GAHANNA — Leading the boys 1,600-meter run, Isaac Potes looked at the runner beside him.

“Have fun with that first place,” Potes told him.

But the two decided to cross the finish line together.

“Then other people started catching us, so we had to speed back up,” Potes said.

Wednesday was the first part of the Division III, Central District track and field meet at Gahanna-Lincoln High School. Potes was one of many on the Fredericktown boys squad who will advance to event finals.

Potes finished second in the preliminary race, but he doesn’t intend to be laid-back with his speed during the event’s final on Saturday.

According to Bob Geiger, head coach of Fredericktown’s boys and girls teams, a prelim for the 3,200-meter run is unusual.