The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Track and field watch list
BOYS ATHLETES TO WATCH
(in alphabetical order) Michael Beros, University: The Preppers’ senior has really come on in 400since his last outdoor season as a sophomore, including a 49.14to take third in D-I 400at the state indoor finale in March that should put him on a nice trajectory into the spring. Nick Biega, Mayfield: Already regarded as one of the fastest sophomore sprinters in Ohio, a 22.16 to take fourth in D-I 200 at the state indoor finale is indicative of a bright future ahead for this young Wildcats standout. Jordan Dean, VASJ: It felt like, before last outdoor season was canceled, this senior was on a similar career path as his brother Nate in 400, scratching the surface before eventually contending for a state title as a senior. With his deep sub-50ability, even with the Vikings bumping up to D-II, that hope remains. Nicholas Henry, West Geauga: An ill-timed hamstring ailment derailed his state experience as a sophomore in 2019, when we was a D-II 100state finalist. But when healthy, this Wolverines’ senior, with big-stage moxie in 100 and on 4x100, is one of this area’s premier sprinters and a sub-11 threat.
Kenny Jordan, Mentor: The promise was evident as a ninthgrader from this Cardinals’ junior as a versatile threat in 100and 200who’s able to stretch out effectively to 400 — and he will be a key cog for an always formidable and deep squad.
Nate Lewins, Riverside: Speaking of freshmen performances that were noteworthy from 2019, getting to a D-I 400final at the meatgrinder that is the Austintown-Fitch Regional said a great deal about this Beavers junior multi-sport stalwart’s skill set, one that should only continue to develop.
Jack McPhillips, Beachwood: This Bison senior logged a laudable D-II/III state indoor finale in March, pacing a team runner-up finish with a second in 800 (2:01.58) and anchoring the winning 4x8 (8:06.15) and runner-up 4x4(3:31.73). All those times are encouraging for D-II before heading outdoors.
Javin Richards, Perry: Far and away this area’s best pole vaulter with his deep 14-plus potential, it has also been exciting to see this junior’s growth in addition in hurdles and sprints, the prototype of a future college decathlete if there ever was one. Cam Rigsby, Mentor: A youthful part of a deep, skilled middle distance crew for the Cardinals early in his career, this nowsenior displayed some sub-2 ability in open 800and on 4x8in 2019as a sophomore — and it’ll be fun to see where he can take that this spring.
Andre Rodgers, Gilmour: There may not be a current NewsHerald coverage area track and field athlete who has had more poorly timed misfortune with injury and who deserves a banner high school swansong more than this Lancers’ senior, who when healthy is arguably this area’s most well-rounded sprinter and an N-H boys track and field athlete of the year candidate. Mason Stephens, Riverside: Granted, it feels like it’s been more than two years since this happened due to the pandemic. But one of the standout facets of 2019state indoor was this then-sophomore hitting a 6-8in high jump to take second. If that form returns, he will be deep in the state-qualifier conversation come May at Fitch.
Charlie Taylor, Geneva: Certainly this area’s top returning thrower with his deep 50-plus ability in shot put, his athleticism from football and wrestling is on display perhaps more in shot than discus as far as power and speed in the circle. Nonetheless, Taylor is assuredly a hammer in both.
GIRLS ATHLETES TO WATCH (in alphabetical order) Alexis Cain, Euclid:
This Panthers’ junior proved to be an exciting freshman prospect during the last outdoor season in 2019, taking third in D-I 400 at state. After her D-I 400state indoor finale title in early March with a 56.84, it would not be the least bit shocking to see her pushing for 55s and another state top-three by June. Savannah Dennison, Mentor: The wait is over to see this Cardinals sophomore, who built such an outstanding body of work in middle school and road racing, on the track in distance events in an outdoor setting at the high school level. It will be interesting to see what she does to help redefine mile speed locally, and logging a year with this Mentor senior class to learn how to be a program tone-setter will be invaluable.
Paige Floriea, Mentor: Pretty much all the superlatives about this North Carolina recruit have been stated over and over again already. But some bear repeating: She is the best girls long jumper in News-Herald coverage area history and should make a charge at Tianna Bartoletta’s 20-53⁄4 D-I state record over the next couple months. In addition, with her sprinting and 4x4anchor prowess, she should help pace a Cardinals squad that has rightful D-I state team title aspirations.
Ella Gilson, Hawken: The fastest miler in News-Herald coverage area history with her 4:53.34from the 2019state meet, this Harvard commit and Hawks fixture across cross country, swimming and track and field will be geared up for a memorable senior campaign. She is a hammer of the highest order in 800, 1,600 and on Hawken’s 4x4 and 4x8.
