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LEXINGTON – This was that rare track and field meet that Lexington boys coach Mike Moore decided to circle on the calendar
On Saturday, his Minutemen put an exclamation point right through the heart of that circle.
By winning the 50th Lexington Invitational — and, notably, first bearing the name of legendary track coach Ray Mitchell — they finished the job they started one year earlier when they finished just three points shy of keeping the title trophy at home.
HOME GROWN: The Program: How a bus stop helped Lexington build successful home-grown tennis program
“Coming in a couple of years ago (as the new head coach) and seeing all the records and old data and seeing all the well-rounded coaching (Mitchell) did, he was a master of all,” Moore said. “He had that kind of approach.
“I’ve heard stories from our coaches and old alums, coming in and talking about Ray and how motivational he was about certain things. He just instilled confidence in the kids. That’s why winning this one was big. We don’t circle a lot of meets, and being able to do this in the ‘first’ Ray Mitchell meet is pretty cool for the community.”
Behind senior and triple winner Will Perkins, the Minutemen out-distanced runner-up Avon by a 111.33-81 margin, denying their out-of-town guests of a boys title to match the first-place performance of its girls.
The Lex boys finished top three in eight events and doubled up with two placers among the top three in the 200 and 400 meter dashes, the 3,200 and discus.
This probably won’t be the last time this season you hear that Lex finished the running finals the same way they started – with a relay victory.
The Minutemen kicked things off by winning the 4x800 in 8:09.52 behind the crew of Chance Basilone, Will Hooper, Gage Devaney and Latrell Hughes. They won by an impressive eight seconds over a strong Ontario quartet of Xavier Trent, Dean Morrison, Xander Chitwood and Jace Young.
Lex capped the afternoon in equally grand style, as Hughes collaborated with his twin brother Dantrell, Perkins and Bryston Hess to win the 4x400 in 3:20.33.
Perkins, competing in his first invite of the young season, was coming off a strong indoor season where he and Basilone excelled at the state meet before competing at the New Balance Nationals in Boston.
In addition to his 4x400 leg Saturday, Perkins nipped relay sidekick Latrell Hughes by .01 to win the 200 (22.42), took first in his specialty, the 400 (48.43), and finished third in the 100 (11.42), essentially a new event for him.
“I struggled to go faster than 50 (seconds) in the 400 last year at the (Ohio Cardinal Conference) meet, so to crush a 48 in my first invite of this season, I’m super happy,” Perkins said. “I came in my freshman year and they put me in mid-distance. I didn’t really have a choice, but I love it. I really do.”
Basilone is a reigning indoor state champ in the 1,600, but ran only the 4x800 and the 3,200 on Saturday, taking second in the latter with a fine time of 9:36.46. Most days that would be plenty good enough to win for the Ohio State commit, but Perrysburg’s Anthony Clark, who was sidelined last season, showed that he is quickly making up for lost time by winning in 9:18.53.
Clark and Avon freshman Ally Brediger, a national champion sprinter, stood out in a stacked 17-team field that saw Olmsted Falls (two first place performances), Strongsville (two), Perrysburg (four) and Avon (14) come in from outside Richland County to steal some of the home team’s thunder.
But stiff competition is exactly what elite runners like Basilone want.
“Last year I knew I had to put up big times to get recruited,” he said, “ and I’m still under a lot of pressure (despite committing to OSU last October) because I still have to perform better than I did last year.
“But not having to pick a school makes it a lot better. If you aren’t mentally draining yourself (over that decision), you should be able to run faster. I’m still recovering from a long indoor season, but by the end (of the spring) I should be where I want to be.”
It took a balanced effort for Lex to win the title that barely eluded the program last year. The teamwork extended beyond the relays to the 200, where Perkins and Latrell Hughes were one-two; to the 400, where Perkins and Hess were one-three; to the 3,200, where Basilone and Lincoln Rice were two-three, and to the discus, where Rob Tommelleo and Joe Hathaway were two-three.
Nathan Rice, usually a sprinter, also gave Lex a runner-up finish in his first-ever crack at the 800.
Two area headliners were missing and will be gone for the foreseeable future. Galion sprinter Jacob Chambers, a quadruple winner in this meet last year, is dealing with hamstring issues and will likely be held out until districts. The same may be true for Clear Fork’s Davis Hoeflich, a 6-8 high jumper and state runner-up last year as a freshman. He’s on the mend after breaking an ankle during basketball season.
Still, there were plenty of good performances from area schools outside of Lexington on Saturday.
Ashland produced three champs: Dakota Kruty in the boys long jump (20-5), Frankie Rupsis in the girls high jump (5-2) and Vivian Walter in the girls 100 hurdles (16.11). Walter was also runner-up in the pole vault, matching her personal best by clearing 10 feet. That equalled the second-place finish of fellow Arrow Jaden Goings in the 300 hurdles and the Ashland boys 4x100 relay squad.
