Wellsville's Clayten Kersey competes in the Div. V long jump on Thursday at the state track and field meet in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

COLUMBUS — Wellsville long jumper Clayten Kersey remembers going to his first state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium as a fifth-grader.

That was in 2019 when Wellsville’s Justin Wright captured state championships in the long jump and 100-meter dash.

“I couldn’t believe he’s from Wellsville,” Kersey said. “He’s down here beating all those kids.”

Kersey became Wellsville’s first state placer since then by finishing eighth in the Division V long jump on Thursday afternoon.

“I’m super excited for a medal,” he said. “I’ve been chasing it for four years.”

Kersey leaped 21-feet-3 3/4 on his fourth attempt to become the first Tiger in seven years to stand on the podium.

“I’m happy with all my jumps,” he said. “I scratched on my first jump. I was scared.”

He followed with jumps of 21-1 1/2 and 20-11 1/4 to send him into the finals in eighth place.

It’s leaps and bound better than last year when he finished 16th at state.

“My first jump I knew was way better than last year,” Kersey said. “I got it done.

“Obviously I wanted to win, but I scored a point for Wellsville.”

Columbus Grove senior Trevor Baxter and McComb junior Carter Frater both jumped 22-8 1/4 with Baxter winning the state title by virtue of his next-best jump of 22-5 1/4.

Hillsdale senior Hayden McFadden, who Kersey beat last week and who came in as the 11th seed, finished sixth at 22-1 3/4.

Kersey’s high school career ended on the podium. Now he starts his summer job working for the Wellsville street department, which he also did last year.

He said his duties include all the regular jobs a street department does along with mowing and trimming at the cemetery.

“I’m doing it to help my community and for something to do to make it through the summer,” Kersey said. “And it gives me a little spending money.”

Meet notes

• It was very noticeable that most of the long jumpers in the competition landed sideways.

Kersey said everytime he lands that way, he hears it from jumping coach David “Bug” Thompson.

“Bug hates it when I do it sideways,” Kersey said. “He likes the traditional way, where you stretch your arms out and land straight.”

• Kersey did not play football in the fall after being the starting quarterback for three years and said he didn’t miss it.

“I quit football … new coaching,” he said. “It was a shock to the community.”

• Kersey joined the basketball team and was the sixth man.

“I didn’t take it seriously,” he said. “I did it so I could be with my friends.”

Kersey said he made a deal with the coach.

“I’ll play if I can do indoor track at the same time,” he said. “Look, it worked out.”

• Kersey said working in the street department is a good summer job, but doesn’t want to do it forever.

He plans on studying psychology at the Kent State main campus in the fall. He’s looking at being a child psychologist or working in a substance abuse recovery program.

East Palestine’s Braydon Plum competes in the 400-meter dash on Thursday at Jesse Owens Memorial Track in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)