COLUMBUS — Hayden McFadden wanted to make a splash on the opening day of the Division V state meet.

Mission accomplished.

The ultra-athletic senior placed sixth in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 1.75 inches, then punched his ticket to the finals of the 200-meter dash. McFadden finished second in his heat in 22.52 seconds to earn an automatic qualifying bid.

But it was his freshly-dyed pink hair that had everyone talking.

McFadden was also a member of Hillsdale’s state-qualifying 4×200 relay team. He was joined at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium by teammates Davis Radcliffe, Braxten Burgett and Mikey Shenberger.

All four dyed their hair pink ahead of the state meet.

“One of our guys, Braxten Burgett, said if we make it to state we all have to do a color,” McFadden said. “I told him I already had pink at home so I said if we get there we’ll all do pink.”

The Falcons foursome didn’t qualify for Friday’s finals in the 4×200, but McFadden was just glad to have some company in Columbus.

“I made it here last year, but I was by myself,” McFadden. “To come down here with my teammates this year is something I’ll cherish forever.”

Loudonville’s Sophie Shultz tied for 12th in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet, while teammate Cama Skok finished 17th. Braden Carr finished 14th in the pole vault (13-0) and Kaylinn Freelon was 11th in the 300 hurdles (48.30).

Division IV

Crestview had a strong showing on opening day of the Division IV meet.

Zoe Kuhn took fifth in the pole vault with a jump of 11-4, while Lane Robinson tied for fifth in the high jump (6-2).

“I started the season with a 6-2 jump, but then I kept getting lower and lower. I would jump 6-foot and then 5-10,” Robinson said. “Then I hurt my foot and was out for two weeks.

“I ended up getting eighth at the regional meet to get the last (state) qualifying spot.

“To place fifth at state feels pretty good.”

Max Durbin advanced to the finals in the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. He finished ninth in the 110s in 15.48 and fourth in the 300s (40.16).

Chloe Ringler finished 17th in the discus (111-3).