The other track athlete we will recognize is Columbus’ Sam Chaney. Chaney enjoyed success in cross country and as a junior was towards the front at the state meet when he became ill and wasn’t able to finish. In his senior season for track and field, Chaney was determined to get to state and perform strong. At state, in his first distance race, the two mile, Chaney finished second, but on the last day running in the mile Chaney became the first Columbus Wildcat to win a state championship in a distance event. Mike Jay coached Chaney in cross country and works with distance runners on the track and field team. Jay is also the public address announcer for the Drake Relays and the State Track and Field Meet and he found himself in an unusual situation calling Chaney’s race at state. He says it was pretty exciting and the way it turned out, Chaney ended up beating the kid that beat him in the two mile.