Photo by Brian Dulik
Cuyahoga Falls senior Elliott Tedquist cleared 14 feet, 8 inches to win the Austintown Fitch Division I Regional championship in the boys pole vault. Solon's Karl Pierce was second at 14-4, while the other two state qualifiers at the meet went 14-0.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -- Cuyahoga Falls senior Elliott Tedquist and Wadsworth senior Hannah Gospodinsky both won individual event championships Wednesday at the Austintown Fitch Division I Regional.
Tedquist cleared 14 feet, 8 inches to claim the boys pole vault crown, while Gospodinsky captured the girls shot put title with a top toss of 43-5 1/4.
While Gospodinsky's performance took place just outside of Falcon Stadium, Tedquist took center stage on the infield as the public address announcer instructed the crowd to watch his final several jumps.
"That was something new, but I didn't mind it at all," he said, smiling. "It was kind of fun knowing they were focusing on me while I was out there."
Tedquist's season-best jump easily outdistanced runner-up Karl Pierce of Solon (14-4) and fellow state meet qualifiers Vinny Martello of Massillon Jackson (14-0) and Clay Densmore of Madison (14-0). The top four competitors in each event moved on.
*** CLICK ON THE "PHOTO" LINK ABOVE TO VIEW A GALLERY FROM THE MEET ***
Gospodinsky, meanwhile, claimed her latest gold medal in dramatic fashion. The defending state placer uncorked her longest throw of the day on her final attempt, moving past previous leaders Beckie Famurewa of Brecksville (42-3 1/2) and Ali Tolich of Fitch (42-0 1/2). Tolich is the reigning OHSAA champion.
"I finished with my best throw and moved from third to first right there," the South Florida-bound standout said. "Ali had been winning the whole competition, then Beckie went in front on the last set, but I was able to pull it out with my final try."
Also advancing to next weekend's OHSAA state meet from Summit, Medina and Portage County were Cloverleaf senior Jennifer Foster (girls high jump) and Nordonia's boys 4x800-meter relay of senior Sal DelGuidice, and juniors Troy Mulhall, John Ciocca and Patrick Osborne.
Foster was second with a school-record jump of 5-9, matching the placement of the Knights' distance quartet, which completed its race in 7:56.38. North Canton Hoover's Maddie Morrow (5-10) and Alliance Marlington (7:53.66) won those events, respectively.
"Anything can happen at state, which is why I'm just ecstatic for Jen to make it in the high jump," Colts coach Frank Peters said. "She's also got a great shot of qualifying in the pole vault and the 100 hurdles (Friday in the event finals), so today could be the start of something special."
Overall, though, it was an extremely disappointing day for athletes from the SportsInk.com coverage area, many of whom had their state dreams dashed.
Also in the boys pole vault, Hudson senior Andrew Lovano (13-4) was seventh and Nordonia senior Paul McMichael (11-6) tied for 11th, while Tallmadge junior Zack Price and Twinsburg junior Christian Moermond failed to clear the opening height.
In the boys long jump, Nordonia senior Brandynn Clark (21-3 1/2) was fifth, Tallmadge senior Kyle Tywon (21-0 1/4) was seventh, Copley sophomore Aregeros Turner (20-11 1/2) was eighth, and Stow senior Duane Mitchell did not record a jump. Maple Heights' Sean Weems was the final qualifier at 21-5 3/4.
In the boys discus, Green senior Michael Irwin (153-4) placed seventh, one spot ahead of Walsh Jesuit senior Adam Redmond (152-11). Hudson senior Jim Smith (144-3) was 13th, 20-11 out of fourth.
In the boys 4x800, Walsh Jesuit (ninth), Twinsburg (12th) and Hudson (13th) all finished more than 13 seconds out of the top four.
In the girls shot put, Green senior Lindsey Bates (38-3 1/2) placed ninth and Twinsburg junior Essence Bell (36-5 1/4) was 10th. It took 40-7 3/4 to advance.
In the girls long jump, Stow sophomore Abbie Lawson (5-2) was ninth, three inches shy of fourth place.
In the girls 4x800, Green (10th), Stow (11th), Hudson (13th) and Twinsburg (16th) were all between 23 and 64 seconds off the state pace.
Fortunately, there was good news in a number of preliminary races as local competitors locked up bids for the Friday finals.
Hudson's Leighton Antonio (200) and Twinsburg's 4x400 (DeNorris Turner, John Barton, Will Myers and Aaron Macer) were among the boys to stay alive, while Foster (100 hurdles) Archbishop Hoban's Anne Kramer (400), Green's 4x400 (Amy McLaughlin, Erika Rector, Emily Hooker and Kristen Bergmeyer), and Buchtel's 4x200 (Unity Sykes, Indya Williamson, Arnita Johnson and Ji Esha Thomas) headed the girls qualifiers.
The girls 300 hurdles proved to be the best prelim for Summit and Medina County as Nordonia's Taylor McDonald, Cloverleaf's Kelani Nuckols, and McLaughlin all grabbed top-eight seeds.
Nuckols ran a school-record 46.10 in the longer hurdles race, while Foster set Cloverleaf's all-time mark of 14.82 in the 100s.
"I'm so happy right now," a beaming Nuckols said. "It was awesome making it this far, but it's incredible to know I'll be coming back Friday."
Unlike at the majority of regional sites in Northern Ohio, the entire first day of action was completed before severe weather arrived. It was a toasty 83 degrees at track level for the girls 4x800, and remained dry through the end of the meet.
FOR COMPLETE YOUNGSTOWN-AUSTINTOWN RESULTS, Click HERE