OHSAA track & field: Olentangy boys, Westerville Central girls win Division I regionals

Led by senior Olivia Pace, the Westerville Central girls track and field team captured its first regional title Friday at Pickerington North.

A University of Southern California commit, Pace won the 100 meters (12.06), 200 (24.27) and long jump (18 feet, 7 inches) and anchored the first-place 400 relay (46.67) as the Warhawks (60) outdistanced runner-up Hilliard Davidson (49) for the Division I championship. DeSales and Olentangy Liberty tied for third (47).

“This is amazing,” Central coach David Mentlow said. “They have a good time, but the girls work. I’m here, but it’s all on them. It’s not about me. They do a great job. Every meet they come and compete all year, and when it’s time to compete and get the job done, they do it.”

The top four finishers in each regional event, along with two at-large berths from throughout the state, advanced to state at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. The three-day meet begins Thursday.

“We know the challenges are going to step up even more next week, but this is what they want,” Mentlow said. “We always talk about we’re competing for June every year and I think they’re going to be ready to take on that challenge.”

On the boys side, Olentangy (55) won its first regional title since 1994 when it was in Division II, edging second-place Olentangy Orange (51) and North (48).

“This definitely makes coaching worthwhile,” Olentangy coach Ken Whalen said. “It’s been a long journey. It’s been a great run and this is the top of it.”

Sophomore C.J. Sanna helped lead the Braves, winning the shot put (54-11 ½) on Friday after finishing first in the discus (171-10) on Wednesday.

In the Division III regional held Wednesday and Friday at Heath, Fairbanks (fifth, 40), Columbus School for Girls (sixth, 34) and Worthington Christian (10th, 27) were central Ohio’s top girls teams behind champion Coal Grove Dawson-Bryant (62).

For the boys, Mount Gilead tied Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley for third (35) behind champion Ashland Crestview (51).

Here are central Ohio state qualifiers from the regional meets held Friday:

Division I at Pickerington North

Boys

110 hurdles

• 1. Nadir Langston, Hamilton Township (14.13)

• 2. Kyle Brown, Reynoldsburg (14.66)

• 3. Brendon Simcox, Lancaster (14.71)

• 4. Justin Gneiting, Big Walnut (14.73)

100 meters

• 1. Tyrell Russell, Beechcroft (10.76)

• 2. Richard Simpson, Pickerington North (10.82)

• 3. Micah Coates, Pickerington Central (10.84)

• 4. Chaz Sakala, Delaware Hayes (10.9)

800 relay

• 1. Pickerington Central: Christopher Turntine, Juell Scott, Coates and Lorenzo Brazzell (1:26.15)

• 2. Reynoldsburg: Anthony Wasko, Josiah Smith, Tyren Jones and Mackenzie Tillman (1:27.22)

• 3. Watkins Memorial: Joe Mcintosh, Elijah Hardiman, John Apel and Adam Brazier (1:27.27)

• 4. Canal Winchester: Jamel Goins, Jacob Tisdale, Eliyah Mason and A.J. Young (1:27.82)

1,600 meters

• 1. Ben Gabelman, Westerville North (4:09.22)

• 2. Charles Guerrera, Dublin Jerome (4:09.64)

• 3. Michael Dellasanta, Westerville North (4:11.35)

• 4. Matthew Schroff, Olentangy Orange (4:12.86)

400 relay

• 1. Orange: Kaiden Kraus, Kobe Sharpe, Tom Leskovich and Nick Robinson (41.56)

• 2. Walnut Ridge: Christian Turner, Rakim Smith, Lynel Hill and Zayvion Mallory (41.92)

• 3. New Albany: Ashton Allen, Gabe Cofer, Abu Kebe and Ser Torres-Lofton (41.95)

• 4. Gahanna Lincoln: Darius Stuckey, Jason Smith, Myron Payne and Sontino Williams II (41.99)

400 meters

• 1. Simpson, Pickerington North (46.91)

• 2. Andre Jackson, Whitehall-Yearling (46.97)

• 3. Robert Young, Westerville Central (47.25)

• 4. Zach Griffith, Olentangy (48.19)

300 hurdles

• 1. Langston, Hamilton Township (37.23)

• 2. Miles King, Olentangy Berlin (37.6)

