Speed resides in Sylvania: Northview girls, Southview boys run away with titles

Lindsay Meridieth takes the baton for the anchor leg of the 800-meter relay team. She also won the 100 and 200.

Little has changed regarding the balance of power in track and field within the Northern Lakes League the past few years.

The Sylvania schools have been dominant forces at the league meet.

That certainly held true during last night s meet at Anthony Wayne, which was delayed approximately 45 minutes because of rain.

The Northview girls, paced by sprinter Lindsay Meridieth, totaled 154.5 points to collect their third straight NLL team title.

Bowling Green placed a distant second with 104.5 points, followed by Maumee at 99, Anthony Wayne 87, Perrysburg 69.5, Springfield 65.5, Southview 57 and Rossford 23.

Meridieth swept the 100 (12.41) and 200 (26.26) for the fourth straight year, which makes her an eight-time individual track event league champion.

“I think it s a huge accomplishment,” Meridieth said.

Meanwhile, Southview s boys, led by sprinters Gary Shannon and Aaron Waldie, earned their second straight league championship after totaling 132 points. Shannon, a transfer from Elyria, placed first in the 100 and 200 with times of 11.06 and 22.69.

“He s been an excellent addition for us in the relays, and in the 100 and 200,” Southview coach Josh Stedcke said.

“He works hard. His work ethic in practice pays off and rubs off on the other kids.”

Perrysburg placed second in the boys meet with 96 points, followed by Anthony Wayne with 95, Maumee 79, Rossford 76.5, Springfield 67, Northview 64 and Bowling Green 50.5.

Julia Dempster repeated as the league s 300 hurdles champion for the fourth straight year after crossing the finish line in a season-best 46.77.

Dempster was the only other individual event winner for the Wildcat girls.

However, Dempster and Meridieth ran on the Wildcats 800 relay team that placed first with a time of 1:50.56.

“I don t think things could have worked out any better for us,” Northview coach Mike Burke said.

“Things came together just exactly as I planned.

“It gets better every year. This is better than winning it last year and last year was better than the year before.”

Meanwhile, lots of other individuals didn t let a continual rainfall slow them down.

Bowling Green freshman sensation Christy Titus dominated the distance events. She appeared to barely break a sweat while claiming first place in the 1600 (5:16.31) and 3200 (11:20.75). Both times established school records. Titus teammate Kyle Womack also established a school record by winning the 800 with a time of 2:20.40.

Anthony Wayne s Seth Holan not only defended his league championship in the 110-meter hurdles, he streaked to a meet-record time of 14.55. The old mark was 14.60.

“I m just happy that I was able to get that because my goal was to break the record,” Holan said.

Southview s Malcolm Campbell was also a two-time winner by finishing first in the long jump (20-53/4) and high jump (6-0).

His twin brother, Michael, won the 400 with a time of 51.24.

“It feels really good,” Malcolm said of winning two jumping events.

“I ve been working out hard on my legs.”

Maumee s Drew Parry won the shot put at 51-31/4 and Springfield s Andrew Tolson took first in the discus at 148-2.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com or 419-724-6302.