COLUMBUS Last season was a bit of a nightmare for Midpark pole vaulter Aaron Owens, to say the least.Stricken with mono for much of the year, Owens couldn’t participate in most track and field meets and barely made it regionals. This season was a different story.Owens returned to form and soared to a second place finish in the pole vault at the Division I state tournament over the weekend at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.In his first ever trip to states, the junior posted a final height of 15-feet, 8-inches. Gahanna Lincoln’s Jacob Blankenship not only won the event, but he recorded an OHSAA Division I record height of 17-2.“I feel good, it makes me want to come back,” said Owens. “I had a goal that I wanted to at least match my PR which was 16-0. I didn’t get that but I placed second so I can’t complain about it.”Dublin Coffman’s Michael Bennett was third (15-8), followed by Centerville’s Charlie Moushey (15-4), Miamisburg’s Zak Kruer (15-0), Findlay’s Cody Swisher (15-0), Canal Winchester’s Tyler Jenkins (15-0) and Massillon Jackson’s Vinny Martello (15-0).“It’s competitive,” said Owens. “I really enjoy it. It’s a friendly competition with a lot of good athletes. I enjoy competing.”Owens said he competed in the first meet of the season last year before getting sick.“I was out the whole season until districts,” said Owens. “It’s difficult. You have to stay in top shape.”His experience was a little better this time around. Not only did he advance and place at states, he also got a change to vault with his teammate, Jerry Hopkins, who tied for 11th in Columbus with a height of 14-0.“I really enjoy it,” said Owens. “Next year we’re hoping to have three because we have a really good relay team but from districts to regionals you can only take two. They played rock, paper scissors for who came.“It feels good to represent Midpark.”  more