DAYTON -- It was Welcome Stadium, but it might as well have been the Chesapeake High School track.

T. R. Hannan admitted he was nervous when he began the high jump event Friday in the Division III state track meet, but that soon passed.

And not only did he calm his nerves, he finished as the state runner-up.

"My first jump I was real nervous, but once I got the first jump out of the way, it felt like any other meet," Hannan said. "It felt just like at home, only there was more at stake."

Hannan matched his personal-best with a leap of 6-feet, five inches. He won the regional meet with the same height.

Chad Clemons of Lakeside Danbury cleared 6-foot-6 to win the event. He actually had more misses overall than Hannan, but was the only jumper to clear the 6-6 height.

Tyler Niekamp of Fort Recovery also went 6-5, but he had more misses which allowed Hannan to claim second place all to himself.

Jason Jackson of Defiance Ayersville, who won the state title the past two years, came into the meet having jumped 6-11 in the regionals. However, he only went 6-4 and finished fourth.

"Second or third is where I figured I'd finish," Thomas said. "I'm glad I came in and jumped well. I jumped what I have all year. That makes me happy."

There was a wind in the jumpers face, but Hannan said "it bothered me a little bit, but when I got up there I blocked it out and I didn't think about it."

Chesapeake coach Phil Davis was pleased with Hannan's performance. Hannan just missed clearing 6-6 on his second of three jumps at the height.

"He jumped well. He cleared 6-4 easy. I wish he could of had that jump at 6-6," Davis said.

Hannan just shook his head and grinned at the near miss.

"I hit my hair or something. I didn't think I hit it hard enough to knock it off," Hannan said.