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COLUMBUS - One jump, one step, one inch, one split second can be all it takes to separate who stands on the podium at the Ohio state track meet and who does not.

For Morgan freshman Kristie Marcum that one jump put her fourth in the state in Division II long jump.

"After my first jump I was really confident," Marcum said.

For Fort Frye junior Jeremy Anderson, that one split second meant a ninth place finish, by 0.09 as he was just barely edged off the podium.

"I took third with two laps left but I couldn't hang on. I gave it everything I had," Anderson said.

For Waterford senior Cody Strahler one step meant a throbbing pain as the Wildcat standout was shoved into the rail on the inside of the track, causing him to roll his ankle and finish out of contention.

"I told him before the race I don't care whether you're first or last. We're proud of you," said Waterford assistant track coach Mark Waller.

For Marietta junior LeAnne Ross one more inch on her jump could've meant a trip to the podium in one of the toughest high jump fields in recent years.

Such was the conclusion of the Ohio state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

To some it was a day of celebration, while to others it was disappointment and heartbreak but all competed with the best of the best, knowing they were one of the top 16 in the state of Ohio.

"I'm just so proud of her (Ross). It's an accomplishment just to be here," said Marietta girls' track coach Mollie Schramm.

Marcum began the area's competition on Saturday with the best she could hope for a jump that got her on the podium her very first leap.

Entering the regional meet Marcum's best jump was only 15-9.5. That changed at regionals and continued on to the state as she posted leaps of over 17 feet to place on both big stages.

All it took was one small adjustment and the Lady Raider's natural talent, said Morgan girls' track coach Mike Beam.

"She did most of it. The only thing we did, the week between districts and regionals we noticed she was bringing her feet down a little bit," Beam explained.

Marcum's leap earned the Lady Raider a state medal as Morgan's only representative and also made her one of the few freshman to earn individual All-Ohio honors in Div. II.

She doesn't look at herself, or anyone else, based on grade, though.

"I don't think of it as just a freshman. Everyone's an athlete," Marcum said.

After Marcum's successful bid for a podium in the long jump Strahler and Caldwell's Tyler Cordell competed in the Division III 800.

Strahler began the race well and was in the thick of the pack, making his bid for a podium as they turned the corner at the completion of the first lap when he was shoved into the inside railing.

That one step had the Wildcat standout hobbling his final lap while Cordell was able to battle through the pack and come out with a seventh place finish in the event.

Despite where he finished, Strahler still had an outstanding career with the Wildcats and represented his school well, Waller said.

"I think Cody's one of the best athletes that's ever come through Waterford High School," Waller praised.

With two local athletes on podiums Anderson began the Div. III 3200 well, working his way through the pack and into third before he was passed in the final 200 meters.

"We are extremely proud of Jeremy. He did a great job representing Fort Frye school district," said Fort Frye track coach Bobbi Webb. "He's had a great season and he's a very hard worker so hopefully we'll be back next year."

After Anderson's run Ross made her third straight appearance at the state meet for high jump.

Ross cleared easily on her first few attempts before struggling at 5-4 and bowing out at 5-5.

"They were still good jumps, just little things to work on," Schramm said of Ross' performance.

The Lady Tiger junior wasn't alone, however.

Five girls cleared 5-5 and three were left at 5-8 before Medina's Taylor Burke finally took the championship at 5-9.

Warren senior Justin Roush made his second appearance in the state meet competing in the Division II 800 after being a part of last year's state champion 4x800 relay.

Roush turned in a 2:00.37 but he didn't quite have the push to get through the tight back down the final stretch.

"He put himself in position to score and he just couldn't get through the traffic," said Warren track coach Al Riffey.

After Roush's run Marietta seniors Cody Westbrook and Mark Wieferich rounded out the local competition by representing the area the same way Marcum began it, with spots on the podium.

Westbrook placed second in the high jump, clearing 7-0 while Wieferich was sixth in the 3200 run in Div. I.

Both Tiger state placers will return to Jesse Owens next season for their collegiate careers with the Ohio State Buckeyes, proving how talented both they and Ohio track athletes are.

"You look at every event, the state of Ohio in track, it's got to be right up there with any other," said Marietta boys' track coach B.J. Mayer.