Division II state track and field capsule

June 1 and 2 Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus

June 1 — 9:30 a.m. (boys shot put, girls discus, boys pole vault, boys long jump and girls high jump), 1:30 p.m. (girls 4x800 final), 1:45 p.m. (boys 4x800 final), 2 to 4:10 p.m. (running preliminaries except distance); June 2 — 9:30 a.m. (girls shot put, boys discus, girls pole vault, girls long jump and boys high jump), 1 to 3:15 p.m. (running finals)

What’s especially encouraging for Benedictine’s Matthew Dinovo in 300-meter hurdles is he comes in as the secondfastest seed from regional competition with a 38.29 despite clipping his first and last hurdles while winning the Division II AustintownFitch Regional. That seems to suggest Dinovo, if his 13step rhythm and trail leg are slightly better, that he could give Sheridan’s Ethan Tabor a dogfight for the state title in the event. Dinovo’s D-I state experience in 300s from last spring will pay big dividends here . ... In throws, Perry’s Justin Haywood is right there with an opportunity to complete his career with a pair of podiums after his shot put and discus sweep at Fitch. A 160-plus in discus and mid-to-high 50s in shot put should put Haywood in good stead for top four or better . ... Beachwood’s Langston GainesSmith going 49.50 to take second in 400 at Fitch was a big building block for the sophomore. To comfortably advance, a prelim usually must be under 49. There’s a good chance for GainesSmith to get to the final, but he likely needs to be just a little bit faster . ... There may not be a more eager long jumper to get on the board at state than Wickliffe’s Isaac Pettway. After fouling out last spring and in his third appearance at state in the event, Pettway has the experience, motivation and ability to go 22-plus to reach the podium. Getting in a decent mark on his first prelim jump will be key to that aspiration . ... High jump will be gaudy with Springfield Shawnee’s returning state champion Robie Glass and a boatload of 6-4 jumpers coming in. Hawken’s Michael Snyder and Perry’s Maxwell Fasula may need 6-5 to place, but the possibility is there.

This should be an entertaining year area-wise in girls D-II — maybe one of the better state meets this area has ever known . ... It’s hard to imagine Beachwood’s Mia Knight could come in on any better form in 100 and 200 and anchoring 4x1 after her performance at Fitch. Knight knows after last year in 100 with Columbus Beechcroft’s Makiya Montgomery, a deep sub-12 is a must-have for the gold medal. But she’s already there with an 11.72. She appears to be a heavy favorite in 200 as well, with her main competition being Montgomery. Her block starts at Fitch — particularly 100 — were arguably the best of her career. If that carries over, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t, look out. A 4x1 repeat should also be in the offing on the Bison’s current form there — a new-look group has performed admirably around Knight and fellow returnee Ashley Perryman. Beachwood, with the emergence of Maddie Alexander as 5-4 threat in high jump to break top four, Perryman being very solid in long jump and the possibility of Leah Roter finding her best 3,200 of the spring when it matters most, has a great chance to repeat in the team title race . ... Speaking of being red-hot right now, could Perry’s Leah King be coming in with any more momentum in both hurdles? In 100 hurdles, the junior will push hard for a repeat — and don’t be shocked if that gets under 14 . King thrives on head-to-head battles, and what she and Akron SVSM’s Sara Foster put on in 300 hurdles at Fitch was a sight to behold. King shattered the area record and fended off Foster with a 42.86 at Fitch, and a Round 2 at state seems likely . ... What Chagrin Falls has been able to do in reloading its two-time state champion 4x8 has been impressive. Tigers program great Halle McClintock went off to Georgia, veteran leg Hailey Lowe graduated as well — and Chagrin comes in as top seed for state seeking a three-peat. Returnees Annie Zimmer and Catherine Coffey deserve a lot of credit for that. But so do the newcomers, sophomore Hannah Clark and freshman Tallulah Haskett. There may not be a better distance coach in Ohio than Clay Burnett, and for Burnett to trust newcomers as the first two legs — and have them step up to this degree — says a lot. Expect this 4x8 to come down to the Tigers and a seasoned Indian Creek quartet — it will probably take deep sub-9:20 to win again . ... Also in 4x8, Beaumont has a good shot at the podium with its state experience and Mia Mlynek on the anchor, but competition will be fierce. Hitting sub-9:30 should seal it . ... Zimmer will likely drop the hammer on 1,600. It might not take the 4:53 .47 with which the Chagrin senior shattered the area record at the CVC Chagrin meet, but it will be important for Zimmer to get in one last sub-5 mile and win . ... In 800, a big reason for that being a hot final is the area duo of Coffey and Hawken freshman Ella Gilson. Despite the top four from last year at state in the event graduating, that could be one heck of a final. It might take 2:15 to place, and both area standouts have shown that ability . ... Beyond Zimmer in mile areawise, Mlynek and Gilson are both highly capable of pushing the back-half pacing and challenging for the top four . ... There is a big-time opportunity to be had for VASJ’s 4x200 to get on the podium and vie for the top four. A 1:43.71 from Mikeya Cook-Howard, Jayla Currie, Voni Jones and Maritza Strong at Fitch was a strong base. Akron Buchtel will be a handful again, but this will be invaluable experience for the Vikings with an all-underclassmen relay to perform well here. And in 200, Currie could get on the podium, but she needs to hit at least low-25 in prelims and go from there.