Salem's Lucas Adams takes flight in the Div. III long jump on Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

Salem’s Madolyn Gorby clears 5 feet, 2 inches in the Div. III high jump on Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

Salem’s Peyton Colbert clears 5 feet in the Div. III high jump on Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

COLUMBUS — Salem senior Lucas Adams’ first 23-foot long jump put him into first place at the Division III state track and field meet Friday.

“I’ve been waiting to hit 23 for a while,” Adams said. “Of course I wanted to be the state champion. But getting 23 feet was all I wanted to do this year.”

Adams broke his school record twice and took fourth with a leap of 23-feet-4.

“I was just trying to give it my best,” he said.

Adams opened with a 23-2 1/2 in his first jump of the second flight.

“I was in first for a jump,” he said.

Cleveland Glenville senior Jay’vier Kerr went 24-4 1/2 on the next jump on the way to victory.

“Jay’vier comes in and pops a 24 footer,” Adams said. “He is a great athlete.”

Kerr had a winning jump of 24-6 on his last attempt, but it was not allowed as a meet record because it was wind-aided.

That ranks as the 38th-best jump in the nation this year and was one of his four over 24 feet.

Adams opened with jumps of 23-2 1/2 and 22-11. He followed with a 23-4 on his first attempt in the finals and ended with a 22-8.

“The 23-2 felt better than the 23-4,” Adams said. “Stuff happens, I guess.”

High jumpers

Salem juniors Madolyn Gorby and Peyton Colbert both landed on the podium in the Division III high jump.

Gorby cleared 5-foot-5 for the first time for third place and Colbert was in a four-way tie for fifth place after clearing 5-foot-2 her first attempt.

But it could have been better.

Colbert would have been in fourth place, but the Quakers said another competitor got an extra jump and cleared it to land on the podium.

“I’m really mad,” Colbert said. “It’s not her fault. She got four jumps.”

The Quakers said the ruling was since it was an official’s fault, not the athletes, they were going to let the results stand.

“It’s all love,” Colbert said.

Both Quakers got back to the state meet this year after Gorby finished in a four-way tie for sixth place last year.

“I would not be here without Maddie,” Colbert said.

“I would not be here without Peyton,” Gorby said.

Gorby finally broke the school record of 5-4 she had shared.

“My goals at the beginning of the season was to win regionals, jump 5-5 and get third at state,” Gorby said. “I did all three.”

Meet notes

• Salem senior Maddy Andres was ninth (36-3 1/2) in the Division III shot put.

Salem junior Macey Troy followed in 12th (35-8) and West Branch senior Idonika Woods was 14th (34-7 1./4).

Perry sophomore Emily Mechenbier repeated at the state champion (48-0 3/4). She had the top five throws, including four over 47-2

• Salem freshman Connor Stockman was 11th in the boys discus (152-5).

Youngstown Ursuline sophomore Connor Crilley was second (173-0).

• Adams is the first Columbiana County athlete to jump 23 feet since Wellsville state champion Justin Wright did it in 2019.

• Edison junior Brett Worrels finished 15th in the Division III long jump (20-7 1/4).