The Hudson boys track and field team placed fifth with 39 points at the 31-team Jesse Owens Classic May 3 in Columbus.

Reynoldsburg won the competition with 96 points and Centerville placed second (70.5). Rounding out the top four were Lakewood St. Edward (66) and Upper Arlington (43). Akron Buchtel (38) finished sixth.

Alex Nye and Alex Erdmann placed first and second in the 3,200-meter race with times of 4 minutes, 24.38 seconds and 4:26.63, respectively, to lead the Explorers.

Also placing for Hudson were the following:

3,200-meter relay: Matt Woods, Carl Petterson, Cote Richard and Michael Wilke, seventh, 8:33.29

400 relay: John Pouliot, Gabe Adams, Ryan Bosman and Tony Davis, eighth, 46.43

1,600 relay: Steve Fischer, Erdmann, Wilke and Davis, sixth, 3:34.03

3,200: Tyler Saunders, fourth, 9:43.76

800: Erdmann, sixth, 2:01.12

400: Fischer, fifth, 52.07

300 hurdles: Bosman, sixth, 42.17

The Explorers have been turning it up another notch since finishing second at the Bellaire Relays April 26.

"This team has improved greatly throughout the season," Hudson head coach Rod O'Donnell said. "We had a great meet at Bellaire and we've won two dual meets in a row. I'm pleased with how things have gone."

The Explorers are set to visit Northeast Ohio Conference rival Strongsville May 7 at 4:30 p.m.

They are scheduled to compete at the Westlake Relays May 10 at 11 a.m.

-- From staff reports

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