The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Looking at this week’s regional competition
High school track and field athletes head to Youngstown for Divisions I and II, and the area Division III contingent is off to Massillon Perry with the goal of advancing to Columbus in mind.
Schedule for all regionals: Day 1 — Girls shot put, boys discus, boys pole vault, boys long jump and girls high jump finals; 4x800 finals; pre‑ liminaries for all running events except distance; Day 2 — Boys shot put, girls discus, girls pole vault, girls long jump and boys high jump finals; running finals
What’s next: Top four in each event advance to state
DIVISION I
When: 5 p.m., May 24 and 26 (meet program at baumspage. com)
Where: Austintown‑Fitch; 1 Falcon Drive, Youngstown
Boys: Lake Catholic and Men‑ tor have shown the potential all spring to be in the argument for a 4x800 state berth and have the back‑end horses — Jacob Keating and Matthew Bull, respectively — to have a say. Some years, it takes deep into the 7:50s to make it out. This time, it could be a little closer to 8:00, but strong middle legs are essential going into those veteran anchors . ... Lake’s Del’Mario Hairston is seemingly a 23 waiting to happen in long jump. If he can get there, it should seal a trip to Columbus. ... South’s Devonaire Conliffe has enjoyed a strong shot put campaign, and if he can be around his 56‑4 1⁄2 from last week at the Mayfield District, he’ll be fine . ... Euclid’s Isiah Claytor has shown promise in high jump, getting 6‑6 in the regular season, so he should be in the mix late at Fitch . ... Hurdles will be a highlight with Lake’s Connor Duricky battling Marlington’s Lane Knoch and a strong Fitch field. A sub‑14 if the weather and block work is right in 110 hurdles for Duricky would not be a shock. ... Brush’s Quentin Woodall has a shot to advance in both hurdles but needs much deeper into the 14s in 110s and 39s in 300s to contend . ... Chardon’s Jon McKnight and Mayfield’s Zak Mahdaoui could barge into the 400 conversation but need at least high‑49s . ... In 1,600, second‑lap tone is key for Keating as he seeks to push for sub‑4:20 and the top of the podium, which is well within his skill set . ... The 800 could be fascinating — expect boxing to be furious at the turn. Bull is the lone returning D‑I boys 800 state finalist at Fitch and has the back‑half pacing to contend. Don’t be surprised to see a go‑for‑broke run from Kenston’s Sam Slezak as he pushes for his first state berth in his final try . ... Chardon’s Nate Kawalec has been dialed in with 3,200 work all spring. He might want to temper his first‑mile pacing a little in a seasoned field with Solon’s Joe Riordan and Hudson’s Blake Roberts and Adam Beucler, but he has shown the sub‑9:20 potential you need at Fitch.
Girls: Mentor’s 4x8 must return to that 9:21 range it showed at the GCC meet, but it’s assuredly a comfort know‑ ing it’s there. A big key would be if sophomore Sarah Lane can pop the relay with some‑ thing around 2:18. That would likely get the Cardinals away from the backstretch nonsense that makes life treacherous at Fitch . ... No area hurdler has made more technical strides from last year to now than Brush’s Jasmyn Allen. After not making the regional final a year ago, Allen is likely to factor into the 100 hurdles regional title picture with her sub‑15 ability. ... Euclid’s Caisja Chandler has a very good shot at a sprint double. The junior is clearly figuring out her craft, getting more out of her arm angles and stride than at any point in her career. If the conditions are right, the times to go with po‑ tential 100 and 200 wins could be pretty gaudy, too . ... Geneva and Kenston’s young 4x1s are on great form going in — can they get into the mid‑49s? ... There aren’t many sure things at Fitch, and yes, Nordonia’s Faith Banks is an outstanding 400 performer. But that seems like a stage for Mentor’s Emma Lane to drop the hammer one last time at regional, maybe even flirting with low‑55s. ... Chardon’s Deanna Ogrinc fought hard to earn her first state berth a year ago in 300 hurdles — a second straight trip with the trajectory she’s been on in the event toward low‑45s in 2017 appears to be in the cards . ... With Emma Lane scratching 200 at district last week, expect Mentor’s 4x4 to go for a sub‑4:00, which usually gets any quartet into the top‑four mix . ... Geneva’s Deidra Marrison will be a pro‑ hibitive favorite for a pole vault title with 13s in her arsenal.
