The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Casey mighty impressive
Mayfield senior sets area mark in long jump, also wins 110 hurdles at South Invitational
The luck variable for Friday the 13th took on a much different context April 13 in the South Invitational.
The afternoon Bobby Casey enjoyed had nothing to do with luck. But for those who got to see the Mayfield senior rewrite area lore, it was a stroke of luck to be a witness for it.
Casey broke the all-time area record in long jump with an effort of 23 feet, 11 inches, surpassing Randy Greenwood’s previous standard of 23-10 set in 2009 at the Division III Independence District for Fairport.
With a crowd beginning to mill around for long jump prelims, Casey was ready if not eager to get in his first jump after the jumper in front of him in line had gone. Powering through his explosion step and off the board, Casey’s jump drew audible oohs and aahs as he emphatically landed on the edge of the pit. The Akron signee knew it was special, too — and it was confirmed when the 23-11 was stated.
“I came down the runway well, and I didn’t even feel like I jumped,” Casey said. “I was just floating. I had a really good extension at the end and pulled my legs through it. I knew it was going to be a big jump. I looked at the tape and I see 24 and I’m like, ‘Oh god — that’s a big jump.’ ”
That it was for the returning first-team News-Herald boys track and field all-star and Wildcats’ multi-sport standout, seeking this year to become Mayfield’s first boys long jumper to qualify for state since 1982.
Casey learned a lesson about the importance of opening jumps last spring at the Division I Mayfield District. In prelims, he fouled twice, putting pressure on himself going into his third jump.
He did record a solid effort to get to the final round and later advanced to regional competition in third at 21-8, but realized what the value of a quality opener can be.
“The first jump, I know I’m going to be the most loose,” Casey said. “I’m going to be the most ready and get the most pop out of it. (At Hudson WRA’s Longstreth Relays,) first jump I had my best jump, so it’s just kind of sticking. It definitely was a lesson learned that I don’t want to go out.”
Casey also took the 110 hurdles with a 15.31.
Nolan Landis taught a lesson in how to put on a masterful throws sweep display. The Madison junior, who put Ohio on notice with a 191-33/4 at the NEOITC Indoor/Outdoor Meet at SPIRE to win discus, captured that event with a 187-8. Landis later took shot put with a 58-7.
“I’m pretty happy,” Landis said. “Of course, you want to come to a meet and PR. But the fact I can show this consistency early on and get close to my PRs in both events shows me there is a lot more to come for sure. So I was definitely happy with today.”
Mentor rolled to the boys team title, winning seven events. None among those had more excitement than thr 100, in which John Pap won with an 11.48 that had to come down to thousandths on a lean at the line by .001.
It marked the first individual-event invitational crown of Pap’s career.
“I was worried — I just saw to my right a huge cluster of people, and I really just wanted to see the results,” Pap said. “And when I saw that I took first, oh — it was just a good feeling.”
On the girls side, Kenston’s Ellie Pleune recorded a distance double in 1,600 (5:28.15) and 3,200 (11:49.25). The mile was especially impressive, as the freshman displayed confidence beyond the years to attack the backstretch in a pack of four and seize control.
“I kind of got stuck on the second lap with the four girls, and I knew at 600, my plan was to go,” Pleune said. “So when that happened, I went out to Lane 2, ran and basically kicked the last 400 meters with whatever I had left. So yeah, it was good.”
The Mentor girls also rolled to the team title, highlighted by Paige Floriea capturing long jump (17-9), 100 (12.34) and 200 (25.54) — another banner outdoor invite in what will likely be many more to come for the Cardinals freshman.
Coming soon
For more from this meet, check back in high school track and field notes April 16 online and in the April 17 print edition.