• 3. Young, Canal Winchester (37.92)

• 4. Jamel Goins, Canal Winchester (39.1)

800meters

• 1. Owen Towler, Gahanna (1:52.23)

• 2. Hugh Jacobsmeyer, Olentangy (1:52.54)

• 3. Jayden Beverly, Chillicothe (1:53.47)

• 4. Wes Taylor, Lancaster (1:54.26)

200 meters

• 1. Russell, Beechcroft (21.56)

• 2. Simpson, Pickerington North (21.79)

• 3. Robinson, Orange (21.88)

• 4. Young, Westerville Central (21.95)

3,200 meters

• 1. Saketh Rudraraju, Orange (9:15.02)

• 2. Gabelman, Westerville North (9:15.03)

• 3. Ryan Smith, Worthington Kilbourne (9:15.71)

• 4. Sam Ricchiuti, Jerome (9:15.84)

1,600 relay

• 1. Olentangy: Jason Rettinger, Parker Reed, Jacobsmeyer and Ty Munroe (3:19.19)

• 2. Reynoldsburg: Tyren Jones, Dylan Winters, Jackson Powell and Josiah Smith (3:19.87)

• 3. Watterson: Mark Biagi, Connor Samenuk, Henry Monnin and Jake McCann (3:20.08)

• 4. Orange: Nick Herubin, Schroff, Ricky Tonelli-Floyd and Robinson (3:20.19)

High jump

• 1. Nate Hollingsworth, Olentangy Liberty (6-8)

• 2. Elijah Harris, Westerville Central (6-8)

• 3. Logen Justice, Lancaster (6-6)

• 4. Levi Davis, Orange (6-5)

Shot put

• 1. C.J. Sanna, Olentangy (54-11 ½)

• 2. Chris Gargasz, Dresden Tri-Valley (54-1 3/4)

• 3. Turner Schmidt, Hilliard Davidson (53-11 ¾)

• 4. Jalen Joyce, Groveport (53-8)

Girls

100 hurdles

• 1. Katherine Dortmund, DeSales (14.35)

• 2. Skylar Brittman, Westerville Central (14.72)

• 3. Nadiya Webb, Dublin Coffman (14.73)

• 4. Anna Wile, Davidson (14.82)

100 meters

• 1. Olivia Pace, Westerville Central (11.67)

• 2. Sophia Sampson, Liberty (12.25)

• 3. Dortmund, DeSales (12.34)

• 4. Malaya Sowell, Delaware (12.35)

800 relay

• 1. DeSales: Isabella Swallow, Amelia Pusateri, Lindsey Jewett and Kenyetietta Quinn (1:39.69)

• 2. Gahanna: Brionna Wright, Aliyah Bennett, Olivia Oldham and Keena Sanders (1:40.39)

• 3. Delaware: Tania Miles, Madie Gladden, Samantha Schomer and Sowell (1:40.66)

• 4. Pickerington North: Mya Clark, Paris Williamson, Ava DiNovo and Kylee Hicks (1:41.3)

1,600 meters

• 1. Brooke Chapman, Orange (4:57.22)

• 2. Marisa Heil, Lancaster (4:57.88)

• 3. Kara Bergeron, Granville (5:00.05)

• 4. Mairin O’Brien, Orange (5:05.95)

400 relay

• 1. Westerville Central: Brittman, Alyvia Mentlow, Josephine Timperman and Pace (46.67)

• 2. DeSales: Dortmund, Jewett, McKenzie Amonor and Quinn (47.03)

• 3. Pickerington Central: Latesha Asare, Serenity Franklin, Lachele Nichloas and Genesis Poke (47.7)

• 4. Liberty: Kennedy Elfers, Natalie Nichols, Alexis Mitchem and Sampson (47.85)

400 meters

• 1. Sanders, Gahanna (55.18)

• 2. Lillian Hurd, Independence (55.48)

• 3. Ady Armstrong, Hilliard Darby (56.1)

• 4. Elizabeth Poling, Upper Arlington (56.23)

300 hurdles

• 1. Wile, Davidson (43.54)

• 2. Ellie Meek, Kilbourne (44.15)

• 3. Alexus Roberts, Westerville South (44.46)

