Hillsboro’s Anthony Richards places 15th in DII state long jump event
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — Hillsboro senior Anthony Richards finished his high school career on the biggest stage of them all by competing in the 2022 OHSAA Division II State Track and Field Championships in the long jump event at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
On Friday morning, Richards finished with his best jump being 20-07.75, his first jump of the state event. His second jump was a foul, and the third jump for Richards went for 19-8.25. Richards finished 15th overall out of 18 competitors.
“It was nice seeing everyone here supporting me, and getting to meet new jumpers and getting new competition,” Richards said. “It is nice having my family here supporting me, because they’ve always been here since I’ve started, and they’ve always been as supportive as they can be.”
Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh smiled when he reflected and spoke about Richards.
“We are proud of him and of what he did,” Marsh said. “He’s not the only one who didn’t perform what they did to get here, but you can’t take away getting here. It is a big venue, and he seemed ready. (Anthony) is happy, and we are happy for him. I hate to see him go, but he’s on his next stage in life, and I wish him the best of luck.
“Some of the things he did this year will set a precedent, and he set a good example for some of the younger kids that will carry on.”
The Division II state champion was Ryne Shackelford, a junior from Keystone, with a jump of 24-1.50, which was also a USA Top 50 distance and Top 10 state jump.
As for Hillsboro’s Richards, the experience of reaching state was a mission completed for the senior as he not only had fun competing at the event itself, but the overall experience was something he said he would always remember.
This ‘22 season, Richards was the Frontier Athletic Conference champion with a distance of 21-05.00, and he was district runner-up at 21-00.25. Richards was also regional runner-up with a jump of 21-07.50.
“I was very nervous, and I was more confident, but I think I put myself down a little bit after my second jump, and it is what it is,” Richards said. “I had fun, and I enjoyed being here. This experience was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.
“I wish I could have done better and wish I could have gotten farther, but it is all right. We all do our best. Out of all the years, this is probably the most fun I’ve had. I had a really good track team who has been there for everyone, not just me, but the whole team. I appreciate everything they do. All in all, it was just a good time (this season). We didn’t argue, everyone supported each other and it was just a good track team.”
For his career, Richards’ PR was during his junior year when he had a jump breaking the 22-02 distance.
Richards was the first HHS athlete to qualify for the state long jump event since 2008, as Leon Smith was a state qualifier in Division II.
This season, Richards also was a four-time regional qualifier in the long jump, 200m dash, 400m dash and the 4x400-meter relay. He won an FAC championship and a district championship in the 200m dash.
[[In-content Ad]]
On Friday morning, Richards finished with his best jump being 20-07.75, his first jump of the state event. His second jump was a foul, and the third jump for Richards went for 19-8.25. Richards finished 15th overall out of 18 competitors.
“It was nice seeing everyone here supporting me, and getting to meet new jumpers and getting new competition,” Richards said. “It is nice having my family here supporting me, because they’ve always been here since I’ve started, and they’ve always been as supportive as they can be.”
Hillsboro boys track and field head coach Bud Marsh smiled when he reflected and spoke about Richards.
“We are proud of him and of what he did,” Marsh said. “He’s not the only one who didn’t perform what they did to get here, but you can’t take away getting here. It is a big venue, and he seemed ready. (Anthony) is happy, and we are happy for him. I hate to see him go, but he’s on his next stage in life, and I wish him the best of luck.
“Some of the things he did this year will set a precedent, and he set a good example for some of the younger kids that will carry on.”
The Division II state champion was Ryne Shackelford, a junior from Keystone, with a jump of 24-1.50, which was also a USA Top 50 distance and Top 10 state jump.
As for Hillsboro’s Richards, the experience of reaching state was a mission completed for the senior as he not only had fun competing at the event itself, but the overall experience was something he said he would always remember.
This ‘22 season, Richards was the Frontier Athletic Conference champion with a distance of 21-05.00, and he was district runner-up at 21-00.25. Richards was also regional runner-up with a jump of 21-07.50.
“I was very nervous, and I was more confident, but I think I put myself down a little bit after my second jump, and it is what it is,” Richards said. “I had fun, and I enjoyed being here. This experience was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.
“I wish I could have done better and wish I could have gotten farther, but it is all right. We all do our best. Out of all the years, this is probably the most fun I’ve had. I had a really good track team who has been there for everyone, not just me, but the whole team. I appreciate everything they do. All in all, it was just a good time (this season). We didn’t argue, everyone supported each other and it was just a good track team.”
For his career, Richards’ PR was during his junior year when he had a jump breaking the 22-02 distance.
Richards was the first HHS athlete to qualify for the state long jump event since 2008, as Leon Smith was a state qualifier in Division II.
This season, Richards also was a four-time regional qualifier in the long jump, 200m dash, 400m dash and the 4x400-meter relay. He won an FAC championship and a district championship in the 200m dash.
[[In-content Ad]]