Beaver Local's Richie Wyse hands off to Luke Rettos in a Div. III 400-meter relay prelim on Friday at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

Beaver Local’s Landon Wheatley competes in the 300-meter hurdle prelimas on Friday at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

Beaver Local’s Nolan Irving competes in the 1600-meter relay on Friday on Friday at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

Beaver Local’s Luke Warrick competes in teh Div. III 1600-meter relay on Friday at the state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus. (Photo by Ron Firth)

COLUMBUS — Salem freshman Chaya Murray made her presence known at the state track meet Friday.

She posted the top time in the 200-meter dash and anchored the 400 and 1600 relay teams in the Division III preliminaries.

“It’s amazing,” Murray. “I had so much fun.”

The fun starts Saturday night when the Quakers will be running in the state finals at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

“I want to be the state champion, but I have to give my all,” Murray said.

She was impressive in the 200 dash with a time of 24.98 seconds. The next closest is 25.21.

“I think she’s going to win,” Salem senior Lucas Adams said. “When she’s under pressure, she’s antsy … in a good way.”

Murray will run for the state title at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

“Some nerves, more excited,” she said.

Having the top time gives her even more confidence.

“It means a lot,” she said. “It’s a special thing and knowing what I can accomplish.”

The 400 relay team of Angie Hoffaker, Abby Knickerbocker, Karlie Sampson and Murray was third in its heat and seventh overall in a school-record 49.32).

The 1600 relay team of Laura Hovorka, Knickerbocker was fourth in its heat and seventh overall (4:01.63).

“We did really good and I’m glad we all advanced,” Murray said.

The top two in each heat and the next five fastest times advance to Saturday’s state finals.

What will Murray be concentrating on Saturday.

“Giving my all, staying positive and just enjoying the moment,” she said.

Meet notes

• The Salem girls 3200 relay team ran at state an eighth straight year and had whole new new team.

Addison Hopple, Laura Hovorka, Emily Sinsley and Sarah Sinsley finished 13th (9:47.77).

The Eastern Buckeye Conference was well represented as Minerva was sixth (9:35.47) and Marlington was 15th (9:54.33).

• Hoppel finished 14th in the 3200 run (11:32.67).

Marlington junior Irelyn Johnson was third (10:36.09) and Mineva junior Makenzie Beavers was 17th (11:39.78).

• Knickerbocker was seventh in her heat and 12th overall in the 400 dash (59.21).

• South Range senior Taylor Dado was seventh n the Division IV 400 dash finals (58.76).

Beavers out

• The Beaver Local boys did not advance out of the Division III preliminaries.

• Junior Landon Wheatley was in fifth in his heat and 10th overall (40.24).

Youngstown Ursuline senior Xavier Starghill posted the top time in a personal-best 37.57 seconds.

• The 1600 relay team of Zachary Redman, Luke Warrick, Luke Rettos and Nolan Irving was seventh in its heat and 12th overall (3:25.86).

• The 400 relay team of Richie Wyse, Luke Rettos, Nolan Irving and Zachary Redman was eighth in its heat and 17th overall (43.66).