East Liverpool’s Brody Vulgamore takes the baton from Quintin Conrad in the Div. II 3200-meter relay on Friday at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.

COLUMBUS — An East Liverpool relay team stood on the podium at the state track meet for the first time ever Friday, but the Potters expected to be at the top.

The East Liverpool boys 3200-meter retlay team ran its second-fastest time ever and finished third in Division II state meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

East Liverpool’s team of seniors Quintin Conrad and Julius Jones and juniors Maddox Roach and Brody Vulgamore finished behind first-place Woodridge and second-place Ontario in 7 minutes, 55.21 seconds.

“We had a strong day, but not our best,” Roach said. “Our 7:51 would have won. If we had run that today, we would be wearing gold medals around our necks instead of bronze.”

The Potters had high expectations after a regional winning time of 7:51.42 last week — the top time in Division II this season.

“We were supposed to win it,” Vulgamore said. “We’re pretty disappointed, but still happy to get third in the state.”

He also ran on the relay team last year, knowing this was his golden (medal) opportunity.

“I worked to get the spot,” Vulgamore said. “I wanted the spot so bad to run with them and be here today.”

Conrad had the Potters in first place after the first lap, but they dropped to ninth place at the halfway point. Roach was in fourth place after the third leg and Jones had too much ground to make up.

“Julius is the key leg. Maddox, too,” Vulgamore said. “I didn’t really want to let the guys down. I wanted to run my best for them.”

The race came after a 78-minute weather delay due to lightning in the area, right before the Potters race.

“I was ready to go right there,” Vulgamore said. “I don’t know if it hurt. It didn’t help.”

It is the same Potter foursome that finished 16th last year.

“I started it off last year. It was a learning experience,” Vulgamore said. “I was glad just being at state last year. This year I thought we were going to win it with these guys.”

The Potters had nothing left for the rest of Friday.

Conrad was sixth in his heat and 15th overall in the 400 dash (50.99). The 1600 relay of Conrad, Maddox, senior Gavin Wright and junior Loyd Hendershot was eighth in its heat and 16th overall (3:30.47).

“Julius is having hamstring problems, so he took it off,” Roach said. “That was our longest shot. I wanted to conserve a little bit for (Saturday) because I have a really, really good shot at winning.”

Jones and Roach will be going after state titles in their individual races on Saturday afternoon — Roach in the 1600 run at 1:35 p.m. and Jones in the 800 run at 2:30 p.m.

“I’m hoping Julius is going to win it,” Vulgamore said. “He’s an amazing athlete and an amazing guy.”

“Julius wants to win,” Roach said. “I would like to go for the win. One second is all that separates the top three guys.”

They will try to add to their third-place finish from Friday.

“I’m happy to get my picture hung up at school,” Roach said. “Every day I walk by (the display) in the gymnasium, I say I want it to be me.”

At least once, so far.