SIDELINES: TRACK AND FIELD

Napoleon’s Weaver looks to defend state title

Bryan’s McBride, Rogers’ Scott-Glover, among many local athletes looking to win

Lexis Williams of Notre Dame qualified to state in the 100 and 200-meter races and is a member of the qualifying 800 relay team.

The Blade/Jeremy Wadsworth
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Lexis Williams of Notre Dame qualified to state in the 100 and 200-meter races and is a member of the qualifying 800 relay team.

For some, this year represents their first experience competing in the state track and field championships in Columbus.

It's a dream come true to reach the final high school track meet of the season. It's an honor and a privilege to run on Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

For others, who have shown potential in the past to perhaps one day claim a state championship, this may also represent the last chance.

Then there are those who have stood on the top step of the awards podium in the past and are looking to do it again.

Napoleon senior Steve Weaver is the defending champion in the 1600 meters. He also qualified to state in the 800 and 3200 races, but will not compete in the 800 so that he can give his best effort in the other two races.

It all takes place on Friday and Saturday in Columbus.

Bryan senior Alyssa McBride also has her sights on a state title.

"That's my biggest goal," said McBride, will be after the Division II title in the pole vault after finishing runner-up last year. She also qualified to state in the long jump.

Her winning effort of 12 feet in the pole vault is the top mark among the D-II state qualifiers.

Chris Wormley of Whitmer qualified to state after finishing second in the discus and third in the shot put at the Division I regional.

Rogers hurdler Brianna Scott-Glover is looking forward to her return to the state meet. The senior helped the Rams finish as the Division II state runner-up a year ago by placing in both hurdles events (fourth in 100-meter hurdles, fifth in 300 hurdles) and competing on the 800-relay team that finished in second place.

However, her situation competing at state is noticeably different this spring since the Rams returned to Division I. This is also her last shot at her goal of becoming No. 1 in the hurdles.

"I'm excited about running at state because this is my senior year," said Scott-Glover, who will attend Alabama State. She was regional champion in the 100 hurdles and second in the 300.

Scott-Glover owns the top qualifying time for the 100 (14.08) and third-best for the 300 (43.54).

Bowsher's D'Angelo Wilkes-Sharpley, who is headed to Kent State, finished 10th last year in the 800.

"I definitely expect to go top three," he said. "I'm definitely going to push it."

Notre Dame sprinter Lexis Williams, who will compete at the University of Toledo, is a state qualifier for the 100 and 200, as well as a member of the 800 relay.

"My expectations are to get on the podium on Saturday," Williams said. "That's my goal."

Whitmer's Chris Wormley has qualified in the shot put and discus.

Isaiah Conkle of Eastwood will compete at state in the 100, 200, and as part of the 400-meter relay team.

He's had quite an amazing school year in sports. He reached the state semifinals with the football team and played on the state runner-up basketball team.

"I'm going to state and I'm going to try and do my best to help the team score points," said Wormley, who had the third-best qualifying mark for the discus (184-9) and sixth-best in the shot put (58-3).

Swanton senior Ric Roe has his sights set on a state title when he steps on the track to run in the 3200 meters in the Division II meet.

He hopes to run near his personal-best time (9:45.00) after finishing in a disappointing fourth place at the regional at 10:02.93.

"This will definitely be a chance for me to redeem myself," Roe said.

Eastwood's Isaiah Conkle was second in the 200 and third in the 100 at the D-II regional. He also helped the 400 relay team, which finished third, qualify to state.

Toledo Christian distance standout Krista Wood finds herself running alongside teammate Delainey Phelps in the D-III 1600 and 3200, and together as members of the 3200-meter relay team.

Contact Donald Emmons at: demmons@theblade.com, 419-724-6302, or on Twitter @DemmonsBlade