COLUMBUS — Nothing worked out like Carly Hamilton had envisioned for the final race of an outstanding high school career. Good thing.

“I thought the race was going to come down to a final 100-meter kick,” the Springboro senior said after winning the Division I girls 1,600 meters (4 minutes, 48.10 seconds) on Saturday in the state track and field meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

“It didn’t go like I thought it would be and I’m really happy about that.”

Hamilton took the early lead and stretched it each of the four laps to claim the only D-I victory by area girls. Area girls did especially well in the 3,200. Lebanon freshman Jacquelyn Crow was second, Katie Ollier of Carroll was third and Katie Landwehr of Tippecanoe was fifth.

Meadowdale freshman Oksana Lawrence made the 400 final with the last qualifying spot and rallied to place third (55.32).

The 1,600 is Hamilton’s featured distance. She was second at state as a freshman, slipped to seventh in 2009 and was third last year.

“This means so much,” said Hamilton, who’s headed to the University of Georgia to run. “It was my last chance to do that and I had that on my mind.”

She skipped the 800 to attend graduation.

DIVISION II: Meghan Cherry figured the rest of the Dunbar girls had some catching up to do.

“I practiced with the boys for indoor track and coach (Sidney) Booker is a hard coach to please,” said Cherry, Dunbar’s senior sprint sensation. “He’ll get it out of you. I had to bring all the girls up to what I was doing.”

Cherry proved to be the perfect leader. The Wolverines leaned on their anchor to win the 400 relay (48.72), the only area girls D-II title. Joining her were Ryan Russell, Chantell Kee and Lasha’ Packett. Cherry also was seventh in the 200 to conclude her Wolverines’ career. She’ll run at Akron.

Stivers’ foursome of Candace Pettiford, Darrea Ragland, Jasmine Lee and Rolisha Slade was productive, placing third in the 1,600 relay (3:56.03) and fourth in the 400 relay (1:44.09).

Chaminade Julienne junior Cierra Brown also was third in the 100 hurdles (14.48).

DIVISION III: There was just one crucial thing that went awry in Gretchen Walter’s bid to sweep the three sprints: “I had nothing left for the 200,” she said.

The 100 (12.42) and 400 (56.74) winner, the Lehman Catholic flash accounted for all of the Cavaliers’ 28 points, good for sixth in the team race. She’ll run at Miami University.

Versailles came just as close to defending its title, placing runner-up to first-time winner Steubenville Central Catholic, 41-37. The Tigers’ Tammy Berger won her second straight 3,200 title (11:19.30) and also was second in the 1,600 (5:06.39).

Versailles has not placed lower than sixth in the last five years.

Katie Borchers of Russia won the 800 (2:13.75). Minster’s Samantha Hoelscher held off a strong challenge by Fort Loramie’s Janel Olberding to win the 1,600 relay (4:00.82).

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