The Jackson boys 4×100-meter relay team saved its best race of the season for the biggest stage.
The quartet of Corey Jacobs, Preston Young, Micah Regimbal and Jackson Baker raced to the Division I state championship Sunday at the OHSAA State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, crossing the finish line in a season-best 41.66 seconds.
Jackson entered the state meet with a season-best time of 42.31 seconds, but the Polar Bears continued a postseason trend of lowering their time, shaving more than six-tenths of a second off that mark to capture the state title.
The accomplishment left the runners searching for words moments after the race.
“It’s such a blessing,” Jacobs said. “Coming into this, we didn’t know how good we’d do.”
Jacobs said the team relied on its faith as it prepared for the biggest race of the season.
“Before the race, we decided this is in God’s hands,” Jacobs said. “I think our race is a testament to that.”
Baker, who ran the anchor leg, was still trying to process the moment after crossing the finish line and seeing Jackson atop the scoreboard.
“It’s so much disbelief,” Baker said.
Baker said winning a Division I sprint title was something few expected from the Polar Bears.
“It’s the best in the state,” Baker said. “We don’t have many of those state champions.”
The championship was the culmination of months of training and a postseason run that saw Jackson improve with nearly every race.
“A lot of training, but most of all, we pray. A lot of praying,” Baker said. “Leave it up to God.”
Young said the magnitude of the performance became apparent when he saw the final time.
“When I saw 41.66, I’m like, ‘Dang, we’re fast,'” Young said. “I’m still super surprised.”
While many state championship relay teams feature standout individual sprinters, Jackson’s runners credited their success to the chemistry they developed as a group.
“It’s all chemistry,” Baker said. “We got each other, baby.”
The Polar Bears entered the state meet without any of the four relay members competing in an individual sprint event, but the team continued to improve throughout the postseason.
“All I can say is we knew we could do it,” Baker said. “We PR every race for the past five races.”
That confidence paid off Sunday as Jackson delivered its fastest race of the season against Ohio’s best competition.
“We knew we could do it,” Baker said. “We just didn’t know we could do it to this level.”
The result secured a Division I state championship for the Polar Bears and capped one of the most memorable performances in program history.
As teammates, coaches and supporters celebrated on the track, the emotions continued to pour out from the newly crowned state champions.
“We knew we weren’t done,” Baker said. “Praise God right here.”
