Photo courtesy Ruth Boll

Wheelersburg’s Sadie Ruby dodges hurdles and rain drops in the Division II Girls 100-Meter Hurdles on Friday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

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BOB STRICKLEY

PDT Sports Editor

COLUMBUS — The higher up the awards podium, the bigger the smiles, and Wheelersburg’s Sadie Ruby was sporting a sizable grin following her state championship run Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Ruby’s finish of 46.73 seconds gave her the spot on the podium representing the fourth-best Division III Girls 300-meter hurdler of 2012.

The senior had the medal to represent the accomplishment, but it’s the relationship with her teammates and coaches that will make the moment last.

“It’s exciting to be out here and it’s exciting for my coaches and all the work we put in,” Ruby said. “We had a great season and my teammates were up here to support me.”

Ruby worked her way past her competitors early and put herself in a good position coming into the straight-away. She gritted out the final stretch to preserve her finish.

“I felt loose in the beginning then got tight in the end,” Ruby said.

The senior said the weather played a role in her performance as well. In Friday’s preliminary qualifier, Ruby ran a 47.14 through a driving rain and temperatures dropping into the 50s.

“The weather made a difference today with it not being cold and everyone being so tight,” Ruby said.

It was a great way to wrap up what has been a great season for Ruby and her teammates.

“We had the 4x200-Meter Relay team up here, like 10 people at regionals, won the SOC,” she said. “I think it means a lot to the community to have so many of us competing here.”

Ruby finished behind Cassidy McCullough of Hannibal River (44.96), Sydney Stoll of Edon (45.45) and Jackie Siefring of Russia (45.95).

Bob Strickley may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 203, or bstrickley@heartlandpublications.com.