Balanced track teams put Heath boys, Johnstown girls on top in LCL-Cardinal
HEATH — The finality of the moment did not hit Carter Higgins until he was in the midst of Friday’s Licking County League track championships.
The Heath senior finished his career in his home ring in style. Higgins threw a distance of 156 feet to win the Cardinal Division discus, helping the host Bulldogs run away with their ninth consecutive boys championship.
“It’s weird,” Higgins said. “I was walking into the ring, and (assistant coach Eric Marinacci) said, ‘This is your last competition throw at Heath. Have fun with it.’ That’s kind of crazy. I will take it. It was not a bad day.”
It was such a good day, in fact, that his closest competitor, Heath classmate Reece Shriner, threw 140-1 to take runner-up.
“I am happy to win and happy to have Reece second,” Higgins continued. “I don’t know how many in a row this is, but hopefully it’s another one.”
Heath excelled in all areas, racking up 161 points. Johnstown edged Northridge to take second place, 117 to 116.
Heath senior Tucker See swept the 1,600 (4:25.25) and 3,200 (9:42.20). Sophomore teammate Ryan Baker took runner-up in both (4:33.81; 10:13.80). See and Baker were both part of the winning 3,200 relay on Wednesday.
“It feels really great because from where I started freshman year, I have worked so hard to get here,” See said. “It just feels amazing to finally be where I wanted to be.”
The Johnstown girls also used strength in all four areas to dethrone rival Northridge as champion. The Johnnies totaled 162 points, finishing ahead of the 127.5 for the Vikings, who had won the previous five championships.
Senior Reece Savage pulled off an incredible quadruple for the Johnnies, winning the 1,600 (5:27.74) and 3,200 (11:45.45), taking runner-up in the 800 (2:26.96) and a close third in the 400 (1:01.11).
“From a team standpoint, I just wanted to get the most points I could,” said Savage. “We definitely put in a lineup to beat Northridge and all of the other teams. I was willing to run all. It’s exciting when I can help out the whole team.”
It was Savage's sophomore teammate Audrey McCrady who won the 800 (2:25.45).
Senior Kate Ruffle set a personal best in winning the long jump (16-7.75), finishing ahead of her sophomore sister Ava Ruffle, who took runner-up (15-7.75). Kate Ruffle also rallied the Johnnies to win in the 400 relay (54.59), joining Taylor Beverick, Eliana Britton and Emma Kisner. And the Ruffle sisters joined McCrady and Allison Bonito on the winning 1,600 relay (4:19.36).
“Oh my gosh, it’s amazing,” said Kate Ruffle, who also set a personal best in taking runner-up in the 100 (12.88). “We finally got to race against (Northridge), and it was great to put all of the pieces together. I feel like everything is aligning, and we are doing great now.”
The Johnnies flexed their muscles in the throws, too, as junior Sydney Bruning won the shot put (33-3) with classmate Alexis Diehl following in second (31-6.5).
“It feels awesome to come out here and win one. I definitely like I could have done more and had more, but all in all, I was very proud of my throw and where I ended up,” Bruning said. “Track might sound individual, but overall, it is a big team sport. I am just so proud I get to add to that score and help our girls win today.”
In the boys meet, Lakewood senior Isaiah Mitchell swept the 100 (11.08) and 200 (22.48), resetting his school record in the latter.
“It’s amazing,” Mitchell said. “Last year, knowing I had the potential to do what I did this year and not being able to do it crushed me. All offseason, I wanted to come back here and show everyone.”
Junior Joshua Jones won the high jump (5-10) for champion Heath. He also joined Jacob Lane, Tyler Hudson and Tristyn Jones on the winning 800 relay (1:34.42). Hudson, Tristyn Jones, Carter Wiley and Brayden Bayles won the 400 relay (44.42).
Keaton Curnutte in the 400 (50.77) and Cameron Beverick in the 800 (2:03.14) were winners for runner-up Johnstown.
Junior Nathan Burkey swept the 110 hurdles (15.89) and 300 hurdles (42.50) for Northridge. He later joined Drew Bingham, Jack Van Fossen and Logan Knerr on the winning 1,600 relay (3:35.01).
In the girls meet, Northridge junior Isabel Evans was a triple winner, winning the 100 (12.82) between sweeping the 100 hurdles (14.80) and 300 hurdles (45.67) in dominant fashion. Evans, the reigning Division II state runner-up in both hurdles events, had qualified to also compete in the 200, but she scratched due to a lower back injury.
“Going into it, I wasn’t sure if I would actually be able to race, but I wanted to do it for the team because we had a chance of winning. I just came out here and gave it my all,” Evans said. “The only solution to the pain is probably taking time off, which I don’t really have right now, but I am doing everything I can to help the pain.”
Northridge sophomore Ava Travis won the 400 (1:00.69) and 200 (27.31). Utica freshman Hailey Wygle won the pole vault (8-6).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Balance puts Heath boys, Johnstown girls on top in LCL-Cardinal track
