AW boys, girls capture crowns

Bowling Green s Christy Titus repeats as champion in the 1600 race, edging Anthony Wayne s Ashley Evens yesterday in the NLL meet. Titus also won the 3200 for the Bobcats.

Anthony Wayne's Jimmy Cross, front, teamed with Justin Gerhardinger, Robert Anderson and Tim Green to win 400 relay.

Anthony Wayne track coach Jim Lopez, who celebrated a birthday earlier in the week, received two presents from his team at the Northern Lakes League championships yesterday at Timberstone Junior High.

The Generals boys squad came through by winning the team's first league championship since 1985 while the Generals girls team trumped the rest of the league to claim a league team title for the first time since 2000.

"I'm just so proud of them," said Lopez, referring to both AW track programs. "Everybody did their job today. The guys really stepped up and I thought the boys had a shot coming into today. I really had confidence with these girls because they believe in themselves."

The AW girls, who qualified two participants in each of the girls finals events, finished with 153 points, followed by defending league champion Bowling Green with 126.33 points, Southview 119, Perrysburg 97.166, Northview 85.5, Springfield 37, Maumee 22 and Rossford 20.

The AW boys produced a title-winning 129 points to outlast Perrysburg, which finished with 120 points. Northview finished with 107, Southview 104, Bowling Green 72, Springfield 69, Maumee 45 and Rossford 15.

"This was redemption from last year when we lost by one point [to Bowling Green]," said AW's Ashley Evens, who posted runner-up finishes in the 1600 and 3200-meter events to BG's Christy Titus to help the Generals' cause. "I think it's great we were able to pull this out."

Bowling Green s Christy Titus repeats as champion in the 1600 race, edging Anthony Wayne s Ashley Evens yesterday in the NLL meet. Titus also won the 3200 for the Bobcats.

Nevertheless, the Generals' team dominance didn't overshadow plenty of strong individual efforts.

Northview's Nikki Klahn repeated as league champion by sweeping the 100, 200 and 400-meter events for the second year in a row. Klahn, a junior, didn't allow wet and rainy conditions to slow her down. She produced a league-meet record time of 25.57 to win the 200 meters. She won the 100 in a time of 12.28 and the 400 in a season-best time of 1:00.06.

"I had confidence coming into the meet and I thought I had a chance to win," Klahn said.

Southview's Kwesi Kankam also showed plenty of speed and strength by sweeping the boys 100, 200 and 400. He crossed the finish line in 11.17 to win the 100 before winning the 200 with a time of 22.52 and the 400 in 50.41.

"It was a good day for me in the 100 and 200, but the 400 was all right," Kankam said. "I thought I'd have a pretty good day even though I didn't have good prelims."

AW's Cami Deeds, Megan Marzec, Abbey Hill and Erika Schmidt prevailed in the girls 800 relay by posting a meet-record time of 1:45.48. AW's Carrie Gerhardinger, Marzec, Ashley Zaper and Schmidt outran the 400-meter relay field by posting a winning time of 51.00.

Meanwhile, AW's Chase Sniadecki topped the discus competition with a winning toss of 148-11 yesterday aftenoon to give him two league titles after besting the field in the shot put on Wednesday. Obinna Nwanna also scored a win for the Generals when he topped the high jump field after ending up as the only competitor to clear six feet.

AW's Justin Gerhardinger, Robert Anderson, Tim Green and Jimmy Cross teamed up to win the 400 relay with a time of 45.41.

Maumee's Bo Waggoner swept the 1600 (4:24.61) and 3200 while Northview's Austin Hendrix finished first in the 800 (2:02.27).

Perrysburg's Zeb George came away a double-winner by taking first in the 110 hurdles (14.75) and 300 hurdles (40.63). Perrysburg's Cory Bias, Dan DeBoe, Kyle Sell and Napoleon Ruffin claimed victory in the 800 relay (1:32.71).

In the girls competition, Bowling Green's Christy Titus repeated as champion in the 1600 (5:13.08) and the 3200 (11:25.08). BG's Barbara Powers also showed plenty of strength by winning the 800 (2:23.39).

Southview's Bahiyjaui Allen repeated as NLL champion in the shot put for the fourth year in a row by tossing a winning throw of 38-8 1/2 yesterday.

"It feels really good today to win it four years in a row," said Allen, who also repeated as champion for the third year in a row in the discus on Wednesday. "It's really an honor but it's still only the first step. I've got a lot to prove besides this."

Southview's Taylor Toney won the 100 hurdles (15.68). Perrysburg's Courtney Weiss took first in the 300 hurdles (46.55)

Springfield's Tegan Wood bested the pole vault field with a jump of 8 feet and Southview's Ksenia Kriatchkova won the long jump (15-7 1/4).

Contact Donald Emmons at:

demmons@theblade.com

or 419-724-6302.