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Eagles have all the confidence in star

United’s Kaleb Nastari navigates the traffic during the Div. III 3200-meter relay on Friday at the state track and field meet in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

COLUMBUS — It was the hottest day of the year and United senior Kaleb Nastari and his Golden Eagles were just warming up.

Nastari ran a pair of anchors for the ages at the Division III state track meet Friday to put United’s relay teams on the podium in one event and in position for a high finish in another.

He joined seniors Brayden Ganslein and Nick Hardgrove and junior Wyatt Medure on the 3200-meter relay team that finished sixth in 8 minutes, 7.27 seconds, bettering their own school record by four seconds.

Sitting in 18th and last place midway through the race and 14th when Nastari got the baton for the final half-mile, the Eagles raced onto the podium with Nastari’s 1:53 anchor.

“Nobody else has one that low,” Ganslein said. “It’s our secret weapon. It’s not so secret anymore.”

The Eagles’ 1600-meter relay team of senior Jenson Baker, Medure, Hardgrove and Nastari went from fifth to first on the last lap to win its heat in 3:27.46.

“Is it fun? Yeh. Is it entertaining? Yeh. I’d like for it to be a little closer,” Nastari said.

United posted the second-fastest time, trailing Ashland Crestview at 3:23.25.

“I wasn’t sure how it would turn out with all the competition,” Hardgrove said. “After seeing what we did today, I like our chances.”

It will be a busy Saturday for the Eagles as Nastari goes for another 800-meter state title and state record at 10:55 a.m. at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, while the 1600 relay team will be in the state final at noon.

“I have no doubt Kaleb is going to get the 800,” Medure said. “He wants (Nick) Plant’s record. I think he’s going to smash it.”

“I’m hoping he goes 1:48,” Ganslein said. “We’re talking school records and with Kaleb, it’s state records. Anytime Kaleb runs, we’re looking up the state record. He can pretty much do anything.”

He proved that again Friday.

It was the first United boys 3200 relay team to score at the state meet after going from 18th to sixth.

“It was very tough,” Ganslein said. “From eighth place to third was 10 seconds. Everyone was fighting for it.”

“Did I have my doubts? Yes,” Nastari said. “Because it’s state.”

He was the only one before his 1:53 split.

“That’s what he usually runs,” Ganslein said.

Even from the back of the pack, the Eagles knew they still had a shot.

“Always with Kaleb back there,” Ganslein said. “We knew Kaleb would get us back in it.”

“Everyone gave it everything they got,” Medure said. “I figured once Kaleb got it, we would be fine.”

In less than two minutes, the Eagles were waiting for their medals.

“I’ve always watched Kaleb on the podium,” Ganslein said. “It’s a whole different perspective standing on the podium and looking up at the crowd.”

The Eagles are hoping to wrap up the Division III state meet with another podium finish in the 1600 relay.

“I’m just here having good time,” Nastari said. “They want the school record, so we’ll go for that.”

“We’ve just got to put Kaleb in the best position possible,” Medure said.

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