TIFFIN — Competing on their home track, the Tiffin Columbian track and field teams turned in several strong performances and advanced more athletes to next week's regional championships during the OHSAA Division II District Track and Field Championships at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

Leading the way for the Tornadoes was Freshmen Caroline Newlove, who earned a regional berth in the girls 300-meter hurdles. Newlove placed third in a highly competitive field with a time of 47.12 seconds. She also added a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 27.26.

Columbian's girls 4x200-meter relay team also secured a trip to regionals. The quartet of Josie Kancler, Ava Newman, Abby Lewis, and Newlove finished runner-up in 1:48.11 to earn an automatic qualifying spot.

On the boys side, Dashawn Russell punched his ticket to regionals with a fourth-place finish in the 400-meter dash. Russell clocked a time of 51.05 seconds to advance and was one of Columbian's top individual performers of the meet.

In the field events, Tara Duffy continued her strong postseason by qualifying for regionals in the discus after advancing already in the Shot Put. Duffy finished fourth with a throw of 112 feet, 11 inches.

Several other Tornadoes narrowly missed advancing while earning valuable district points. Ava Newman placed sixth in the girls 100-meter dash in 13.43, while Emma Musgrave finished fifth in the girls 800 meters in 2:28.56. Carmen Lewis added a fifth-place finish in the girls 1600 meters, running 5:29.51 after already advancing in the 3200.

Other top-eight finishers for the Columbian girls included Kennedy Wilhelm, seventh in the 400 meters (1:06.50); Izzy Thompson, sixth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.13); the 4x100 relay team of Kancler, Lewis, Morgan Roach, and Newman, fifth in 51.47; and the 4x400 relay team of Wilhelm, Musgrave, Genna Cleveland, and Sophia Miller, eighth in 4:35.18.

For the boys, Xavier Melick placed sixth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:57.46. The 4x400 relay team of Lukas Smyser, Russell, Amar'e LeGrant, and Melick finished seventh in 3:34.18.

With four more regional qualifiers and numerous top-eight finishes, the Tornadoes showcased the depth of their program and will now focus their attention on the regional championships next week at Lexington High School.