NAVARRE Mogadore senior Mike Wagner moved one stop closer to defending his Division III state long jump title by qualifying for next weeks state track & field tournament at the Navarre Division III Regional, which began Wednesday at Fairless High School. Wagner, the 2003 Portage County League and district long jump champion, recorded a jump of 21-00.75 to best the field once again. In addition, Wagner also qualified for Fridays regional finals in three other events by finishing in the top eight in the preliminary heats. Wagner had the best qualifying time in the 200 meters (22.52), and the second-best time in both the 100 (11.29) and the 400 (50.58). Wagners effort helped Mogadore grab second place after day one of the regional meet with 10 points, one less than Smithville. On the girls side, Waterloos Jessica Heffner qualified for next weeks state meet by finishing fourth in the shot put with a toss of 35-9.75. Heffner was the only area qualifier so far, as just three events were completed on Wednesday. The Vikings Cassie Bedard finished eighth in the high jump with a leap of 5-0, but failed to qualify. In preliminary heats, Waterloo qualified its 4x200-, 4x100- and 4x400-meter relay teams for Fridays regional finals. The Vikings rest in eighth place after day one with six points. Gates Mills Hawken leads with 18 points.
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