Jackets, Cougars show off strengths at regional track meet

NLL powers finish 2nd in regionals; Fremont Ross’ Ballenger wins twice

5/31/2014

AMHERST, Ohio — Perrysburg’s girls and Southview’s boys reigned over the competition in the Northern Lakes League this spring, then ran with that momentum at the Division I regional track championships on Friday at Steele High.

Both competed well enough to earn regional runner-up trophies.

Perrysburg, paced by senior Courtney Clody, placed second with 51 points, only four points shy of champion Cleveland St. Joseph Academy’s 55 total points.

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Southview, led by senior Malcom Johnson, ran second in the boys competition with 64 points, seven points short of Berea-Midpark’s 71.

Clody led the way for the Yellow Jackets by sweeping the 800 meters (2 minutes, 11.98 seconds) and 1600 (5:03.97) and running a leg on Perrysburg’s winning 3200 relay (9:16.91). She was also a member of the Yellow Jackets’ 1600 relay that finished second with a time of 3:55.73.

“I’ve got to say today is one of the best racing days I’ve had,” said Clody, who will run at Ohio State. “I think the big difference today was I went into it a lot more confident. I was pretty stress-free, and that was a huge part of it. I was mentally ready to go today.”

Perrysburg teammate Taylor Monheim placed third in the 3200 (10:59.60).

Jordan Doore and Alexis Kemp ran with Clody and Monheim on the Yellow Jackets’ 3200 relay that finished one second shy of matching the school record.

“These leaders just led us,” Perrysburg coach Andrea Monheim said of Clody and Monheim. “Every single girl on our team scored today. It was fantastic.”

The top four finishers in each event qualified for the Division I state track meet next Friday and Saturday in Columbus.

The Cougars and Yellow Jackets will lead a sizable northwest Ohio contingent to the state meet.

Southview’s Lauren Micham, Alana Johnson, Kennedy Marable, and Chelsey Barwiler head after winning the 800 relay in 1:42.22. The quartet also ran fourth in the 400 relay (49.35).

Barwiler qualified for state in the 400 after taking second with a time of 57.63. Central Catholic’s Kiana McClendon (58.08) was fourth.

Clay’s Haley Hess, Erin Gyurke, Sydney Hess, and Hannah Hess ran third in the 3200 relay (9:27.65). Haley Hess ran third in the 1600 at 5:06.56 and Gyurke second in the 3200 (10:55.33).

Clay’s Grace Winckowski won the 100 hurdles (15.19) and was second in the 300 hurdles (45.50) after falling a couple meters shy of the finish line. Brunswick’s Gabby Maslowski (44.95) had trailed before the late-race mishap.

Southview’s Taylor Fitchpatric ran third in the 300 hurdles at 46.29. Fremont Ross’ Cassie Woleslagel was fourth (46.43).

Whitmer’s Alaya Hayes won the shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 11½ inches. Teammate TiTyana Gardner made state after placing second in the shot put (40-3¾) and fourth in the discus (117-11).

Bowling Green’s Maria Horrigan (12-10) outlasted Whitmer’s Kaitlyn Barber (12-3) in the pole vault.

The Southview boys closed out the meet by winning the 1600 relay in school record 3:18.42.

However, Johnson faced his stiffest competition and was denied a 100-200 sweep. John Adams’ Reggie Thomas (10.87) edged out Johnson (10.90) to win the 100. Johnson was also involved in a bad exchange that resulted in a dropped baton during the 400-meter relay.

Johnson did bounce back to win the 200 with a time of 21.90, while Thomas placed second with a time of 22.15. He also ran a leg on Southview’s 800 relay that finished third with a time of 1:28.76.

J.J. Pinckney finished second in the 400 (48.97) to help Southview.

Southview’s Frank Hayes won the 800 with a time of 1:54.52. “I thought it was a great team effort,” Southview coach Lee Boyer said.

Springfield’s Manny Durden claimed the high jump after clearing a season-best 6-10.

Fremont Ross’ Jared Ballenger swept, winning the discus (176-3) and shot put (60-7).

St. John’s Jesuit’s Tevin Brown placed second in the 1600 with a time of 4:17.19.

St. Francis’ David St. John finished strong to place second in the 3200 (9:24.22), followed by Nicholas Jarrell of St. John’s in third (9:25.57) and Central’s George McCartney in fourth (9:27.51).

St. Francis’ Andrew Bonfiglio finished fourth in the 110 hurdles (14.90).

The 3200 relays for St. John’s (7:56.34) and St. Francis (7:57.39) placed second and fourth, respectively. Whitmer’s 400 relay (42.49) finished second.

Anthony Wayne’s Samuel Bruno (22.38) placed fourth in the 200.

Shon Layson of St. John’s was fourth in the long jump (22-1¼).

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