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AUSTINTOWN — Track fans know about Woodridge's distance running prowess, but it takes more than that to win meets.
Anyone who believes the Bulldogs boys are one-dimensional needs to refer to the results from the OHSAA Division III meet May 30 in Austintown.
Woodridge got contributions from all over to earn its sixth regional title. The Bulldogs scored 80 points, distancing themselves from runner-up Cleveland Glenville with 61 points.
Salem scored 81.5 points to win the girls team race at Austintown, and Buchtel finished second with 54 points, one point ahead of Hathaway Brown.
"That's what we've been working on as a team, to get it in every facet of the track meet," Woodridge coach Scott Mercer said. "We underperformed in some areas and overperformed in others, so it was good team win."
Mercer said Woodridge's performances in the 800- and 400-meter relays set the tone.
Woodridge won the 800 relay in 1:27.75, holding off Glenville by .02 seconds. In the 400 relay, Woodridge finished second in 42.67 seconds, again beating Glenville to the line.
"In the 4x2 and 4x1, we weren't expecting do as well as we did, but I'm just really happy with the sprint crew," Mercer said. "I'm happy everyone is healthy and going to Columbus in one piece."
Chief of that list of healthy runners is Connor Hons, who came through the meet clean after dealing with injuries the last two seasons. Hons anchored Woodridge's 800 relay and also advanced by placing third in the 300 hurdles (39.14) and fifth in the 110 hurdles (14.59).
"It feels great to be healthy. It's really disappointing the last few years with the injuries," Hons said. "I had faith my team could put me in a good position in the relay. I just went out there and did what I knew. I felt the Glenville kid was coming, but i just had to hold him off."
Of course, the Bulldogs distance corps did its thing as well.
Ben LeBay led the Bulldogs by winning the 800 in 1:56.23, along with placing second in the 1,600 in 4:18.05. Xavier Griffiths was third in the 1,600 (4:20.12) and Atticus Sloan was fifth in the 800 (1:56.82) for Woodridge.
"I knew where I was positioned, I knew I was in a comfortable spot," LeBay said. "I knew I'm in a good spot if I'm in fourth down the 200. They gave me a really easy opening. They went out to lane two so I wouldn't have to go around them."
In the field events, Greater Akron's lone state qualifier came from an unlikely source.
Buchtel's Jordan Holloway finished third in the shot put with a throw of 51 feet, 4½ inches, making him the first Griffins thrower to reach Columbus in decades.
"I think it might have been 15, 20 years ago," Holloway said. "I honestly felt great. I just gave it all to God and said if it will be it will be. I didn't throw well on Thursday in the discus. So I said I can't not make it to states this year. This is the only year I've gotten to throw."
The Buchtel girls only brought four athletes to Austintown — DeVonnah Smith, Joslynne Bushner, Jada Davis and Miniya Mitchell.
That quartet was enough to get Buchtel second place.
"I think our girls did great today," Buchtel coach Shamikca Graham said. "We had a lot of PRs today and a lot of big performances. Between Miniya and Jada, they kind of put their team on their backs. Our hope is to show up and finish what we started. We said at the beginning that we wanted to go after a state title."
Buchtel put on a show in the 800 relay, smoking the course in 1:40.72 — the fastest time in Ohio this year.
The meet provided redemption for Mitchell after last year's struggles. She anchored the Griffins 800 relay, won the 400 in 57.33 and was second in the 200 in 25.2.
"I think we started the second off a little slow, but we got up to where we needed to be at the end of the year," Mitchell said. "I felt smooth in the 400, but I felt a litle tight."
Davis had a huge meet in the hurdles, winning the 300 in 43.46 and placing third in the 100 in 14.89.
Smith also advanced in two events, placing fourth in the 100 in 12.64 and earning sixth and an at-large bid in the 200 in 26.08.
The Woodridge girls had four individuals advance to state.
Amiyah Perry was second (57.82) in the 400 behind Mitchell, Lola Mullen was fourth in the 1,600 (4:05.8), JaJa Rosario-Johnson was fourth in the 800 (2:21.41) and Josephine Mayer placed fifth in the discus (117-6).
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy's Joelle Cherry, a state runner-up in the 300 hurdles a season ago, advanced in the event but settled for fifth in 46.2. The Royals also advanced their 400 and 1,600 relays to state.
At the Division I super regional at North Royalton, Wadsworth's Jimmy O'Connell advanced to state in both hurdle events. O'Connell was fifth in both the 110 hurdles (14.63) and the 300 (39.25).
At the Division V regional at Cuyahoga Heights, Mogadore's Hayli Clester reached state in the long jump. She finished fourth with a leap of 16-4.
Michael Leonard can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Woodridge boys, Buchtel girls roll at OHSAA regional track meet
Continue reading...