“I’m hoping to break my time down and get fast again in the 100 hurdles,” said Walter, who will continue her track career at Ashland University “I ran a 15.34 at regionals last year and want to break 15 by the end of the year.”
Competing in the vault and hurdles is rarely seen, probably because they are two such technical events.
“It was chaotic today,” Walter said. “I had to go back and forth a lot. I’ve gotten better in the last year of having a calmer mindset. Wherever I’m at, I’m just worrying about that event, and nothing else.”
Clear Fork had two champs in shot putter Julian Mills (56-9) and long-jumper Taylor Richmond (15-4.75). Mills, who still has another year to go, moved close to the school record of 57-1 after making a six-foot improvement since the end of last season.
“I did a lot of indoor,” said Mills, coming off a fourth-place finish at state this winter. “I’ve learned a lot of technique and I’m getting better with my spin (in the circle).”
Mills just missed qualifying for the outdoor state meet last year by six inches. So far he’s two for two in invites, coming off a first-place showing in the season-opener at Madison.
“I’ve got to remember to keep my balance and remember my technique,” he said. “Everything clicked pretty well today. Right now I’m just focused on the (school) record, but by the end of the season I’d like to be around 60 (feet).”
Mansfield Senior’s Ny Petty had to settle for second in the high jump, but he did match the winning height of 6-2. He also went 6-2 in winning a title at Madison, even though before now he last jumped in the 2003 season when his best was 6-0.
“It was a little cold today, so my muscles were tight,” Petty said. “I’m happy where I’m at right now, but I definitely want to go higher. By the end of the season I think can be 6-8, 7 feet. A lot of it is just locking in and grinding.”
Petty, a senior, didn’t compete last year because of shin splints or as a freshman, but that year he kept a close eye on Maurice Ware, a 6-foot-8 jumper for the Tygers.
“I watched Mo a lot and also talked to him, too,” Petty said. “He was a big inspiration to me in track and on the basketball court. I’d ask him, how did you get over (the bar), and what steps did you take to get to a certain height.
“Right now, I get over 6 feet just on athleticism. I do have to work on my technique and technique will get me a long way. That’s what my coach (Jon Bessick) says. I’m ready to work.”
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Purple and golden anniversary: Track title for Lex boys a ‘Ray’ of sunshine
Continue reading...
On Saturday, his Minutemen put an exclamation point right through the heart of that circle.
By winning the 50th Lexington Invitational — and, notably, first bearing the name of legendary track coach Ray Mitchell — they finished the job they started one year earlier when they finished just three points shy of keeping the title trophy at home.
HOME GROWN: The Program: How a bus stop helped Lexington build successful home-grown tennis program
“Coming in a couple of years ago (as the new head coach) and seeing all the records and old data and seeing all the well-rounded coaching (Mitchell) did, he was a master of all,” Moore said. “He had that kind of approach.
“I’ve heard stories from our coaches and old alums, coming in and talking about Ray and how motivational he was about certain things. He just instilled confidence in the kids. That’s why winning this one was big. We don’t circle a lot of meets, and being able to do this in the ‘first’ Ray Mitchell meet is pretty cool for the community.”
Behind senior and triple winner Will Perkins, the Minutemen out-distanced runner-up Avon by a 111.33-81 margin, denying their out-of-town guests of a boys title to match the first-place performance of its girls.
The Lex boys finished top three in eight events and doubled up with two placers among the top three in the 200 and 400 meter dashes, the 3,200 and discus.
This probably won’t be the last time this season you hear that Lex finished the running finals the same way they started – with a relay victory.
The Minutemen kicked things off by winning the 4x800 in 8:09.52 behind the crew of Chance Basilone, Will Hooper, Gage Devaney and Latrell Hughes. They won by an impressive eight seconds over a strong Ontario quartet of Xavier Trent, Dean Morrison, Xander Chitwood and Jace Young.
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Lex capped the afternoon in equally grand style, as Hughes collaborated with his twin brother Dantrell, Perkins and Bryston Hess to win the 4x400 in 3:20.33.
Perkins, competing in his first invite of the young season, was coming off a strong indoor season where he and Basilone excelled at the state meet before competing at the New Balance Nationals in Boston.
In addition to his 4x400 leg Saturday, Perkins nipped relay sidekick Latrell Hughes by .01 to win the 200 (22.42), took first in his specialty, the 400 (48.43), and finished third in the 100 (11.42), essentially a new event for him.
“I struggled to go faster than 50 (seconds) in the 400 last year at the (Ohio Cardinal Conference) meet, so to crush a 48 in my first invite of this season, I’m super happy,” Perkins said. “I came in my freshman year and they put me in mid-distance. I didn’t really have a choice, but I love it. I really do.”