DIVISION II
When: 5 p.m., May 25 and 11:30 a.m., May 27 (meet pro‑ gram at baumspage.com)
Where: Austintown‑Fitch; 1 Falcon Drive, Youngstown
Boys: The depth of this 4x8 field likely means 8:15 and under is needed to advance — and it could also mean a tight pack of five or six. NDCL has been around 8:18 this year and was 8:24 last week and needs to feed off that in the front half of this race . ... You would be hard‑pressed to find a better boys sprinting district in Ohio. Gilmour’s Dylan Henry and Wickliffe’s Jordan Ard will have to navigate waters featuring Warrensville Heights’ Deme‑ tri Keaton and Streetboro’s returning state champion Dakari Carter, but those area standouts are both very strong big‑stage performers in their own right . ... Geneva’s Alex Bryan and NDCL’s Ryan Hertz could push for state berths in 800 but need at least 1:58, and the Eagles’ Kody Brown could net his first pole vault state berth if he can clear 13 again... Keep an eye as well on VASJ’s sprint relays and Vikings junior Nate Dean, whose ascent in open 400 has been impressive.
Girls: Chagrin Falls’ defending state champion 4x8 is entirely back and arguably even better than last year. If the Tigers play their hand right, the regional record of 9:14.35 could be challenged . ... Just like last week at the Perry District, the Beachwood duo of Leah Roter and Mia Knight should both contend for doubles. No one is touching Roter in 3,200, but another 1,600 battle between Roter and Chagrin’s Annie Zimmer deep under 5:10 would be a lot of fun . ... Knight’s main competition for a sprint double appears to be Ravenna’s Azsah Bradley. The standout junior believes there’s room for technical improvement, but low‑12s and low‑25s are a good place to be amid that process . ... Chagrin’s Halle McClintock will be a handful in 800 again, maybe even with a 2:12 as a base into state . ... Perry sophomore Leah King could challenge for a hurdles double — 100s is locked in at the moment, and Akron SVSM’s Sara Foster could be exactly the competition King needs to get her 300s toward the low‑44 range . ... Gilmour will pile up team points like usual and have a good chance to start in style with a top three in 4x8 . ... Beaumont’s Reba Bartram will be in the hunt for an open 400 berth and gives the Blue Streaks the veteran leadership they need on the anchor to challenge for state in 4x8 and 4x4 . ... In field events, there’s a good chance at multiple area berths in pole vault and long jump, especially the former with West Geauga’s Alison D’Alessandro and Perry’s Brooke Sutyak bringing in deep 11‑plus potential. Long jump at Fitch is always tough to gauge, but a mid‑16 should guarantee state chances.
DIVISION III
When: 5 p.m., May 24 and 26 (meet program at baumspage. com)
Where: Massillon Perry; 3737 13th Street SW, Massillon
Boys: A year removed from Cardinal shot putter Nate Peters being the only area boys D‑III state qualifier, it’s likely numbers will be low again but there are a couple decent chances for advancement . ... Kirtland high jumper Max Janas has gone 6‑3 this spring, and something similar on this big stage would likely all but seal a trip to Columbus . ... It also wouldn’t be a surprise if New‑ bury’s Jonah Hamby had a say in 300 hurdles, but he needs to be at least mid‑40s for that to happen.
Girls: Kirtland’s Grace Powers should vie for an open 400 title and helps give the Hornets rightful aspirations for state in 4x4 and 4x8. Jenna Sayle could also be a factor in 1,600. ... Cardinal’s Erin Ross is in a good place with her 300 hurdles work, flirting with the sub‑47 range needed to get out in D‑III . ... It seems as if long jump might be able to produce a qualifier if Cardinal’s Trisha Cesar or Berkshire’s Breanna Pennypacker can reach into the 16s.