Lake senior double winner at state indoor

After a frustrating junior campaign outdoor during which he was plagued by a hamstring injury, Del’Mario Hairston needed to remind Ohio of his prowess.

March 2 during the Division I state indoor meet at SPIRE, suffice to say he did with a double gold-medal day.

Hairston captured triple jump in thrilling fashion, recording a jump of 47 feet, 6 1/2 inches on his final attempt. He went into that sixth jump tied for the lead with Jaeschel Acheampong of Olentangy Orange, with each having gone 47-4 1/4.

“Triple jump was definitely a battle,” a jubilant Hairston said. “It was definitely a back-and-forth with (Acheampong).

“(The last jump) felt great. I was just ready to bring it. Just keep up the intensity, and I brought it right back. I had to pop something good. I had to set a state record.”

Such drama in a final round is something Hairston believes can serve him well once outdoor season begins.

“It can help me a lot,” Hairston said. “I’m usually not facing much competition in long jump. When it comes down to another athlete, it challenges me to do better. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I always want to progress. I always want to do better than I did the last time.”

Hairston also reigned in his signature event, long jump, with a 23-8 on his penultimate attempt.

“Long jump – that’s my bread and butter,” Hairston said. “It felt great just to get out there. First jump was Lake Catholic’s Del’Mario Hairston poses with his gold medals from long jump and triple jump after the Division I state indoor meet March 1 at SPIRE.

definitely 24, but I fouled by less than half an inch. But I’m always going to bring it on the long jump side. I’m going to rest and get ready for nationals next weekend.

“(Last year) was really frustrating after the injury. But I came back stronger that summer, popped a 24-5 1/2. So that was beautiful to get back in the groove and even carry that on now.”

Mentor sophomore Paige Floriea also took a trip to the top of the podium, winning long jump with a best effort of 18-7 1/4.

Floriea fouled twice but was able to pop the high18 on her second attempt.

She shattered the alltime area outdoor record last spring with a 20-0 3/4 at the Greater Cleveland Conference meet.

“My day for long jump was really good,” Floriea said. “I just had to get a mark in to get to finals. All my fouls today were me just trying to, after making it to finals, really going for it as far as possible.

“I started off the (indoor) year a bit rough for

long jump. But I saw myself able to become more consistent and start working harder and get my jumps down to get confident for state.”

Floriea also recorded a pair of thirds in sprints, with a 7.63 in 60-meter dash and 24.81 in 200 behind the Lakota East duo of Kaylyn Heath and Serena Clark.

“I felt really good with sprints,” Floriea said. “Today was the best I’ve come out of the blocks all year with drive phase. So in the 60, I felt really good and 200, too, I finished stronger than I have all year.”

In the Divisions II-III meet, Hawken sophomore Ella Gilson, coming off her breakout campaign in 800 and 1,600 as a freshman outdoors during which she was D-II state runner-up in both events, won the 1,600 state title with a 5:07.28.

Cornerstone Christian’s Abby Suszek took a solid third in 400 with a 57.33.

Perry’s Anna Sorine was state runner-up in 800 with a 2:17.23.

Beachwood’s Ashley Perryman was state runner-up in long jump with a 17-6 1/4 on her fourth jump. Teammate Maddie Alexander tied for second in high jump, clearing 5-2.

Hawken’s Michael Snyder tied for second in boys high jump with a best effort of 6-4.

Also in D-I, Euclid’s Nicholas Rice was third in triple jump with a 44-3.

Mentor senior Caden McGing, a returning twotime state qualifier in high jump, was third in the event, clearing 6-6 on his second attempt.

Madison senior Nolan Landis was second in shot put with a top effort of 60-0 1/2, which the Indiana signee recorded on his final throw.

Mentor’s boys 4x800 of Andrew Kobasko, Cameron Rigsby, James Ferro and Nick Kozlowski took second with an outstanding time to take into outdoor season, a 7:54.77, just behind Kings Mills Kings (7:54.15).

Euclid’s girls 4x200 quartet of Cori Crump, Kristan Ross, Talia Mclin and Alexis Cain took second in 1:42.82. The Panthers’ 4x4, with freshman Jade Neal coming in alongside Crump, Ross and Cain, was third with a 4:00.00.

Mayfield sophomore Josephine Conti was second in 60 hurdles with an 8.99, and Crump was third in 9.11.

Kenston’s Jakob McConnell was a solid third in 3,200 in 9:23.59.

High school scoreboard

“(The last jump) felt great. I was just ready to bring it.”

COURTESY ERIK SCHROEDER