By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

Because of a scheduling conflict with Southeast’s prom, senior Julia Wheeler was the lone Pirate who competed on May 2 at the 45th Optimist Meet at Austintown Fitch.

She represented her school well in winning the 1,600 with a time of 5:14.43 and finishing runner-up in the 3,200 with a time of 10:45.97, crushing her personal best and breaking the

school record that was set in 1985 (Julie Dias) in the process.

“Julia came in really fresh,” head coach Melinda Furr said. “She ran a fantastic 3,200. She ran really relaxed in both races, and she runs her best when she’s relaxed.”

Wheeler’s exploits at Austintown gave Southeast a tie for 14th place out of 23 teams with 18 points.

AURORA

Aurora was up against some bigger schools and several teams it usually doesn’t compete against May 1 at the 69th Berea Kiwanis Titans Relay at Baldwin Wallace University.

The Greenmen were not intimidated in the least.

In fact, they captured the 12-team title with 71 points and set three school records in the process.

“It was a great night,” head coach Greg Cicero said. “Getting out there competing with those teams and going event for event on the track was great to see. The girls stayed focused, they stayed determined and it paid off at the end of the meet.”

Senior Abigail Rogonjic and freshmen Audrey Miller, Evelyn Jenkins and Claire Jenkins combined to break school record No. 1 by well more than a minute-and-a-half in the 4×1,600 relay with a time of 21 minutes, 22.02 seconds.

“Audrey had a great leadoff leg, giving us about a 100-meter lead,” said Cicero. “We were able to basically get into cruise control and have nice, comfortable running. They just continued to turn in great lap after great lap. We have a lot of depth in the distance events, and just being able to throw four girls out there who can run 5:30 or under is not normal for a high-school team.”

School record No. 2 bit the dust by more than 45 seconds when senior Isabella Cicero joined Miller, Claire Jenkins and Evelyn Jenkins to place runner-up in the distance medley relay 4,000 with a clocking of 12:28.77.

“We lost to a fantastic anchor leg from a Strongsville girl,” said the coach. “Every girl just went and did their job. Nobody had to do anything unbelievable out of their ability.”

Seniors Olivia Leon and Isabelle Leindecker, junior Khloe Hayward and sophomore Madaline Williams combined to finish runner-up in the sprint medley relay 800-meter with a school-record time of 1:52.57.

“We had two great 100-meter legs to start that relay. Olivia ran a fantastic 200-meter leg and then Isabelle is a closer,” Coach Cicero said. “If you get Isabelle the baton in a race that’s close, she’s going to give you every ounce of effort she has, and she did in that race. It was a good finish for us. She probably took a 15-meter lead down to just a couple meters by the finish. She kept closing, and we thought it was going to happen, but she just ran out of space.”

FIELD

Field head coach Ed Conroy couldn’t have been happier with his team’s second-place finish May 2 at the 45th Optimist Invitational at Austintown-Fitch.

The Falcons, who totaled 69 points in the 23-team meet, were up against some pretty stiff competition, including champion Revere, third-place Salem and fourth-place Wadsworth.

“These are all dominating track schools, so for our girls to finish second I was very pleased,” said Conroy. “That’s one of the strongest girls finishes I’ve had in 15 years of coaching. A lot of schools and athletes at this meet started backing down because of the snow and cold, but my kids wanted to compete. I’m proud of them.

“We enjoy going to the Optimist Invitational because the competition is high, but most importantly we go there because we want our athletes to be at the school where they’re going to be competing at regionals. It allows them to have a better chance at qualifying for the state meet because they can get used to the throwing pits, the jumping pits and the track.”

Pacing Field was senior Nema McAmis, who captured the title in the 300 hurdles with a

time of 52.28 and finished sixth in the 100 hurdles, clocking in at 17.96.

“Nema is truly helping our team right now,” Conroy said of McAmis, who previously competed in the discus but realized she was better at the hurdles, her second love. “I look forward to seeing her performances as she’s now understanding her value for our team. She’s just a hard worker and is very driven. She’s very excited about doing the hurdle events in the postseason.”

Speaking of the discus, senior Makayla Norman continued her undefeated season with a throw of 119-8. Her classmate Morgan Stoicoiu was third with a toss of 111-9.

Senior Maddie Adams, sophomores Kylie Stewart and Leia Brugler and freshman Alison Church joined forces to win the 4×800 relay by almost 17 seconds, clocking in at 10:37.89.

CRESTWOOD

Liv Martini is like a bolt of lightning, according to Crestwood head coach Megan Mertz.

“She’s so much fun to watch,” said Mertz of her junior Red Devil, who dominated the field in winning the 400 with a time of 59.13 in a double dual meet April 28 against Springfield and host Streetsboro. The second-place runner was almost 10 seconds and nearly 100 meters behind Martini, who also captured the title in the 100 with a clocking of 12.76.

“Having competition like Streetsboro pushes Liv,” Mertz said of her 2025 state qualifier. “Even though she was 10 seconds ahead, having those big schools … they always give her a run. And you can tell in the beginning of the race because she just takes off at different speed, and then all of the sudden she’s gone. Liv is just a standout in whatever she does.”

Martini even decided to try something new this season – the long jump. She placed third with a leap of 15-7 in the double dual April 28. In the previous meet, she went a season-best 17 feet.

“Liv is doing phenomenal,” said the coach. “I feel like we can put her wherever we need her, and she’s going to do well in it. She’s so coachable.”

Junior Jackie Blasiole won the 300 hurdles (51.17) and finished second in both the 100 hurdles (17.32) and the long jump (16-0.5).

“It’s hard coming back to hurdles after taking a year off,” said Mertz, “but you can tell with every meet she’s just gaining more confidence, which is definitely what we need going into the postseason. She’s starting to trust herself, and it’s showing.”

Team wise, Crestwood defeated the Spartans handily but lost to the Rockets.

MOGADORE

Hayli Clester had quite a night April 30 as Mogadore hosted the Mogadore Wildcat Invitational.

The junior Wildcat captured titles in both the 200 (26.73) and 400 (1:02.93) plus finished runner-up in the long jump (16-5.25).

“Hayli is having an outstanding year in the sprints, fantastic,” said head coach Kim Kreiner. “She’s putting together a very, very solid year, and it doesn’t look like she’s slowing down.”

Sophomore Ava Murphy placed second in the 300 hurdles (49.05) and fourth in the 100 (13.60).

“Ava has been running very well for us,” Kreiner said. “She’s been pretty solid this season. She’s starting to put together some good times in the hurdles.”

Overall, Mogadore finished fifth out of eight teams with 55 points.

ROOTSTOWN

Rootstown freshman Emma Haws tied her season best with a leap of 4-10 in winning the high-jump title May 2 at the 68 th Annual Cuyahoga Heights Relays.

“I was extremely happy with Emma’s performance. She’s really progressing well,” said head coach Kyle Rodstrom. “She’s starting to figure out the little things within the high jump that are allowing her to be consistent in jumping the higher heights.”

Overall, the Rovers placed third out of six teams with 52 points.

RAVENNA

Ravenna’s Jayla Walker is dealing with an injured hamstring. The senior Raven, though, battled through it by placing seventh in the 100 with a time of 14.11 April 30 at the Mogadore Wildcat Invitational. She also competed well as a member of the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams.

“I think Jayla ran well,” head coach Ceon Kelly said. “She toughed it out for the team, showing good leadership.”

Overall, Ravenna finished eighth out of eight teams.

“We’re really beat up right now,” said Kelly, “but the girls fought through it.”