall.

“I couldn’t ask for more than going to state in two sports,” he said. “Soccer being more of a team sport, it’s more exciting because you get to enjoy it with the people you’re with.”

But being a state qualifier in track is equally rewarding.

“I’ve been hoping for it. I’ve been pushing for it,” Emch said. “But I wasn’t necessarily thinking I would go to state in the long jump.”

Emch will compete at the state meet in Columbus at 4 p.m. next Friday, June 3.

“It’s going to be exciting to compete with the best athletes in the state,” he said. “I’ve got a little over a week to go back to training and see where we can go.”

Meet notes

• In the boys 3200-meter relay, United was sixth and Crestview 12th.

United’s Zach Nastari, Brayden Ganslein, Nick Hardgrove and Kaleb Nastari finished in 8 minutes, 24.63 seconds, which was six seconds from an automatic state berth.

Crestview’s Mitchell Auer, Will Welch, Andrew Bucey and Joey Carr ran 9:01.21.

• Regional action continues Friday at Massillon Perry with the field events at 4:30 p.m. and running events at 6 p.m.

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