Karah Henderson, Gilmour: As a junior, this Lancers’ standout hurdler still has time to carve out a bright future in 100 and 300 hurdles, coming off a podium run in 60hurdles at the D-II/III state indoor finale. Her freshman campaign in hurdles was encouraging, getting on the podium in D-III at state, and her technique and trail leg is as good as it gets in this area.
Tori Lanese, Mentor: For the first time in well more than a decade, the all-time NewsHerald coverage area record in high jump, a 5-101⁄2 by West Geauga’s Katelyn Williams in 2007, may be in some jeopardy this spring if this Cardinals’ senior and Youngstown State recruit has anything to say about it. Seeing her hit 5-81⁄2 to win the D-I state indoor finale was a welcome sight, but perhaps just as welcome was seeing attempts at 5-10before outdoor season.
Elizabeth Metz, Beachwood: Without question, this Beachwood senior is this area’s best shot putter with her deep 40plus potential. Watching her find her groove as a freshman and sophomore in the event was fun to watch, and she should have a really good shot at the podium at state in D-II come June.
Brianna Nieset, Chardon:
This senior has long been one of this area’s better performers in 800, including taking ninth as a sophomore in the event at the 2019state meet in D-I. The 2:14and below ability is there, as evidenced by the early half of her high school career.
Jenna Oriani, Chardon: The Ball State recruit, who was fourth in D-I 400at state as a sophomore, is a versatile and dangerous performer for the Hilltoppers. She is a very good 100runner, but her ability to attack 200and 400 at the turns is top notch, and expanding out to contribute to a state-qualifying 4x8in 2019was also a testament to her skill. Emma Potter, Mentor: If this is the best senior class the Mentor girls track and field program has ever produced — and there is a reasonable argument there — this Cardinals staple is a big reason for it along with Floriea and Lanese. Potter is dependable in big-meet settings in open 400 and on Mentor’s vaunted 4x4. She has the sub-58ability to always be a threat deep into the spring.
Abby Suszek, Cornerstone Christian: The Miami (Ohio) recruit is already one of the premier small-school girls 400 runners in area lore, coming off a D-III 400runner-up at the 2019 state outdoor meet. It would be great to see her unique journey in high school track and field, with training challenges and the like, culminate with a sub-56and state crown.
Amy Weybrecht, Gilmour: The freshman followed up a breakthrough cross country debut, during which she took third in D-III at state, with an encouraging indoor campaign. That finished with a third in open 800 and anchoring the winning 4x4 and runner-up 4x8at the D-II/III state indoor finale. She is seemingly only scratching the surface of her middle-distance prowess.
MEETS TO WATCH
Red Raider Relays (April 3 at Harvey), Cardinal Invitational (April 3), Greg Lusk Relays (April 9 at Kenston), Beachwood Invitational (April 17), Perry Relays (April 17), Kurt Frankel Memorial Invitational (April 24 at West Geauga), Hilltopper Invitational (April 24at Chardon), Dick Beeler Booster Invitational (April 30 at Harvey), Mentor Cardinal Relays (May 1), Miele Invitational (May 1 at Gilmour), Euclid Relays (May 7), Mayfield Invitational (May
7), CVC Chagrin meet (May 10 and 12at Orange), CVC Valley meet (May 11and 13at Cardinal), WRC meet (May 13at South), GCC meet (May 12and 14at Brunswick)
AT THE LINE
• There are a couple postseason changes on the docket. The most important occurs with state, initiated of course by the continuing effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Similar to wrestling in the winter, state track and field will be split over three Central District sites in 2021: Hilliard Darby for D-I, Pickerington North for D-II and Westerville North for D-III. According to the latest information available from NEDAB, district hosts remain the same for D-II and D-III, with Perry and Cuyahoga Heights staging the “primary” districts, respectively, involving News-Herald coverage area squads. March 30, NEDAB changed the “primary” D-I district host from Mayfield to Riverside for 2021. AustintownFitch is listed as hosting D-I and D-II regional competition again,
and D-III is listed with a return to Massillon Perry.
• Due to a canceled 2020season and altered indoor campaign this past winter, it may take a little longer than usual for athletes to shake off the proverbial rust for this outdoor season. It’s not to say by any means performances will be poor early — it just may take longer for the ramping up to a postseason peak to begin.
• The invitational calendar remains essentially intact. The Hilltopper Invitational is staying in its late-April slot after weather hampered the meet for a number of years last decade when it was placed in early April. The North Coast League no longer exists, but Padua is hosting several former NCL squads in a Bruin Invitational on the same days the NCL meet was usually staged there. The Trinity Invitational has moved to being a Saturday meet this year, and all but University will be going elsewhere that weekend area-wise. Also of note: There are two Fridays in April during which no meets are taking place, which is unusual.