HEATH ― The winds blew and the rains threatened on April 18 at Heath’s always-competitive Hank Smith Invitational.
But that didn’t prevent various personal and even school records from falling for Licking County League track teams, as the 13-team event serves as a good benchmark as to where athletes stand.
Minutes before a downpour hit late in the meet, Utica senior Hayden Quinif cleared a 13-6 PR in the pole vault and took aim on the 13-9 school record that had stood since 1974. He just missed one try at 13-10 before weather intervened.
“I felt really good, and it showed I can just roll with things,” said Quinif, also a cross country standout. “Even in bad weather, it was still push, and stay calm. The PR today had been my main goal, and the school record, so now it looks like I’ll have to re-set my goals.”
Utica teammate Andrew Bebout set a new PR of 2:04.81 in capturing the 800.
Licking Valley junior Allison Osborn heaved the discus 123 feet, winning by 18 feet for a PR. Her previous best had been 119 feet.
“She wanted to get 120 feet, and it was a big accomplishment to get over that,” said 26th-year Panthers’ girls track coach Jess Hoover. “She saw where it landed, knew right where it was, and was so excited. We’ll take one thing at a time, and see where it goes from here.”
Northridge’s dynamic senior duo of All-Ohio sprinter Ava Travis and thrower Xave Fiamingo didn’t set any PRs on this day, but still dominated the meet.
The 400 is the signature event for Travis, and she won in 1:01.25. But she also took the 100 (:12.76) and 200 (:26.47) in adding to her repertoire.
“I had not done the 100 in a long time, and I really like the event,” she said. “Not only does it help me with the 400, but I think I can be pretty good at it. The biggest thing is working on the blocks. That’s what I’m going to need for the big meets later in the season.”
Fiamingo, who recently set the Northridge shot put record at 51-7.25, threw 50-7.5 at Heath, edging out Sheridan’s Creed Hill by an inch. Deagan Workman of Utica was third with 48-7.25.
In the discus, Fiamingo won easily with 141-1, beating second-place teammate Ian Savage by 11 feet.
Senior Ryan Baker of the host Bulldogs rebounded from disappointment in the 1,600 to rule the 3,200 in 9:52 in the difficult double. In a near photo finish in the 1,600, Connor Burkle of Fairfield Union won in 4:30.59 to nip Baker (4:30.80) and Meadowbrook’s Vincent Campbell (4:30.88) by inches.
Another exciting finish came in the boys 100, where Northridge senior Jamie Odrumsky (:11.55) just beat Heath junior Colt Bryan (:11.57) and Genoa Christian’s Adam Snowball (:11.63) to the line.
“We both train with the same team,” Odrumsky said. “I saw him (Bryan) next to me, and said that I wasn’t going to lose.”
Added Bryan: “All the way to the finish line, I was watching him, trying to keep pace with him.”
They both ran PRs later in the 200, Odrumsky clocking :23.06 for second behind Snowball and Bryan :23.21 for third.
Lakewood sophomore Braylon Brooks not only ran a PR of :50.49 in the 400, good for second, but it broke the old school record of :50.77. He also anchored the runnerup 800 relay team of Sam Zwayer, Anthony Broska and Alex Bowman which turned in a PR of 1:32.16.
“We can do better. It’s just timing and getting cleaner handoffs,” said Brooks, who also runs indoor track and cross country. “For me, I just try to be consistent with my work ethic, and watching my nutrition helps. I’m wanting to get below 50 (seconds), but I have some work to do to reach that goal.”
Senior Jaylie Maas won the high jump for the Lancers at 5-2, beating Utica’s Olive Ley (4-10) and Maddy Scarberry (4-8) who took second and third. Maas also ran on two relays which set PRs with Josie Lynch, Savannah Haider and Hallie Layne, the 4×100 (:52.34) which placed second and third-place 4×200 (1:51.76).
Other second-place finishers included Heath’s Justice Jones (PR :17.32 in the 110 hurdles), Licking Valley’s 4×400 (3:33.07) of Brady Croak, Liam Zellner, Lincoln Clements and Silas Kyle, Heath’s Ariana Klontz (:49.12) in the 300 hurdles and Northridge’s Dixie Ashbrook-Hall, who leaped a PR 15-9 in the long jump.
Heath’s youthful, left-handed throwing tandem of freshman Lyla Bailey and sophomore Marley Morris continues to push each other. Bailey was third with a PR of 36-11 in the shot put and Morris (35-11.25) was right behind in fourth.
“Our goal is to beat each other, but in a friendly way,” Bailey said. “I’ve been doing a lot of drills in practice, and the coaches work with us on technique and chasing. We set our own goals. I’m still in the 36-foot range, but want to get it up to 37, 38.”
Jaylynne Boland was third for the Bulldogs in the 100 hurdles (:17.69) and ran on the third-place 4×400 (4:22.83) with Klontz, Lexi Brown and Rilyn Mitchell. The 4×800 of Adrianne Pethtel, Laina Purington, Sydney Thompson and Brown also ran third in 10:41.46.
Hunter McKinney (:51.35) was third in the 400 for Utica, and ran on the third-place 4×400 (PR 3:33.77) with Hayden Quinif, Sam Krueger and Bebout. Utica’s 4×800 of Bebout, Krueger, Holden Quinif and Blake Lewis took third in a PR 8:57.43.
Fairfield Union ruled both meets, piling up 125 in the boys (second-place Mount Vernon had 74) and 123.5 in the girls (Mount Vernon took runnerup with 113).
For the boys, Northridge placed fifth (65) and Utica sixth (58), while Heath had 44.5 for eighth, Valley was ninth at 40 and Lakewood tied for 10th with 27.
Utica finished fifth in the girls meet (55) followed by sixth-place Heath’s 53.5. Northridge was eighth (45), Lakewood 10th (24) and Valley 11th (18.5).
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: LCL athletes beat weather, personal records at Hank Smith Invitational
Reporting by Dave Weidig, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
