Advertisement

HS Track & Field: John Glenn girls capture elusive regional title

brandon hannahs, zanesville times recorder
·4 min read

NEW CONCORD — A regional title has eluded the John Glenn girls under Doug Joy.

The John Glenn girls won the regional title after scoring 66.5 points during the Division II regional track and field meet at Muskingum University.
The John Glenn girls won the regional title after scoring 66.5 points during the Division II regional track and field meet at Muskingum University.

But, the Muskies broke through on Saturday, collecting 66.5 points to claim the team championship after Saturday's Division II regional meet at Muskingum University.

Fairfield Union and Minerva tied for second at 45.

Kara Fields won the 100 hurdles (14.56) to go with fourth in the 300 hurdles (46.7), Jessica Church won the 400 (57.99), along with a fourth in the 100 (12.50) and a fifth in the 200 (26.31), and Brayden Snider claimed the pole vault after clearing a height of 11-8 to highlight the team's effort.

The top four placers in each event automatically qualified to next week's state meet at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Stadium.

Chelsea Sotherden also placed second in the shot (37-11) and Ava Hoffman took fifth in the high jump (5-2) on Thursday for the Muskies, while John Glenn's Cash Smith came in fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.17) and the 4x800 of Caiden Lake, Kody Clendenning, Ian Davis and Tanner Caudill was fifth (8:22) to lead the boys.

Veteran coach Doug Joy noted the girls have been the regional runner-up four times and credited contributions from the entire roster in achieving the historic feat.

"This is a well-rounded team, and we have great senior leadership from Kara, Grace (Lawrence) and Marina (Nicolozakes)," Joy said. "They push each other and support each other. Since Day 1, this has been one of our goals, and they've been focused on the task at hand over the last month. It's really nice to do this at our training facility, and I'm proud of their effort."

John Glenn's Jessica Church runs down the backstretch of the 400 meters during the Division II regional track and field meet on Saturday at McConagha Stadium in New Concord. Church's win helped the Muskies win their first regional title as a team.
John Glenn's Jessica Church runs down the backstretch of the 400 meters during the Division II regional track and field meet on Saturday at McConagha Stadium in New Concord. Church's win helped the Muskies win their first regional title as a team.

Fields finally defeated Morgan's Odessa Smith in the 100 hurdles. She hopes to carry that momentum to Columbus.

"I've been running on my heels, but today, I ran on my toes," she said. "I posted a p.r. (personal record) in the 100s, and I'm really excited I get to go in the 300s, too. That was my main goal coming in so I could run both at state."

Snider felt it could be a tough day in the pole vault, but everything came together when she needed it.

"It means a lot to get to state, and my coaches have been a big part," she said. "I didn't feel great about how I started, but I get a chance to go to state. Now, I'll just try to do the best I can."

West Muskingum's Mykell Bowen throws the discus during Saturday's Division II regional meet at Muskingum University. Bowen won the discus title and earned a state berth.
West Muskingum's Mykell Bowen throws the discus during Saturday's Division II regional meet at Muskingum University. Bowen won the discus title and earned a state berth.

The West Muskingum girls swept the throwing titles. Mykell Bowen won the discus (122-9) on Saturday, joining teammate Rebecca Strunk, who won the shot (38-5 3/4) on Thursday.

Despite a tough start, Bowen was able to regroup and pop off one of her best distances of the season.

"I had a rough start so I had to clear my mind so I could get one out there. I focused on the basics like my technique," she said. "There's been a lot of hard work and dedication to get to state, and now I'm glad it finally happened on my last chance."

Smith, who ran 14.58 in her second-place finish in the 100 hurdles, rebounded by capturing the 300 hurdles (45.18) for the Raiders.

Sheridan's Claire Shriner, left, and Morgan's Odessa Smith run the 300 hurdles during the Division II regional track and field meet on Saturday at McConagha Stadium in New Concord. Smith won and Shriner was second as the Muskingum Valley League took three of the top four spots to reach the state meet.
Sheridan's Claire Shriner, left, and Morgan's Odessa Smith run the 300 hurdles during the Division II regional track and field meet on Saturday at McConagha Stadium in New Concord. Smith won and Shriner was second as the Muskingum Valley League took three of the top four spots to reach the state meet.

"I'm excited that I get to keep competing against the top runners," she said. "We have really good competition in the league. We're all really good runners, and we have a friendly rivalry. We push each other and try to beat each other so it's great to see us all move on."

Beckett Strong took second in the 400 (58.17) and Claire Shriner was second in the 300 hurdles (45.45) and fifth in the 100 hurdles (16.21) for the Sheridan girls, who were fourth with 40 points. Those two also teamed with Nora Covey and Sieannah Ramirez for second in the 4x400 (4:07.58), while Lily Dennis was the runner-up in the discus (121-2).

"I used my lane to my advantage and was able to catch the girls out in front of me," Strong said about her 400 race. "My goal was to get to state, and I'm looking forward to what I can do."

Sheridan's Beckett Strong runs down the final 100 meters en route to a second place finish in the 4x400 relay at the Division II regional track and field meet on Saturday at McConagha Stadium in New Concord. The top four finishers in each event advanced to the state meet, set for Friday and Saturday at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.

The Sheridan boys 4x800 of Cooper Winders, Simon Conrad, John Skinner and Tate Ruthers came in third (8:19) on Thursday to round out the Generals' contingent. Ruthers was also fifth in the 3,200 (9:46).

Rashid Sesay placed third in the 100 (11.02) and fifth in the 200 (22.22) to lead the West M boys. He joined Lane Kennedy, Jax Prang and Ty Shawger for third in the 4x100 (43.39), while Shawger placed fifth in the high jump (6-0), as the Tornadoes tied for 10th with 20 points.

Aubree DeLong, Angelina Myers, Anna Stutes and Makenna Staker finished third in the 4x200 (1:48.79), and Stutes also came in third in the long jump (17-1) to move on for Philo.

bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: HS Track & Field: John Glenn girls capture elusive regional title