Melissa Wiley has gotten hot at just the right time.
The senior sprinter has finished in first place three times in the past two weeks. At the Marietta Open last weekend, Wiley took first place in two events: the 55-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash.
Wiley also finished first in the 60-meter hurdles at the Kent State Duals two weeks ago.
I've put in a lot of work this season
Wiley said. My times have been getting lower and lower each week.
It's my senior season. I want to finish strong.
For Wiley the choice of the dash or the hurdles is simple.
I would have to say hurdles, Wiley said. The hurdles are my event.
Wiley will be looking to keep her streak going this weekend when the Bobcats compete in the All-Ohio Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The meet features teams from all over the state. They will be competing for bragging rights.
This is one of the meets that we key in on to try and do the best job, coach Clay Calkins said. This is a higher level of competition than we've been up against the last few weeks.
Last year the Bobcats placed sixth out of 12 teams in the All-Ohio meet.
Jessie Tanner broke her school record in the weight throw at the meet
and a number of other Bobcats found success.
Ohio finished third out of the four Mid-American Conference teams. Calkins said they are looking to stay the same if not better.
We've made some improvements, Calkins said. We'll have a better gauge on MAC competition after this weekend.
The Bobcats will be looking to carry the momentum that they gained at the Marietta Open into the All-Ohio's. Along with Wiley's two first-place finishes
the Bobcats took the top spot in nine other events.
The competition we were up against last week was nothing like the competition we'll be up against this week, Calkins said. But whenever you're winning events, it gives you confidence.
Hopefully we'll carry over that confidence and the improvements will keep happening this week.
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Michael Lewis
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