MOAC track meet: Shelby's Gonzales, Finnegan three-peat, Clear Fork's Stupka sweeps sprint events

MARION — If you're an avid NFL fan, then you're probably aware that Green Bay, Wisconsin — home to the Green Bay Packers — is nicknamed "Titletown" for the numerous of NFL championships/Super Bowls the franchise has amassed throughout its storied history.

Well, right now, Shelby, Ohio, might as well be called "Titletown" too.

Both the boys and girls track teams won Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference titles on Thursday at Marion Grant Middle School during the eight-school conference track meet.

The Whippet girls led the way with 150 points, as Marion Harding and Ontario had a two-way tie for second with 101.5 points. Highland was fourth place with 81, Pleasant fifth (68), Galion sixth (63), Clear Fork seventh (48.5) and River Valley eighth (47.5).

The Whippet boys 133.5 points was also well-ahead of runner-up Galion, which totaled 102 points. Ontario came in third at 91 points, River Valley fourth (80), Highland fifth (78.5), Marion Harding sixth (72), Clear Fork seventh (59) and Pleasant eighth (47).

Here were the main highlights of the meet, which served as a nice appetizer with postseason track kicking off next week.

A Three-Peat for Shelby's two premier distance runners

Shelby's MOAC title wins on both the boys and girls sides exhibits exactly the level of talent and depth each team is working with this year but one consistent thread for the Whippets in 2023 − and really has been for some time now − has been in how formidable of a distance group they churn out seemingly every year. That's no different this year either, and seniors Kayla Gonzales and Huck Finnegan have been leading the way throughout their high school careers.

On Thursday, Finnegan and Gonzales both added some more high-water marks to their high school track CV by winning the MOAC title in the 3,200 meters for the third consecutive year, dating back to their sophomore years.

"I mean, I definitely want more but that's definitely a great accomplishment since sophomore year," said Finnegan.

Gonzales, on the other hand, was quite surprised when she was told of her feat.

"Oh, that's cool," she said. "Congrats."

For Finnegan, the 3,200 final was pretty well-contested through the first five laps with Finnegan, teammate Indy Mayer and Marion Harding's Carter Ferguson all well in the mix through the first half of the race. In the last three laps, Finnegan found his gear and distanced himself to secure the win. Mayer went on to place second, with Ferguson coming in third.

Asked if the race went according to plan and Finnegan responded, "I mean, yeah," he said. "I was hoping my teammate [Indy Mayer] would hold pace with me. That's what Mason [Hendrickson] did last last year but he graduated. It was all right. I went out pretty slow and tactical. I just wanted to get the win. My legs were pretty tired after the mile (1,600)."

Gonzales looked more than comfortable in the 3,200 as she jumped out quickly in front of the pack and basically coasted the rest of the way. Teammate Emma Montgomery finished right behind her in second.

"I did the mile and went all out for that one," said Gonzales. "The 3,200 I was just staying more comfortable and watching the time trying to get a PR. A little confidence boaster before the postseason."

On top of their 3,200 wins, they both took home victories in the 1,600 as well. The 3,200 wasn't the only event in which Gonzales three-peated at the MOAC meet. Add to the list the 1,600, where her time of 5:06.43 was far ahead of runner-up Casey Kimball (5:25.87) from Pleasant.

"That's my main event, so I really wanted to focus on that today and see what I could do," Gonzales said, who also broke the meet record in the 1,600. "I'm happy with the time. It's getting closer to my PR."

Finnegan, on the other hand, had to deal with his teammate Luke Dininger, the defending 1,600 MOAC champion, and Ontario's tough freshman Jace Young in the 1,600 final. Finnegan's late push on the fourth and final lap was the difference in a well-earned victory, as Pleasant's Nick Swartz came in second, Dininger in third and Young in fourth.

"In the mile, we're definitely going to play tactical again," Finnegan said. "We went out like 2:18, which is probably a 4:30 pace. Then another kid [Pleasant's Nick Swartz] started pushing the pace and in the last 100 I went with him, and we just battled it out to the finish. I just had a little bit more."

With the district tournament starting next week, Finnegan said he'd like to work on his leg speed more in the 4x800 relay − which the Shelby boys won on Tuesday − and as for Gonzales, she'll be gearing up for both the 1,600 and 3,200, with more of a pivot towards the 1,600.

"I'll be focusing more on the 1,600," Gonzales added, who is the defending Division II district champion in the event. "The 3,200 will be after and we'll see whatever I have left."

