The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Seven crowned at D-I regional
— Euclid’s Caisja Chandler
YOUNGSTOWN » It’s a good thing the podium at Austintown-Fitch has a durable rubber panel on each step.
Because May 25 during D-I Fitch Regional, area athletes were wearing out the ones that matter most as attention shifts toward Columbus — especially the one step at the very top.
Seven area champions were crowned and several more will ride the bus down Interstate 71 next weekend after a banner afternoon and evening at Fitch.
Euclid’s Caisja Chandler was in record-breaking mode again, shattering her own 200 area record set the weekend prior at the D-I Mayfield District with a regional-record 23.59.
The senior also led the Panthers to state in 4x200 (second, 1:40.57) and 4x100 (fourth, 48.15). That 4x200 time breaks the area record set by Beaumont in 2013 of 1:40.74.
“I just knew I had to get out of the blocks really fast (in 200), because I really wanted to break 23.78 from last week at district,” Chandler said. “So I just tried to sprint all the way through — just trying to see where the line was at so I could really get to the line.
“I was excited. I’m excited for state next week just to see what happens down there.”
“I’m excited for state next week just to see what happens down there.”
Madison’s Nolan Landis completed a throws sweep with a win in shot put with a throw of 59-1. Landis is the first Blue Streaks boys shot putter to qualify for state since 1946.
“Yeah, (a 59) works,” Landis said. “Of course, I want to peak to my max next week, so I would have liked more today. But obviously, the goal was to move on.
“It felt really nice to get a victory.”
Brush’s Jasmyn Allen repeated in 100 hurdles with a 14.45, a .22 drop from when she reigned at Fitch last spring.
Allen had a 14.33 at Mansfield Mehock Relays and an impressive triple at the Western Reserve Conference meet to key her postseason charge.
“I was just happy that I defended my title,” Allen said. “The time — I’ve run faster before. It was graduation week, so I went out to eat and all that. But next week, I’ll be much better with my diet — much better.
“To repeat, it’s really good because that’s what I really, really wanted to do. I really just wanted to defend my title. I’m upset that I didn’t PR, but I wasn’t super mad about it because I have another week.”
Mentor freshman phenom Paige Floriea was at it again, taking the long jump with a best effort of 19-0 as well as a second in the 100 (11.98) and a fourth in the 200 (24.51). Floriea is the first girl in school history to advance to state in 100 and managed her workload well on a humid day.
“It was a bit of a challenge today with the hot weather,” Floriea said. “I began to feel it once I was done running the 4x2. My coaches really helped me cool down, but it was stressful running back and forth to get my (4x2) team there on time and get myself there on time.
“(The 100) felt good. For the first time in a while, my blocks felt like they were powerful — a full push. I knew right when that happened that I could full speed all the way through to try to get my best time possible.”
Brush’s Quentin Woodall was locked in amid a nice triple, taking first in the 110 hurdles (14.21) and second in the 100 (10.79)
and the 200 (21.56).
Woodall is the first Arcs boys sprinter to qualify for state in both sprints in the same year since 1958.
“Well, I’ve got to work on my hurdles, because I know 14.21 is not going to win state,” Woodall said. “I’ve got to work on my hurdle technique, and I’ve got to get stronger because I want to take all three titles. I’ve got to work way harder.
“I can’t be mad at the officials to give me more time for the 100 (after 110 hurdles). They’re on the clock, and they’ve got to run when they’ve got to run. I’ve just got to be more prepared and hydrate a little more.”
Geneva’s Taylor Wilms became the first girls hurdler to advance to state in school history with a flourish, capturing the 300 hurdles with a 45.03. Wilms gave Perry staple Leah King a challenge in the event at the CVC Chagrin meet and has been on a nice roll since.
“It’s actually a really great feeling, considering all the girls before me (at Geneva) were great athletes,” Wilms said. “Every year I run, and my coach sets me up — ‘You’re going to do as good as they did.’ Really, I’m just happy to make my school proud and really let people know where Geneva is.
“It felt good. Like always, I always want to run faster in everything. But really my goal was to win, top four — I just wanted to make podium. I really want to get a good time. I don’t know — I felt really strong in the end on that finishing.”
Geneva’s Alex Bryan may have authored the feel-good tale of the meet. Coming in the slowest seed out of district competition, Bryan won a regional title with a masterful back half to his 800 en route to a 1:54.60.
“My coach just told me to get out fast since I was going to be in the first lane and could get boxed in,” Bryan said. “Race to the cutoff point, and then stick with the leader from there.
“(Leaving it all on the track with a one-race day) was definitely my mentality. I had three events in regional prelims. I said, ‘I have one more. Why not go all out?’ ”
Coming soon
For more from this meet, check back through state week on News-Herald.com and in our print edition.