The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Boys track and field watch list
Athletes to watch (in alphabetical order) Taron Austin, Brush:
This Arcs senior had a commendable breakthrough last spring as a Division I at-large state qualifier in 300-meter hurdles, hanging in there in a hot D-I Austintown-Fitch Regional final and showing deep sub-39ability. As a junior, he also showed great versatility, performing well on Brush’s 4x100, 4x400and 4x800.
One of The News-Herald coverage area’s great young 400 runners, this junior garnered valuable experience getting to Columbus a year ago in 400 and on the Vikings’ promising 4x200. VASJ moves to D-II in 2020, but Dean has a skill set similar to his brother Nate to compete there as well.
Jordan Dean, VASJ: Christian DeMitro, Lake Catholic:
After losing his junior campaign to a bulging disc, it’s great to see this talented senior and middledistance stalwart back in the fold for the Cougars. As a sophomore, DeMitro was a highly competitive fifth at Fitch in D-I with a 1:55.95, and he should also pace a Lake 4x8that could impress. The Cougars are back in D-II this year.
Langston Gaines-Smith, Beachwood:
As a junior, this 400standout and returning first-team News-Herald all-star got on the podium in his bread-and-butter event, taking eighth in D-II. With the Bison’s D-II/III indoor state title in March, Gaines-Smith and his teammates will be champing at the bit to hopefully get an outdoor season.
Nicholas Henry, West Geauga:
In a personification of guts, this junior advanced to the D-II 100final at state last season and insisted on running despite a hamstring injury that rendered him unable to compete for a topeight spot. Henry, with deep sub-11ability and solid closing power when healthy, was also a key cog on the Wolverines’ 4x1that got to Columbus.
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Justin Iler, University:
One of the highest compliments that can be paid, once an athlete gets to their senior year, is it feels like they’ve been in high school for more than four years because they contributed from Day 1and have amassed a laudable body of work. Kozlowski, a trusted veteran distance performer for the Cardinals who is a returning D-I state qualifier in 1,600and on 4x8, fits that bill.
Freddie Lenix Jr., Beachwood:
The Lenix lineage runs deep in the sport, and this freshman was impressive as the Bison won the D-II/
III team title at state indoor, taking third in 200and fourth in 60. Adding a standout sprinter further diversifies Beachwood’s ability to contend for a D-II crown outdoors as well, and if he’s anything like Freddie Lenix was at Glenville in the mid-2000s, a bright future is in store.
Christian Mayfield, Beachwood:
It’s a shame triple jump isn’t part of the outdoor regimen in the postseason in Ohio, because this senior was the D-II/III state indoor champion in the event. But Mayfield is also a returning
D-II regional qualifier in long jump, showing some high-21 ability in the event.
Javin Richards, Perry:
What a freshman campaign it was for this Pirates’ sophomore in 2019, winning a D-II Fitch Regional crown and getting to state in his signature event, pole vault, and also getting to a regional final in 300hurdles. He followed that up with taking fifth in the boys 15-16 decathlon at the AAU Junior Olympics in July. Whenever track and field does commence again, he is this area’s current standard bearer in pole vault.
Andre Rodgers, Gilmour:
Untimely health woes derailed his postseason a year ago, but this junior clearly showed throughout the regular season and down to regional in 2019that he is a hammer in 100 and 200 and is only scratching the surface with figuring out 400. He would likely be a state title contender with the Lancers back in D-III in all three events if this season can be salvaged.
Ben Sherlock, Mayfield:
Authoring one of the top feel-good narratives of last spring as a junior, Sherlock advanced to state in D-I long jump after breaking his femur in the event as a sophomore. He has the board explosion and 22-plus prowess to make it happen again as a senior.
Mason Stephens, Riverside:
This Beavers’ standout high jumper may have logged this area’s breakout performance at D-I state indoor,
Charlie Taylor, Geneva: Whether it’s in the backfield in football, on the mat in wrestling or in the throwing circles in the spring, the Eagles can count heavily on this versatile junior, who was ninth in D-I shot put at state last spring. He has deep 50-plus ability there and the athletic build to develop more in the event.
Marco Tramontano, Mayfield:
As a junior, this Wildcats’ multi-sport staple qualified for state in D-I shot put. He is also an impressive performer in discus and will help lead the area charge in that event, along with shot, with 2019 News-Herald boys track and field athlete of the year Nolan Landis graduated.
At the line
• Suffice to say, this is a spring unlike any ever seen for track and field, with spring high school sports in a holding pattern due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. For the time being, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has a tentative season schedule in place should schools open May 4that would have a postseason held entirely in June. The state meet, with Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium unavailable in late June, would be held at three Columbus-area sites by division: Hilliard Darby (D-I), Pickerington North (D-II) and Westerville North (D-III). • Divisional assignments for News-Herald coverage area squads are as follows: Brush, Chardon, Euclid, Geneva, Harvey, Kenston, Madison, Mayfield, Mentor, North, Riverside, South and University are in D-I. Beachwood, Benedictine, Berkshire, Chagrin Falls, Hawken, Kirtland, Lake Catholic, NDCL, Perry, VASJ, West Geauga and Wickliffe are in D-II. Cardinal, Cornerstone Christian, Fairport, Gilmour, Newbury and Richmond Heights are in D-III.