Clear Fork's Joe Stupka in top-flight form

Last month, Clear Fork junior Joe Stupka said he had four goals in mind:

1. Sweep all three sprinting events at the MOAC track meet

2. Sweep all three sprinting events at the Division II district meet

3. Qualify for state in all three at regionals

4. Podium in all three (top-eight finish) at the state meet

You can go ahead and check off step one.

Stupka was just too much for anyone to handle on Thursday as he won the 100 (11.02), 200 (22.28) and 400 (49.14) in stellar fashion, and looked quite at ease in each event. By winning the MOAC title in all three, that made it five times Stupka has managed to pull off sweeping the 100, 200 and 400 at track meets/invitationals this season.

He is in some form right now and he's getting faster.

"I had a good day in prelims Tuesday," said Stupka. "I came into today in the 100, had a little bit of a headwind. I sat at 11.01. The 400, I got out and ran the race just like I wanted. I wanted a low 49. I don't wanna go too crazy before districts and regionals. That one [200] I held back a little bit at the end and ran a 22.2. So, I'll take it. We are right where we need to be."

Stupka's first event was the 100, where he jumped out fast and didn't look back. In the 200, once he made that turn on the curve, it was bye-bye. However, it was the 400 where he looked the most dominant in. The moment he got out of those blocks bye-bye turned into night-night...because he was gone.

He was really flying.

"All of them were smooth sailing," Stupka said. "Right where we need to be. Can't complain at all. At this point in the season, you wanna go for placement, not times. I wish I kind of didn't let up in that 200 to see how fast I would've ran. We can do that in the future weeks. I got some top competition coming up at regionals for sure."

Particularly evident on the day was the humidity factor, which seemed to be felt by most of the athletes competing. Stupka felt it but it didn't affect his performance. He admits he'll be better prepared for it as the season moves along.

"It was the first hot meet of the year," Stupka said. "It makes a big difference. Now I know to hydrate a little more the night before. Eat a little more fruits and vegetables. But it's an adjustment for sure."

Next up in Stupka's four-step plan is next week's Division II district meet at Ontario.

Is he ready?

"Yes, sir," he said.

Shelby's Moore and Cundiff take 800 titles

Gonzales and Finnegan weren't the only distance runners from Shelby to get in the win column. Marshall Moore and Channon Cundiff captured MOAC titles in the 800.

Cundiff's (2:22.74) victory was in secured fashion.

"I knew I was seeded first but I was still a little nervous because the girl from Galion [Nora Harding]," said Cundiff. "I really just kicked the last 150. I just had to turn it on and make sure I had it."

The 800 has become an event that Cunduff in her junior year has found more and more comfort in as the season has progressed. She was the 800 winner at the Mehock Relays.

"It's just really nice to see the progress because I've been working since indoor," she said. "Last time I ran a 2:22 was in Ashland, which was towards the end of our indoor season. So, I had high expectations for outdoor and it was kind of hard reworking that. I've been pretty consistent running 2:25s or 2:27s. It gives me more confidence that I can get back running in the 2:22s."

For Moore, his 800 victory was anything but easy.

Going into the the 800 final, the matchup to get excited for was between Moore and Ontario's Miles Meisse, a All-Ohioan in the 800 last year at the Division II state meet. Neck-and-neck the whole two laps, Moore's surging push in the last 50-60 meters gave him the edge.

"I had to put myself out there in the beginning," said Moore. "I wanted to make a move at 200. I made that move and didn't look back. I was definitely nervous running down that 100 because Miles is a great runner. I know he's got quick legs. I was very satisfied with that."

At last year's MOAC meet as a sophomore, Moore was runner-up in the 800. He had that on his mind coming into this year's race.

"That felt so good," Moore said of his 800 win. "Going into the race, I kept thinking in my mind I got outkicked last year, so I didn't want that to happen again."

Other winners/top placers from Richland County

Shelby's Ava Bowman, first in 100

Ontario's Sasha Bulakovski, first in 400

Shelby's Alainah Carmel, first in 300 hurdles

Ontario's Aiden Fox, second in 110 and 300 hurdles

Shelby's Issaiah Ramsey, second in long jump

Ontario's Bralen Boone, second in shot put

Shelby's Ferron Pena, second in discus

Shelby girls swept the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays

jsimpson@gannett.com

Twitter- @JamesSimpsonII

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Shelby's Gonzales, Finnegan three-peat, Clear Fork's Stupka a triple winner at MOAC track meet