• 4. Jada Pride, Westerville South (44.98)

800 meters

• 1. Kylie Feeney, Coffman (2:08.93)

• 2. Celia Schulte, Davidson (2:10.32)

• 3. Heil, Lancaster (2:12.36)

• 4. Chapman, Orange (2:13.42)

200 meters

• 1. Pace, Westerville Central (23.99)

• 2. Quinn, DeSales (24.99)

• 3. Hurd, Independence (25.2)

• 4. Sampson, Liberty (25.26)

3,200 meters

• 1. Elena Aldrink, Liberty (10:50.23)

• 2. Natalie Fouts, Jerome (11:01.97)

• 3. Helen Randolph, Jerome (11:03.08)

• 4. Katy Zang, Teays Valley (11:03.79)

1,600 relay

• 1. UA: Maren Degenhart, Maggie Robertson, Poling and Elaina Schneider (3:51.5)

• 2. Westerville Central: Tiffany Zuehlke, Angel Ward, Timperman and Mentlow (3:54.11)

• 3. Pickerington North: Clark, Williamson, Chanah West and Layla Wilson (3:54.56)

• 4. Kilbourne: Tyra Butler, Sarah Lundine, Maya Hutchinson and Meek (3:55.19)

Long jump

• 1. Pace, Westerville Central (18-7)

• 2. Katlyn Delgado-Heaberlin, Darby (17-11 3/4)

• 3. Lila Bendick, Liberty (17-9 3/4)

• 4. Morgan Brothers, Central Crossing (17-7 ½)

Pole vault

• 1. Mirabelle Thornton, Kilbourne (12-0)

• 2. Chloe Sater, Logan (11-8)

• 3. Annie McCracken, Granville (11-4)

• 4. Addison Crichley, Jerome (11-0)

Discus

• 1. Ashley Cornathan, Darby (132-10)

• 2. Mali Thornton, Eastmoor (128-9)

• 3. Aubrey Beery, Lancaster (125-10)

• 4. Avery Murdock, Jerome (11-0)

Division III at Heath

Boys

100 meters

• 1. Gabe Oppong, Tree of Life (10.95)

800 relay

• 4. Mount Gilead: Jonathan Miller, Logan High, Collin Gabriel and Quade Harris (1:32.28)

1,600 meters

• 2. Will Baker, Mount Gilead (4:19.34)

400 relay

• 4. Cristo Rey: Michael Dyer, Kaleb Thomas, Sam Soiro and Nigel Yorke (44.36)

300 hurdles

• 4. Wyatt Mowry (40.68)

800 meters

• 1. Jack Gentile, Fisher Catholic (1:55.14)

200 meters

• 1. Oppong, Tree of Life (22.32)

• 4. Hayden Baker, East Knox (22.87)

3,200 meters

• 3. Baker, Mount Gilead (9:34.58)

High jump

• 2. Camden St. John, Worthington Christian (6-3)

Girls

800 relay

• 3. Worthington Christian: Sydney Dolly, Natalie Ryan, Rachel Fife and Natalie Woodfin (1:45.27)

1,600 meters

• 1. Rachael Hoover, Fairbanks (5:01.56)

• 3. Madeline Palmisciano, Grandview Heights (5:03.91)

400 relay

• 3. Grandview: Elise Grainger, Keelin Swisher, Charlotte Tucker and Kyra Hill (50.87)

• 4. Worthington Christian: Brooke Bambey, Woodfin, Ellen Mousa and Fife (51.17)

400 meters

• 3. Ryan, Worthington Christian (58.66)

300 hurdles

• 2. Jameson Pillifant, Columbus School for Girls (46.02)

• 3. Charley Shope, Fairbanks (47.03)

800 meters

• 1. Hoover, Fairbanks (2:15.13)

200

• 3. Woodfin, Worthington Christian (26.53)

3,200 meters

• 3. Palmisciano, Grandview (11:19.01)

1,600 relay

• 3. Fairbanks: Hoover, Alexis Wojcehowicz, Molly Thrush and Shope (4:04.24)

Long jump

• 2. Pillifant, CSG (17-11 1/2)

fdirenna@dispatch.com

@DispatchFrank

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA track: Division I state meet qualifiers from central Ohio