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It's time for the main event of the OHSAA track and field season. The 118th boys and 51st girls state track meets return to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus June 4 to 7.
Heading to Columbus or just wanting to keep tabs on the action? Here are five things to keep an eye on at state track:
The biggest thing to know about the state track meet is that it has doubled in size. With OHSAA switching from three divisions to five, the state meet changes to a four-day affair to accommodate the extra athletes.
The meet opens with running events in Division IV at the 12:30 p.m. June 4. A full schedule of events is available at the OHSAA website. Divisions IV and V will run June 4 and 5, Division III will run June 5 and 6, and Divisions I and II will run June 6 and 7.
Woodridge's drop to Division III coincided with the Bulldogs boys returning one of their strongest and most complete teams.
If the result from the regional meet are any indication, Woodridge has put itself in prime position to win its first state title since 2021. Woodridge's 80 team points at Austintown was the highest total of any in the state.
This year's Bulldogs team includes hurdlers, sprinters and a couple of strong relays, along with Woodridge's distance crew that won the state cross country meet in November.
Who's in the way? Fellow regional champions Columbus Bishop Hartley and Ontario will be in the mix, along with rival Glenville, which was runner-up to Woodridge in Austintown.
History has shown a team doesn't have to be huge to make an impact at the state meet. Buchtel is hoping the quartet of DeVonnah Smith, Joslynne Bushner, Jada Davis and Miniya Mitchell can prove it again.
That quartet already has the fastest time in the state in Buchtel's signature event — the 800 relay. Mitchell will be among the state favorites in the 200 and 400, and Davis has been coming on strong in the 100 and 300 hurdles.
Griffins coach William Graham has said Buchtel can't afford to have anything go wrong. If things go right, however, don't be surprised if the Griffins bring home a state trophy.
Tallmadge has several chances to come home with state gold from the Division II state meet.
Allison Hay has been a machine all season in the 800, and her time at regional was among the state's fastest. The football coach's daughter would love to end her Tallmadge career with a state title.
Hay might have two chances at state gold, as she also will anchor Tallmadge's 3,200 relay, which had the second-fastest time in the state heading into Columbus. Hay, Tapanga Ross, Mackenzie Martuccio and Makayla Martuccio have to be among the favorites.
Finally, Anthony Bontempo has caught fire in the high jump as temperatures have warmed up. After clearing 6 feet, 8 inches at regional, he will be among the favorites at Columbus.
Ellet junior Trey Carter has a chance to join the long line of great sprinters who have come out of Akron. A big performance at state in Division II would help solidify his trajectory.
Carter scored a title in the 100 and a runner-up finish in the 200 at the North Royalton regional. He will aim for the top of the podium in both races in Columbus.
Don't be surprised if Carter makes the return to state next year in three events. He will be among the state's best in the long jump moving forward.
Michael Leonard can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 5 things to keep an eye on at the OHSAA high school state track meet
Continue reading...
Heading to Columbus or just wanting to keep tabs on the action? Here are five things to keep an eye on at state track:
What impact will the new format have on the competition?
The biggest thing to know about the state track meet is that it has doubled in size. With OHSAA switching from three divisions to five, the state meet changes to a four-day affair to accommodate the extra athletes.
The meet opens with running events in Division IV at the 12:30 p.m. June 4. A full schedule of events is available at the OHSAA website. Divisions IV and V will run June 4 and 5, Division III will run June 5 and 6, and Divisions I and II will run June 6 and 7.
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Can the Woodridge boys bring home another state title?
Woodridge's drop to Division III coincided with the Bulldogs boys returning one of their strongest and most complete teams.
If the result from the regional meet are any indication, Woodridge has put itself in prime position to win its first state title since 2021. Woodridge's 80 team points at Austintown was the highest total of any in the state.
This year's Bulldogs team includes hurdlers, sprinters and a couple of strong relays, along with Woodridge's distance crew that won the state cross country meet in November.
Who's in the way? Fellow regional champions Columbus Bishop Hartley and Ontario will be in the mix, along with rival Glenville, which was runner-up to Woodridge in Austintown.
You must be registered for see images attach
How big a splash can the 4 Buchtel girls make in Columbus?
History has shown a team doesn't have to be huge to make an impact at the state meet. Buchtel is hoping the quartet of DeVonnah Smith, Joslynne Bushner, Jada Davis and Miniya Mitchell can prove it again.
That quartet already has the fastest time in the state in Buchtel's signature event — the 800 relay. Mitchell will be among the state favorites in the 200 and 400, and Davis has been coming on strong in the 100 and 300 hurdles.
Griffins coach William Graham has said Buchtel can't afford to have anything go wrong. If things go right, however, don't be surprised if the Griffins bring home a state trophy.
You must be registered for see images attach
Will a Tallmadge athlete bring home a state title?
Tallmadge has several chances to come home with state gold from the Division II state meet.
Allison Hay has been a machine all season in the 800, and her time at regional was among the state's fastest. The football coach's daughter would love to end her Tallmadge career with a state title.
Hay might have two chances at state gold, as she also will anchor Tallmadge's 3,200 relay, which had the second-fastest time in the state heading into Columbus. Hay, Tapanga Ross, Mackenzie Martuccio and Makayla Martuccio have to be among the favorites.
Finally, Anthony Bontempo has caught fire in the high jump as temperatures have warmed up. After clearing 6 feet, 8 inches at regional, he will be among the favorites at Columbus.
You must be registered for see images attach
Will Ellet's Trey Carter introduce himself on that state stage?
Ellet junior Trey Carter has a chance to join the long line of great sprinters who have come out of Akron. A big performance at state in Division II would help solidify his trajectory.
Carter scored a title in the 100 and a runner-up finish in the 200 at the North Royalton regional. He will aim for the top of the podium in both races in Columbus.
Don't be surprised if Carter makes the return to state next year in three events. He will be among the state's best in the long jump moving forward.
Michael Leonard can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 5 things to keep an eye on at the OHSAA high school state track meet
Continue reading...
