Clay, Cargile lead sprinters into regional at Amherst

5/25/2006

Bowsher sprinter Aeric Clay made a bold statement by sweeping the 100 and 200-meter events at the Division I district meet.

The junior sprinter, who placed second in the 100 at state a year ago, expects to continue making noise when he runs at the regional meet tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Amherst Steele High.

Clay took first at the district meet in the 100 with a swift time of 10.73 and 200 in 21.60.

Also entering the regional meet as a double-winner is Notre Dame Academy's Chantell Cargile, who swept the girls 100 (12.23) and 200 (24.80) at St. Francis de Sales. Preseason sprint favorites Meshawn Graham of Bowsher and Danyelle McGary of Libbey, didn't run at the district because injuries, but they were in Cargile's thoughts.

"They [Graham and McGary] really pushed me to run last year and I was really determined to come out and show Toledo what I could do," said Cargile, a senior looking to qualify for the state meet in both events for the first time.

The top four finishers in each event at the regional qualify for the state meet, which will be held June 2-3 at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Whitmer's Courtney Siebenaller - a triple winner (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole vault) at the district - is undefeated in the pole vault this season.

Bowling Green's Christy Titus (1600, 3200) and Maumee's Bo Waggoner (1600, 3200) are among the distance favorites. Anthony Wayne's Chase Sniadecki (shot put, discus) has been a top performer in the throwing events all season.

Eastwood's boys and girls teams head to Divisoion II today at 4 and Saturday at 11:30 in Lexington riding momentum from the district meet. Jack Schemenauer, winner of the 110 hurdles (14.80) and 300 hurdles (39.75), paced the Eagles to a district team title.

Eastwood district champ Danielle Thornton will compete in the 800 (2:17.64) as well as on the girls 400 and 800 relay teams.

Rossford sophomore Rachel Clay looks to earn a second trip to state in the 400.

Defiance's Darren Flickinger enters as a favorite in the 1600 and 3200 after winning both in district competition. Napoleon's Lucas Oberhaus (300 hurdles, long jump) is ready to compete in his two best events.

In Division III, two-time state discus champion Emily Pendleton looks to defend her regional title when the competition starts tomorrow at 4 in Fostoria. Pendleton produced a personal best and district-meet-record effort of 172-8 to win the discus while leading Woodmore to the team championship. Her mark is tops in the nation this spring. Pendleton also won the shot put (39-6 1/4).

Erin Pendleton, Emily's freshman sister, qualified for the regional after placing second in the discus (140-1) and fourth in the shot put (35- 3/4).

"I've always watched her [Emily] compete before this year, but now that I'm also here I hope to do my best and make it out of regionals," Erin Pendleton said.

Maumee Valley Country Day's Kristen Meister won the district high jump (5-6) and 100 hurdles (15.23). Toledo Christian's Bethany McGraw placed first in the long jump (16-9 1/4), first in the 100 (12.84) and second in the 200 (26.66) at the district.

Maumee Valley's Chris Sackmann was first in the 110 hurdles (14.62), 300 hurdles (40.75) and 200 (23.63). He also earned a fourth first by running anchor on Maumee Valley's 400 relay team, which included Stephen Parry, Nathan Stern and Coleman High.

Maumee Valley's boys team, which won the team title, will also be represented by district double winner Josh Kaiser, who claimed victory in the discus (149-5) and shot put (49-2 1/2).

- Donald Emmons