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Quakers meet goal of getting to the podium

COLUMBUS – The Salem boys 1600-meter relay team got one of the things the Quakers were looking for. They just wanted more.

Seniors Dan Rumsey and Marcus Crittenden, junior Cameron Turney and freshman Ethan Bailey finished eighth at the Division II state track meet.

“It’s always nice when you leave with a medal,” Salem boys coach Todd Huda said.

“One of our goals was to get on the podium – not get last (ninth place),” Rumsey said. “We can’t complain getting on the podium.”

Salem was eighth in 3 minutes, 24.56seconds – one-hundredth of a second behind Fairless.

“It’s a lot different race when you get to the finals,” Huda said. “Cameron did a great job of holding them off. Fairless has been close with us all year.”

The Quakers were more than a second slower than the day before.

“We didn’t run the best in the final today,” Rumsey said. “I don’t know what happened.”

It is the third straight year Salem reached state in the relay, but the first time the Quakers placed.

“These are definitely the best 4×4 teams around,” Rumsey said. “It’s always fun to chase people instead of being out front.”

Pemberville Eastwood won in 3:18.09. Dayton Dunbar was second in 3:20.06 to wrap up the team championship.

“The 4×4 is still the best race,” Huda said. “It’s long enough you have some strategy along with endurance and speed.”

The Quakers were in fifth place after Rumsey’s lead leg, but could not get any higher.

“We stuck with this order all year,” Rumsey said. “We discussed changing it, but decided to stay with it.

The past few years the Quakers have been strong in the field events, but know they are loaded with quarter-milers.

“We have a few more coming,” Huda said.

They are looking to make another run to state next year.

“We’ve got two of the guys coming back,” Huda said. “All we need is two more.”

State notes

The only other Salem boys 1600 relay team to place at state was in 2007 when Cory Rickman, Josh Lutz, Matt Moffett and Jon Lee were fourth in Division II (3:21.88).

The picture of the 1600 relay teams on the podium was delayed because Heath senior Josh Lines was throwing up in a bucket in the front row.

“I was holding it back myself,” Rumsey said.

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