The boys track season begins the weekend of March 27 and to kick it off the Marion Star is asking fans to pick their favorite athlete among a list of Marion-area boys track standouts.
The Marion Star Preseason Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for 2026 Poll will be open now through early morning of April 3 at MarionStar.com and its app.
Fans are encouraged to vote as often as allowed.
Here are the nominees:
Marion Star Preseason Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year for 2026 Poll
Cardington senior Blake Bertke: Seventh in the regional shot put, fifth in the distirct discus.
Elgin senior Garret Lowry: Regional qualifier in the discus.
Highland junior Jett Black: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference and district pole vault champion, 2025 state indoor track champion, fifth at state meet pole vault at 14 feet, 6 inches.
Marion Harding senior Jaidin Ramirez: Third in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference in the 1600 meters, 3200 and 4×800 relay.
Mount Gilead senior Owen Hershner: Ninth at the state 4×800 relay, eighth in the regional 1600.
Northmor senior Levi Hunter: 15th at state pole vault at 13 feet, state qualifier in the 4×400 relay, school record 14-1 in the pole vault, seventh in the 2026 state indoor meet pole vault at 14-0.
North Union senior Griffin Osborne: 13th at state long jump at 20-9 3/4, regional runner-up long jump at 22-1, regional qualifier with the 4×100 relay.
Pleasant junior Joey Dietsch: 14th in the 3200 regional in 10:48.87.
Ridgedale junior Breyton Richmond: Sixth in the state 800 in 1:56.6, eighth in the state 4×800 relay, fourth in the 2026 state indoor meet 800 in 2:00.31.
River Valley senior Jackson Kloha: Regional qualifier in the discus, personal records of 147-9 in the discus and 46-6 1/2 in the shot put.
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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Star Preseason Boys Track Athlete of the Year Poll, VOTE now
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