Mayfield hurdler Worthams wins division of AAU national qualifier; several area athletes compete at USATF Youth Nationals
Jul. 8—Just because the high school track and field season ended last month with the state meet in Columbus doesn't mean the sport has shut down entirely.
National qualifiers and meets have been taking place throughout the summer.
Last weekend, the AAU Region 4 qualifier was held at Wittenberg. Region 4 is comprised of Ohio and West Virginia, along with western portions of Pennsylvania and New York.
Mayfield sophomore-to-be Sharnise Worthams won 400-meter hurdles in the 15-16 year old division with a time of 1 minute, 9.18 seconds, good for a 2.28 margin of victory.
Worthams was also sixth in her division in 100 hurdles, in which she was a Division I regional qualifier for the Wildcats as a freshman this past spring. She finished the regular season with the fifth-fastest time in The News-Herald coverage area in 100 hurdles and fourth-fastest in 300 hurdles.
With those pair of top-six finishes, Worthams qualifies for the AAU Junior Olympics, which will be held July 31-Aug. 5 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Also in that Region 4 qualifier, Hawken's Madison Sands captured first in javelin (94 feet, 11 inches) and heptathlon (3,141 points) and was third in high jump (4-8) in the 15-16 division. Beachwood's Dakota Houston took fifth in 17-18 long jump with a best effort of 16-4 1/4.
On the boys side, recent Mayfield graduate and 2023 News-Herald boys track and field athlete of the year Nick Biega was third in 100 (10.99) and second in 200 (21.82) in the 17-18 division.
Several News-Herald coverage area high school standouts also took part in USATF Youth Outdoor Nationals when they were held at SPIRE.
Gilmour's Brayden Green, who made the podium last month in D-II long jump in seventh at the state meet, prevailed in 17-18 triple jump at 43-4. The Lancers' Blake Baskin was third in 15-16 long jump with a 19-2 1/4.
Fairport's Dimari Payne, coming off his fifth in Division III high jump at state, was third in the 17-18 division of the event, clearing 6-0 1/2.
Geneva's Luke McKinney was third in 17-18 steeplechase (7:12.71), and Dane Szczepkowski took fourth in 15-16 400 (51.19).
West Geauga's Kara Deister was fourth in 15-16 high jump, clearing 4-9.
Perry's Sean Strahan was fifth in 17-18 400 hurdles in 59.78.
