By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Southeast Middle School track and field standout Jenna Canale recently competed in the Middle School State Championships hosted Hilliard Darby High School.

JENNA CANALE

Canale, an eighth-grader, placed ninth overall in the 800 meters at the state-level event and her time of 2:26.71 set a new middle-school record.

The record was previously held by Hannah Schill, who ran a time of 2:30 in 2015.

Canale, who was the Portage Trail Conference champion in the 800 meters, also was the individual league champion in for the Pirates during the fall cross-country season. She also plays volleyball and plays basketball.

“We had been watching Jenna’s place in the top 25 of the state all season,” Southeast middle school track and field coach Monica Kiskadden said. “She was sitting 19th in the state when she entered the state competition. She practiced with the high school an fine tuned her approach in the 800. At the state meet, we ran into Southeast alum Curtis Ahrens, and he told her to leave it all out on the track, and she did.”

Canale’s previous personal record in the 800 was 2:31.

“Jenna is coachable, and she is willing to push herself to success through hard work and tenacity,” Kiskadden said “She is an amazing athlete to coach and watch succeed.”