The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Division I state track and field capsule
June 1 and 2 Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus
June 1 — 4:45 p.m. (girls 4x800 final), 5 p.m. (boys 4x800 final), 5:15 to 7:25 p.m. (running preliminaries except distance); June 2 — noon (boys shot put, girls discus, boys pole vault, boys long jump and girls high jump), 3 p.m. (girls shot put, boys discus, girls pole vault, girls long jump and boys high jump), 4:30 to 6:50 p.m. (running finals)
Brush’s Quentin Woodall spoke of his desire at the Division I AustintownFitch Regional to go all-in for a state triple in 110-meter hurdles, 100 and 200. If he manages his raceload and the humidity well, don’t put it past him. In 110s, in which he was fourth at state a year ago, Woodall will need to go sub-14 with so many low-14 seeds coming in. Lakewood’s Tyler Hannah and Toledo Whitmer’s Jacob Gladieux are among the tough customers there. Gahanna Lincoln’s LaCarr Trent getting under 10.7 in 100 wouldn’t be a surprise in the final, but the top four could be wide-open with the depth of the field. The 200 will be interesting with such a new-look field — only two underclassmen competed in the event at state in 2017. Woodall is well-positioned there in the mid-21s, but it’s likely to take in the 21.1 range to win a state title . ... Madison’s Nolan Landis won’t be fazed by the circles at Ohio State after competing at the Class AAA state meet as a freshman and sophomore in Pennsylvania for Erie Cathedral Prep. He’ll be an integral part of both throws — and discus especially could be a lot of fun. Landis will likely need 190-plus with returning state champion Andrew White of Canton GlenOak and Rocky River’s Michael Shoaf coming in on fine form. With that trio, it could require 200 or close to it to win. Shoaf will also be among the main competition for Landis in shot put. A high-50 early in prelims flirting with 60 would set a nice tone . ... Mayfield’s Bobby Casey has a tricky but with his skill set attainable double in long jump and pole vault at the same time. The logistic challenge for the area long jump record holder is he’s in the second flight of long jump prelims. How that times out with pole vault going up in height and that event’s Mentor’s Paige Floriea, shown in 100 during the Division I Mayfield District, was second in that event and first in long jump during the Austintown-Fitch Regional.
pacing could be interesting. Casey was consistently in the 22s at regional and will need another high-23 in long jump, and pole vault will need to push toward 15 . ... Harvey’s Duane Grimes has a good shot at the podium in 300 hurdles, albeit in a hot field with four 37s coming in from regional. Grimes has nice endurance in his last 50 and encouraged with a 38.86 at Fitch but likely needs to pick up pace 100 to 200 to get deeper in the 38s to give himself
a chance. With one race at state, the potential is there. ... Geneva’s Alex Bryan, capitalizing on his D-II state charge experience in 800 last spring, was commendable in going from the last seed coming in from district to D-I Fitch Regional champion with a 1:54.60. It will take something better than that to get on the podium in a strong field with reigning state champion Malachi McGill of Hilliard Darby and Wadsworth’s Nick Miller and Toledo Whitmer’s Nathan Cousino coming in under 1:51. But Bryan will take a good crack at it in his final high school race . ... You get the sense 3,200 could be scintillating with a top three or four under 9:10. Could Chardon’s Nate Kawalec jump into that argument? He went 9:13.66 to take fourth in a fine state race last spring, so it’s doable . ... For Mentor’s Caden McGing and Euclid’s Chris Cooper in high jump, keep an eye on how many jumpers are clean at 6-4. If they can be part of that group, they should vie for the podium.
Brush’s Jasmyn Allen has shown the ability to hit in the low-14s in 100 hurdles — her repeat at Fitch was especially poised. That’s about what it will take at state. If Allen can hit around 14.2 in prelims, the final could be exciting as she competes with Holland Springfield’s Victoria Abunaw, among others. ... Mentor freshman Paige Floriea will be a prohibitive favorite in long jump, coming in as the only 19-foot jumper in the field and off her area-record 20-0 3⁄4 at the GCC meet. Returning state champion Hope Purcell of Lancaster has 19 potential, but Floriea should be fine if she can push into the mid-19s. As far as 100, Floriea is assuredly a big part of the future — and a sub-12 is pleasing coming in. But it will likely require a big number to test the dynamic Abby Steiner of Dublin Coffman . ... Euclid’s Caisja Chandler has been on the best form of her career in 200, including her News-Herald coverage area and regional record 23.59 at Fitch. That said, Steiner is the fastest girls sprinter ever from Ohio — she holds both state records. Chandler can give Steiner a test, but she’ll need the best homestretch turn attack of her career . ... Also for the Panthers, 4x2 may have a better shot to jump into the top two or three than 4x1, but both are very good and the poise a young group around Chandler has shown has been nice to see . ... Geneva’s Taylor Wilms has been building well in 300 hurdles. Her 45.03 to win at Fitch was a solid race. But with four sub-43.5s coming in, Wilms needs a 44 in prelims and needs to feed off Cincinnati Princeton’s Angel Gazaway one lane over . ... The main competition for area pole vault record holder and Geneva senior Deidra Marrison for a state crown to cap a decorated career is likely to be Olentangy’s Siobhan Szerencsits. That duel could go for a while, 12-6 and above.