Anyone who believes the Bulldogs boys are one-dimensional needs to refer to the results from the OHSAA Division III meet May 30 in Austintown.
Woodridge got contributions from all over to earn its sixth regional title. The Bulldogs scored 80 points, distancing themselves from runner-up Cleveland Glenville with 61 points.
Salem scored 81.5 points to win the girls team race at Austintown, and Buchtel finished second with 54 points, one point ahead of Hathaway Brown.
"That's what we've been working on as a team, to get it in every facet of the track meet," Woodridge coach Scott Mercer said. "We underperformed in some areas and overperformed in others, so it was good team win."
Mercer said Woodridge's performances in the 800- and 400-meter relays set the tone.
Woodridge won the 800 relay in 1:27.75, holding off Glenville by .02 seconds. In the 400 relay, Woodridge finished second in 42.67 seconds, again beating Glenville to the line.
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"In the 4x2 and 4x1, we weren't expecting do as well as we did, but I'm just really happy with the sprint crew," Mercer said. "I'm happy everyone is healthy and going to Columbus in one piece."
Chief of that list of healthy runners is Connor Hons, who came through the meet clean after dealing with injuries the last two seasons. Hons anchored Woodridge's 800 relay and also advanced by placing third in the 300 hurdles (39.14) and fifth in the 110 hurdles (14.59).
"It feels great to be healthy. It's really disappointing the last few years with the injuries," Hons said. "I had faith my team could put me in a good position in the relay. I just went out there and did what I knew. I felt the Glenville kid was coming, but i just had to hold him off."
Of course, the Bulldogs distance corps did its thing as well.
Ben LeBay led the Bulldogs by winning the 800 in 1:56.23, along with placing second in the 1,600 in 4:18.05. Xavier Griffiths was third in the 1,600 (4:20.12) and Atticus Sloan was fifth in the 800 (1:56.82) for Woodridge.
"I knew where I was positioned, I knew I was in a comfortable spot," LeBay said. "I knew I'm in a good spot if I'm in fourth down the 200. They gave me a really easy opening. They went out to lane two so I wouldn't have to go around them."
In the field events, Greater Akron's lone state qualifier came from an unlikely source.
Buchtel's Jordan Holloway finished third in the shot put with a throw of 51 feet, 4½ inches, making him the first Griffins thrower to reach Columbus in decades.
"I think it might have been 15, 20 years ago," Holloway said. "I honestly felt great. I just gave it all to God and said if it will be it will be. I didn't throw well on Thursday in the discus. So I said I can't not make it to states this year. This is the only year I've gotten to throw."
You must be registered for see images attach
Buchtel girls earn runner-up finish at OHSAA regional meet
The Buchtel girls only brought four athletes to Austintown — DeVonnah Smith, Joslynne Bushner, Jada Davis and Miniya Mitchell.
That quartet was enough to get Buchtel second place.
"I think our girls did great today," Buchtel coach Shamikca Graham said. "We had a lot of PRs today and a lot of big performances. Between Miniya and Jada, they kind of put their team on their backs. Our hope is to show up and finish what we started. We said at the beginning that we wanted to go after a state title."
Buchtel put on a show in the 800 relay, smoking the course in 1:40.72 — the fastest time in Ohio this year.
The meet provided redemption for Mitchell after last year's struggles. She anchored the Griffins 800 relay, won the 400 in 57.33 and was second in the 200 in 25.2.
"I think we started the second off a little slow, but we got up to where we needed to be at the end of the year," Mitchell said. "I felt smooth in the 400, but I felt a litle tight."
Davis had a huge meet in the hurdles, winning the 300 in 43.46 and placing third in the 100 in 14.89.
Smith also advanced in two events, placing fourth in the 100 in 12.64 and earning sixth and an at-large bid in the 200 in 26.08.
The Woodridge girls had four individuals advance to state.
Amiyah Perry was second (57.82) in the 400 behind Mitchell, Lola Mullen was fourth in the 1,600 (4:05.8), JaJa Rosario-Johnson was fourth in the 800 (2:21.41) and Josephine Mayer placed fifth in the discus (117-6).
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy's Joelle Cherry, a state runner-up in the 300 hurdles a season ago, advanced in the event but settled for fifth in 46.2. The Royals also advanced their 400 and 1,600 relays to state.
At the Division I super regional at North Royalton, Wadsworth's Jimmy O'Connell advanced to state in both hurdle events. O'Connell was fifth in both the 110 hurdles (14.63) and the 300 (39.25).
At the Division V regional at Cuyahoga Heights, Mogadore's Hayli Clester reached state in the long jump. She finished fourth with a leap of 16-4.
Michael Leonard can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Woodridge boys, Buchtel girls roll at OHSAA regional track meet
Continue reading...
