Northridge’s Evans, Heath’s See blow away competition at Division II regional track
LEXINGTON — After dealing with a back injury during the regular season, Isabel Evans is starting to look like her record-setting self. Next week, it might mean taking one last step up the podium.
The Northridge junior ran times of 14.18 and 43.42 on Saturday to sweep the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles during the Division II regional championships at Lexington. Both times were personal bests. The latter was also a meet record and nearly two full seconds faster than the runner-up's time.
“I have been doing everything possible to get my back, back to normal. I am on the right path,” said Evans. “The 14.18 was my PR by a lot. I knew it was definitely possible this year, but I wasn’t expecting it today. … My goal (in the 300 hurdles) was to beat the regional record, so I am happy about that.”
Evans is reigning state runner-up in both events. She will carry the top time in both into next week’s state championships at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.
“I actually run best under pressure,” she said.
Saturday also was a championship day for Heath senior Tucker See in the boys 3,200. He crossed the finish line without a competitor in sight, however, he did not raise his arms until his sophomore teammate Ryan Baker crossed in fourth.
See won in a time of 9:35.44 and will have company in Dayton thanks to Baker finishing in a personal-best time of 9:54.60. Neither competed in Saturday’s 1,600 to save energy, and the decision paid off.
“I am really proud of that guy over there,” See said of Baker. “He said he didn’t really know if he was going to go for it or not, but I think he finally figured out it was a good idea.”
See took an immediate lead. Baker led a tight pack behind him most of the way.
“My goal for the beginning of the season was to go sub-10, and state sounded kind of like a reach towards the beginning of the year. I said I was going to stay in that top four no matter what it takes,” Baker said. “I hated (leading the pack). I am kind of a little bit of a slacker, but I knew today I needed to push myself to the max. Tucker has been telling me all year I needed to push myself more.”
See said he hoped to reset the school record he holds of 9:27.93, but the 80-degree temperatures slowed him down.
“I want to lower that school record that I have because I haven’t really been able to go after it since when I did that,” See said. “I get to go and run against some really great guys. It’s really just a mental battle, and I lost today. I was really close.”
See is seeking his first trip to the state podium in track after earning All-Ohio honors with a 11th-place finish in cross country.
Licking Valley senior Trevor Croak will be busy in Dayton as he placed third in the boys shot put (53-2 ¼) on Saturday after previously winning the discus with his first career throw over 160 on Thursday. Croak has a big goal for the shot put.
“I am really looking for 60. That’s a pretty number,” Croak said. “I did say 58, but why shortchange myself?”
Johnstown senior Reece Savage placed third in the girls 1,600 (5:08.01) and fourth in the 800 (2:17.32), qualifying for the first time since her freshman season. She ran the 1,600 alongside Huron’s Sam Lesnak, the eventual fourth-place finisher.
“That definitely helped me, knowing she was there,” Savage said. “Without her, I might have fallen back. I am pretty proud of myself for getting (to state) because I wasn’t there sophomore and junior years, so I wasn’t sure I would ever get back. I have been doing a lot more work every year and keep adding to it, running a lot more miles.”
Savage’s Johnstown classmate Kate Ruffle will be making her first trip to state after placing fourth in the long jump (17 ½). Ruffle’s distance edged out Buckeye Valley’s Avelina Wagner by just a quarter of an inch.
“That just changed my entire week and my entire everything,” said Ruffle. “I had no idea I was fourth. It felt great. I just know I have more left in the tank. I know I can go farther.”
Ruffle later placed fifth in the 100 (12.59).
Northridge sophomore Ava Travis lowered her personal best in the girls 400 (58.30), placing fifth. She earned an at-large berth based on results from across the state.
Johnstown sophomore Audrey McCrady placed fifth in the girls 800 (2:20.41).
The Johnstown relay team of seniors Keaton Curnutte, Brady Barb and Brenden Ball and sophomore Cameron Beverick broke the school record in the boys 1,600 relay and placed sixth (3:25.90). Beverick finished eighth in the 800 (1:58.62) as did senior teammate Aidan Howard in the 1,600 (4:38.20).
Northridge junior Nathan Burkey placed seventh in both the 110 hurdles (15.65) and 300 hurdles (40.96). Heath sophomore Joshua Jones placed seventh in the high jump (6-0).
Licking Valley senior Marshall Carr finished ninth in the high jump (6-0) and classmate Matthew Fehrman 11th in the 800 (2:01.25). Heath senior Carter Higgins, who qualified out of Thursday’s discus, finished ninth in the shot put (48-3), and Johnstown senior Alan Villa finished 15th (43-10) and Northridge sophomore Xavier Fiamingo 16th (43-5 ¾).
In the girls meet, Northridge senior Sarah Koker finished 10th in the 800 (2:25.50) and junior teammate Courtney BeVier 11th in the 1,600 (5:32.09). Johnstown junior Alexis Diehl finished 12th in the discus (106-5).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Isabel Evans, Tucker See win OHSAA Division II regional track titles
