Watkins Memorial, Johnstown track standouts put offseason work to use in Icebreaker
PATASKALA — Boston is not a typical travel destination in early March, but Joe McIntosh and John Apel were not going on vacation.
The Watkins Memorial junior boys track standouts got a taste of competing with the best of the best, racing in the New Balance National Indoor. On Saturday, each put their experience to use, winning events during the Warriors’ early-season Watkins Icebreaker.
“It was really cool,” McIntosh said. “That is definitely what gave me my confidence coming into outdoor. All of that experience just helped me run the 100 better.”
McIntosh ran a time of 11.06 to win the 100, and Apel crossed the finish line in the 400 in a winning time of 49.84. The times were slightly off the high standards both have set for themselves, and it simply shows just how high expectations are for the Watkins sprint crew, which also features sophomore Jaeden Ricketts and senior Jacob Holbert.
McIntosh later added a third-place finish in the 200 (22.81), and Apel anchored the runner-up 1,600 relay (3:33.03), joining seniors Adam Brazier and Tommy Robinson and junior David Martin.
“It wasn’t my PR (in the 100). I was a little tired, but I did pretty well,” McIntosh said. “(Being seeded first) made me feel like I had to win, but I was confident.”
Brazier in the 800 (1:58.92) and Andrew Kirk in the discus (131-feet-9) gave host Watkins two additional victories. Brazier took the lead from the start and never was challenged, finishing more than two seconds ahead of runner-up Josh Fearing of Canal Winchester.
“In practice, you are running 400s, 600s, 300s, and you feel that pain,” Brazier said. "I felt that pain, but I knew I could keep going. It feels good especially not having the best indoor season. I was a little frustrated with that, but you just have to keep going.”
Johnstown senior Alan Villa already has bettered his previous best distance in the shot put by more than three feet. He took Saturday’s title with a throw of 47-8.25 to slip past the 47-7.5 of Reynoldsburg’s Josiah Montgomery.
“I know I have more in the tank, but the first meet coming back my senior year I am happy with it,” Villa said. “During the fall, I was out there almost every day doing throws. It’s paying off now, so that’s all I care about.”
Johnstown senior Kate Ruffle earned Licking County’s only win in the girls meet, recording a distance of 15-9.5 to take the long jump. Ruffle, the reigning Licking County League-Cardinal Division champion in the event, said she is looking forward to being more consistently over 16 feet after gaining strength during the offseason.
Ruffle in the jumps and sprints and classmate Reece Savage are the leaders for the emerging Johnnies.
“We are all getting really close,” Ruffle said. “We all want to see each other succeed, so we are helping each other out with other tips we have.”
Much of the field events were contested through heavy rain, as was the 5,000. Watkins junior Emily Whitmer preserved to take runner-up (20:17.74).
The event, which is the same distance as a cross country race, is rarely used in a high school track meet. Whitmer competed in the event in last year's Icebreaker and ran with eventual champion Lauren Crissinger of Canal Winchester for the first mile.
“In cross country, there are so many different variables when you are running on a course, and on the track when you take them away the only thing you have is you and yourself,” Whitmer said. "It’s definitely a little more mentally difficult but physically easier, so you have to find that balance. Having someone to run against is one of the best things that can happen in a race, so I was happy to have someone to push me.”
Watkins’ 3,200 relay of senior Scarlett Loevenguth, sophomore Annie Edward and freshmen Ava Moore and Nora Grennan also took runner-up (10:50.68) as did senior Morgan Kandel, junior Olivia Rutledge and sophomores Anna Stewart and Ellah Bigham in the 800 relay (1:53.61). Freshman Morgan Cumbo placed third in the high jump (4-6).
Johnstown junior Alexis Diehl placed third in the discus (109-2) as did seniors Savage and Maren Boston, junior Allison Bonito and sophomore Giada Nieves in the 3,200 relay (11:13.01).
In the boys meet, Watkins freshman Koehn Concha placed third in the long jump (18-7.25), and Robinson tied for third in the high jump with Johnstown senior Keaton Curnutte (5-6). Watkins’ Martin, seniors Jacob O’Hallaran and Aidan Johnston and sophomore Troy Blankenship also took third in the shuttle hurdles (1:04.64).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Watkins Memorial, Johnstown track standouts put offseason work to use
