Photo by Brian Dulik
Taylor Wickey, Maria Scavuzzo and Alexis Smith (left to right) helped Medina's girls 4x800-meter relay finish sixth at the OHSAA state Division I meet. Anna Boyert also ran for the Bees, who placed in the top six for the fourth straight year.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Medina junior Anna Boyert has one of the busiest itineraries at the OHSAA state Division I track meet, qualifying in three non-sprint events.
In the girls 4x800-meter final Friday, Boyert started her weekend on a high note by helping the Bees finish sixth in a time of 9:17.72.
Junior Taylor Wickey, freshman Maria Scavuzzo and sophomore Alexis Smith ran the first three legs on the quartet that was the lone squad from Medina, Summit or Portage County to compete in the event. Mason (9:13.09) won the title, while Cincinnati McAuley (9:13.12) was second.
“I have never trained with a harder-working group of girls, so I’m very proud of how we did today,” said Boyert, a four-time All-Ohio honoree. “Even after Jill (Graff) got hurt earlier in the season, no one hung their heads or got down. We just kept working.
“The best part is we’re all underclassmen, so we’ve got another year to prepare and, hopefully, finish atop the podium. That’s always going to be our goal.”
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Boyert and Wickey have now placed in the event three years in a row at Jesse Owens Stadium, while Smith made her second straight appearance. Scavuzzo was the lone newcomer on the unit, taking the spot of the ill Graff.
After becoming the 30th girl in school history to score a point at the state meet, the frosh barely could contain her excitement.
“I didn’t even think I’d make it on the (relay) team, so I’m really happy,” Scavuzzo said, smiling broadly. “I’m so glad I got to experience this. It makes me want to work even harder to get back next year.”
Boyert, meanwhile, has some more work to do on Saturday afternoon. She holds one of the top seeds in both the 800 and 1,600, giving her the chance to earn even more medals in her third prep campaign.
“I hope to run both of them tomorrow, but I’m going to take it one race at a time and see how it goes,” Boyert said. “I’ll definitely do the 1,600 and see what happens.”
In the boys 4x800 final, Nordonia completed its terrific season by placing third in a school-record time of 7:47.93. Cincinnati LaSalle (7:46.74) and Columbus St. Charles (7:47.53) finished 1-2 -- and joined the Knights in beating the rest of the field by at least 5.56 seconds.
Senior Sal DelGiudice, and juniors Troy Mulhall, John Ciocca and Patrick Osborne comprised Nordonia’s team that far outdistanced fellow Northeast Ohio Conference members Medina (7:56.31, 10th place) and Solon (7:58.67, 13th place).
"We've had goal sheets in our lockers all year, saying we wanted to go 7:55," said DelGuidice, who will continue his career at NCAA Division I member Davidson College. "To finish third and run our best time today (beating the 7:56.38 the Knights ran at the Austintown Fitch Regional), it's a great feeling.
"I'm also really excited for the other guys because they can come back here again."
The Bees made a strategic gamble that did not work by replacing regional relay runner Tommy Menyes with senior Brent Gaither. Sophomore Ian McKee, junior Robert Robinson and senior David Knack remained on the roster.
Revere (8:00.55) placed a disappointing 14th, but it could have been even worse as senior standout Josh Sabo passed runners from Toledo St. John’s and Trotwood-Madison on the final lap. Sophomore Sam Hubert, junior Adam Delong, and senior Nick Critchfield also ran for the Minutemen.
COMPLETE DIVISION I DAY ONE BOYS RESULTS, Click HERE
COMPLETE DIVISION I DAY ONE GIRLS RESULTS, Click HERE
+++ DIVISION I STATE PLACERS +++
GIRLS
4x800: 6. Medina (Taylor Wickey, Maria Scavuzzo, Alexis Smith, Anna Boyert), 9:17.72.
BOYS
4x800: 3. Nordonia (Troy Mulhall, John Ciocca, Patrick Osborne, Sal DelGuidice), 7:47.93.