Lorain’s Cross wins 100 meters at regional meet

When Lorain junior Zion Cross made his season debut in the 100-meter dash last week at the district meet, he was a little off. Coming off a hamstring he pulled in February a week before the indoor state meet, that was to be expected.

But perhaps some doubted whether Cross would figure it out.

He ended those doubts on May 26 at the Division I Regional meet at Richard S. Cooley Track at Amherst, winning his second straight regional title in the 100 with an 11.04.

Cross then followed that up on the winning 4x2 relay team as the second leg, along with Ashaun Echols, Chris Cintron and Daesean Brooks for a 42.59. Cross is officially back. “I took my leggings off so it gave me more of a knee lift and more acceleration,” Cross said. “I had my leggings on to prevent an-

other hamstring injury but I just had to let go and I felt great.”

The Lorain boys finished 10th as the highest local team with 30 points. St. Ignatius won the regional crown with 73 points. The Titans’ 4x2 relay of Cintron, Kevin Brown, Mike Harrell, and Brooks clocked in at 1:30.46 for a third place and are heading to Columbus as well.

For Cross, putting his best foot forward at the regionals was critical to let his competition know that the 100-meter state title still goes through him next week on June 2-3 as he tries for a repeat.

“It’s a humbling feeling,” Cross said. “All I could do is thank God and keeping pushing forward. I was actually scared going through my injury, but I trusted the process and put God first and trusted him. It’s a big accomplishment and I told myself if I made it this far, I would be proud of myself.”

The Rocky River girls impressed, finishing with 43 points and a fourth place as the highest local team. Brunswick won the team title with 81 points. The Pirates’ 4x8 relay

team of Laura DeVito, Ava Rauser, Allison Contenza and Anna Brandt already clinched a state berth on May 24 with a second place finish (9:20.99). On Day 2, the 4x4 relay of Rauser, Laura Banks, DeVito and Brandt broke the school record with a 3:54.92 and a second place.

Brandt additionally qualified in the 300 hurdles, finishing third (45.42). DeVito broke the school record in the 800-meter run with a 2:12.66 first place and Rauser was fourth (2:15.92).

“We broke the school record last year and it’s really exciting to do it again,” DeVito said about the 4x4.

Both DeVito, a senior, and Rauser, a sophomore, push each other day in and day out in the 800 race. That hard work paid off for the both of them.

“We train with each other every day and stay close to each other as much as possible,” Rauser said. “We feed off each other. It’s really crazy and I’m excited that I also qualified. I credit a lot of it to Laura and she’s always believed in me even when I necessarily didn’t. It’s awesome that I get to go with her to state.”

On the boys side, the Pirates also saw sophomore Michael Shoaf place third in the shot put (58-8.5). It’s

the second year in a row Shoaf is a state qualifier.

“I got it on my final throw and I was just more relaxed,” Shoaf said. “It means everything and it’s great going back.”

Amherst sophomore Taylor Hooks doubled up for her bid to Columbus, placing third in the 200 (25.13) and fourth in the 100 (12.44). Hooks was also on the third place 4x2 relay (1:42.25) that she accomplished on Day 1. It’s the second year in a row Hooks qualified. Teammate Alexis Alston, a freshman, placed third in the 400 (56.92) and was also on Wednesday’s 4x2. The Comets’ 4x1 relay of Victoria Kubasak, Audrey Fayer, Gracen Siegenthaler and Brooke Armbruster qualified with a 49.24 and a fourth place.

“On Wednesday I ran the 4x2 and I felt lightheaded and I couldn’t run in my 4x1,” Hook said. “But I knew I had to do what I had to do to get into state today. Last year I know I ran a way better time but I’m just hoping I can run that down in Columbus and maybe not do as bad as I did last year.”

“I didn’t know what place I was going to finish in and I’m happy with third,” Alston added. “It’s an exciting feeling. As a freshman, all I could do is

get better from this point.”

The Comets’ Josh Hill qualified in the 3,200, finishing third (9:23.62), ahead of Rocky River’s Eddie Zuercher (9:26.05).

“I went out the first mile pretty slow and the second mile I went faster,” Hill said. “I just kicked it in for the last lap. I never thought I’d be a three-time state qualifier by my sophomore year (including cross country). This one is the best experience and feeling because I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

Olmsted Falls senior long jumper Mary Piper, for the second consecutive year, is going to Columbus after placing second with a PR 17-9.5. Avon’s Kamryn Sharer jumped the same distance, but placed third. Leading up to the regionals, Piper had won every meet she’s competed at. And she hasn’t hit a PR since her sophomore season before now.

“There was a lot of pressure going in but knowing I’ve made it two years in a row is awesome,” Piper said. “I just imagined myself getting a PR and I’ve done a lot of work with my coach. I wasn’t expecting to win but I was hoping to get in the top four. For next week, I’m hoping to get into the 18s and at least get into the top five.”