Contributed STATE CHAMP - Big Red junior Bri Hudson stands atop the podium after winning the Division II discus state title, Big Red's first individual female state champion since 1989.

COLUMBUS — After leaving last year’s state championships with a third place finish, Big Red’s Bri Hudson had a clear mission this season — get back to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium and stand atop the podium.

Thanks to a throw of 140 feet, five inches in Sunday’s Division II discus competition at the OHSAA Jesse OWens State Track and Field Championships, the Steubenville junior did just that.

Her throw was good enough to win the state title, the first female individual state championship for Big Red since 1989.

“She placed third last year and when we were leaving the stadium, she looked at me and said next year I’m going to be standing on top of that podium,” Big Red track coach Jacob Hudson, who is also Bri’s father, said. “She got right to work on working toward that goal and she made the dream come true.

“As a coach, it’s an awesome experience to have a state champion. When it’s your own daughter, I can’t really find any words to describe it, I still don’t think it has really sunk in yet.

“It’s the first one in over 30 years, it’s just really special and exciting.”

Bri’s winning throw was the highlight of a strong meet for Big Red, which finished with a total of three All-Ohio finishers — two individuals and one relay team.

Ziare Scurry placed in fourth place in the boys 400 in a time of 47.92 seconds and was part of the 4×400 relay team that placed in fifth place in a time of 3:18.48.

“Ziare ran really well, a really good race,” coach Hudson said. “We’re really proud of him. He had a wonderful season. He’s a junior and I know he’s looking forward to getting back there next year and climbing even higher on the podium.”

His teammates on the relay unit were Che’Mier Adams, Landon Bowers and Josiah Rea. Their time was a school record.

“What a terrific end to the season for the 4×400 team,” coach Hudson said. “Everybody wants to be the state champion, but getting on the podium at the state meet is a big deal I’m very happy for those guys, they all worked really hard to get where they’re at.

“That group did not start the season together, we had some different combinations and the coaches got together and looked at times posted around the state and we thought if we put them together as a group, they would have a good chance at being on the podium. They’re all hard workers and we put them together toward the end of the season and it really worked out well.”

All told, Big Red had a total of 12 individuals represent them in Columbus this weekend.

Rea placed 10th in the high jump and 12th in the 110 hurdles, Colton Henderson was 13th in the 200 and 15th in the 100, Phynyx Fleming was 13th in the shot put, the boys 4×200 relay team placed 10th and the girls 4×200 team placed 17th.

“It’s good for everyone to have put the work in and get to Columbus and experience that,” coach Hudson said. “It’s good for all the kids that made it there and good for their teammates to see their teammates go and for the junior high kids coming up to see that.

“It’s a great experience and you can see it in the look on their faces the first time they walk into Jesse Owens Stadium and see the size of the crowd and hear the noise, it’s great.

“For the ones who didn’t place, it’s a great experience because they gain valuable experience competing in that stadium and that environment and they see what they need to work on for next year.”

Big Red had a challenging schedule to prepare and work toward the culmination of the season on Sunday.

“We look at anytime we can compete against other teams and athletes as an opportunity to get better,” coach Hudson said. “It’s good to test ourselves against good competition throughout the season. We didn’t have the same kids run the same events every week, it’s good to challenge and test yourself and that work paid off.”

Sunday concluded the state meet, which began on Thursday. The Division II portion was supposed to start on Saturday, but weather delays forced the action to be packed into the Sunday schedule.

Coach Hudson credits the entire Big Red coaching staff for adapting and the team’s strong season overall.

“We lean on each other a lot, all of the decisions we make as a group,” he said of the staff. “We all have a lot of experience and different experience in our own ways so it’s great to have the staff we have and be able to work together the way we do.”

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Catholic Central senior James McInnis was fifth in the high jump and senior Joe OWen was 17th in the 800 in Division V.

Indian Creek sophomore Dalana Bove placed 14th in the girls 400 in Division III.

Edison junior Lacie Pelley was 12th in the high jump in Division IV, senior Matt Evans was 13th in the 110 hurdles, junior Brett Worrels was 15th in the long jump, both in Division III and the 4×800 girls relay team was 13th in Division IV.

Toronto junior Josey Dickinson was 12th in the girls Divison V 800.

Buckeye Local senior Jenna Delvecchio finished her decorated career with the school’s first track state title in the Division IV 100 hurdles, also besting her own school record time.