Summit Country Day's girls 4x100 meter relay team captured a state championship and set a new division record at the Ohio High School Athletic Association track and field state championships.
The event was held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.
The team of Maddy Amend, Brielle Bryant, Alaina Williams, and Ama Karikari finished first in Division IV with a time of 48.59 seconds.
Karikari, running the anchor leg, took the baton in second place and overtook Girard to secure the title.
It was the first track state championship for the Silver Knights since 2022.
"We knew the whole season that we were really close to winning and yesterday during prelims, we were 0.05 (seconds) away, so worked really hard on our handoffs and knew that if I got the stick in first or second, we'd definitely win," Karikari said.
The junior also contributed to a fifth-place finish in the 4x200 meter relay and placed sixth in the individual 200-meter dash.
Summit Country Day tied for 12th overall in the girls standings with 17 points, despite training without an official home track facility.
"We have really hard-working coaches and staff that help us get ready before meets and train before the season starts.
It just shows how hard work pays off," Karikari said.
Other Cincinnati Highlights
Wyatt Gockerman of Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy took on a leading role after his twin brother Nate missed the second half of the season due to stress fractures.
Gockerman competed in the 3,200-meter run, achieving a personal best of 9:13 and finishing third.
"It honestly helped propel me and give me more motivation because I was able to really have a breakthrough race in the two-mile at regionals," Gockerman said.
He also placed sixth in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:18.93.
Senior teammate Jagger Dollenmeyer finished 13th in the same event at 4:22.41.
The Eagles were the highest-ranking local boys team in Division IV, finishing 13th with 17.33 points.
Fenwick senior captain Samantha Long earned fourth place in the 300-meter hurdles and anchored the 4x400 meter relay to another fourth-place finish.
"I passed people early on because I wanted to start out fast and then just tried to maintain it for the rest of the race," Long said.
In Division V, Cincinnati Christian senior Serena Cyprien took third in the 100-meter dash (12.73 seconds) and second in the 200-meter dash (25.68 seconds).
Jimere Furr of Cincinnati College Prep Academy finished runner-up in the boys 100-meter dash with a time of 11.37 seconds despite a headwind.
It was the school's first state podium appearance.
"To come out here and get second means a lot," Furr said.