Basilone is a reigning indoor state champ in the 1,600, but ran only the 4x800 and the 3,200 on Saturday, taking second in the latter with a fine time of 9:36.46. Most days that would be plenty good enough to win for the Ohio State commit, but Perrysburg’s Anthony Clark, who was sidelined last season, showed that he is quickly making up for lost time by winning in 9:18.53.
You must be registered for see images attach
Clark and Avon freshman Ally Brediger, a national champion sprinter, stood out in a stacked 17-team field that saw Olmsted Falls (two first place performances), Strongsville (two), Perrysburg (four) and Avon (14) come in from outside Richland County to steal some of the home team’s thunder.
But stiff competition is exactly what elite runners like Basilone want.
“Last year I knew I had to put up big times to get recruited,” he said, “ and I’m still under a lot of pressure (despite committing to OSU last October) because I still have to perform better than I did last year.
“But not having to pick a school makes it a lot better. If you aren’t mentally draining yourself (over that decision), you should be able to run faster. I’m still recovering from a long indoor season, but by the end (of the spring) I should be where I want to be.”
It took a balanced effort for Lex to win the title that barely eluded the program last year. The teamwork extended beyond the relays to the 200, where Perkins and Latrell Hughes were one-two; to the 400, where Perkins and Hess were one-three; to the 3,200, where Basilone and Lincoln Rice were two-three, and to the discus, where Rob Tommelleo and Joe Hathaway were two-three.
Nathan Rice, usually a sprinter, also gave Lex a runner-up finish in his first-ever crack at the 800.
You must be registered for see images attach
How Ashland, other schools fared
Two area headliners were missing and will be gone for the foreseeable future. Galion sprinter Jacob Chambers, a quadruple winner in this meet last year, is dealing with hamstring issues and will likely be held out until districts. The same may be true for Clear Fork’s Davis Hoeflich, a 6-8 high jumper and state runner-up last year as a freshman. He’s on the mend after breaking an ankle during basketball season.
Still, there were plenty of good performances from area schools outside of Lexington on Saturday.
Ashland produced three champs: Dakota Kruty in the boys long jump (20-5), Frankie Rupsis in the girls high jump (5-2) and Vivian Walter in the girls 100 hurdles (16.11). Walter was also runner-up in the pole vault, matching her personal best by clearing 10 feet. That equalled the second-place finish of fellow Arrow Jaden Goings in the 300 hurdles and the Ashland boys 4x100 relay squad.
“I’m hoping to break my time down and get fast again in the 100 hurdles,” said Walter, who will continue her track career at Ashland University “I ran a 15.34 at regionals last year and want to break 15 by the end of the year.”
Competing in the vault and hurdles is rarely seen, probably because they are two such technical events.
“It was chaotic today,” Walter said. “I had to go back and forth a lot. I’ve gotten better in the last year of having a calmer mindset. Wherever I’m at, I’m just worrying about that event, and nothing else.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Two titles for the Colts
Clear Fork had two champs in shot putter Julian Mills (56-9) and long-jumper Taylor Richmond (15-4.75). Mills, who still has another year to go, moved close to the school record of 57-1 after making a six-foot improvement since the end of last season.
“I did a lot of indoor,” said Mills, coming off a fourth-place finish at state this winter. “I’ve learned a lot of technique and I’m getting better with my spin (in the circle).”
Mills just missed qualifying for the outdoor state meet last year by six inches. So far he’s two for two in invites, coming off a first-place showing in the season-opener at Madison.
“I’ve got to remember to keep my balance and remember my technique,” he said. “Everything clicked pretty well today. Right now I’m just focused on the (school) record, but by the end of the season I’d like to be around 60 (feet).”
You must be registered for see images attach
Ny has ‘high’ goals
Mansfield Senior’s Ny Petty had to settle for second in the high jump, but he did match the winning height of 6-2. He also went 6-2 in winning a title at Madison, even though before now he last jumped in the 2003 season when his best was 6-0.
“It was a little cold today, so my muscles were tight,” Petty said. “I’m happy where I’m at right now, but I definitely want to go higher. By the end of the season I think can be 6-8, 7 feet. A lot of it is just locking in and grinding.”
Petty, a senior, didn’t compete last year because of shin splints or as a freshman, but that year he kept a close eye on Maurice Ware, a 6-foot-8 jumper for the Tygers.
“I watched Mo a lot and also talked to him, too,” Petty said. “He was a big inspiration to me in track and on the basketball court. I’d ask him, how did you get over (the bar), and what steps did you take to get to a certain height.
“Right now, I get over 6 feet just on athleticism. I do have to work on my technique and technique will get me a long way. That’s what my coach (Jon Bessick) says. I’m ready to work.”
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Purple and golden anniversary: Track title for Lex boys a ‘Ray’ of sunshine
Continue reading...
