Ohio High School Track Recap

The high school athletes in Ohio concluded their track and field season May 30 through June 1, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Here's a quick wrap-up of some of the many highlights of the weekend.

Makiya Montgomery of Beechcroft (Columbus) won both the 100- and 200-meter dash championships on the Division II level. The junior claimed her titles by winning the 100- at a time of 11.97, and the 200- at 24.12. Montgomery was the 100-meter dash champ as a freshman in 2017, but dropped the title last year when Beachwood senior Mia Knight took first.

This year Montgomery beat out runner-up, Kyndia Matlock, a senior at Youngstown East (12.20), and Ravenna senior, Azsah Bradley (12.22).

In the 200-meter dash, Montgomery placed ahead of Akron St. Vincent–St. Mary, freshman, Kya Epps, who finished at 24.56. Senior Anna Podojil of Indian Hill placed third at 24.73.

Montgomery also earned a third place medal in the 800-meter relay as she and her teammates Zha'Mia Vick, Larissa Bronte-Agbor, Amara Allen ran a time of 1:43.70. The foursome of Dyamond Myers, Nevaeh Lewis, London Green, and Rayannah Torrence of Butchel (Akron) took the championship in that race with a time of 1:41.34.

Joseph Clifford of John Glenn (New Concord) won the Division II 110-meter hurdles championship at 14.36. The senior won his second straight title defeating an entirely different pack of runners than he faced in 2018. Last year he was the only finalist that was not a senior. This season he ran against only two other seniors. The runner-up in this event was senior, Terril Skinner of Jefferson Area (Jefferson) who ran a time of 14.64. Junior Damian Jackson of Coventry (Akron) was third at 14.67.

Strongsville senior, Emilia Lesniak, won the Division I high jump at 1.75. She placed ahead of runner-up Hudson senior, Molly Stecker (1.72), and third place, Victoria Lanese (1.70), a sophomore of Mentor. Lesniak was the 2017 state champ, before finishing third last year.

Twinsburg earned a championship in the Division I 800-meter relay. Alyssa Willis, Julia Henderson, Nya Bussey, Nia Robinson won at 1:37.77. Bussey has a very busy weekend as she also placed fourth in the 100-meter dash (12.22), and third in the 200-meter dash (24.39). Robinson competed in the 400-meter dash, where she finished second (55.02).

Senior, Denzell Feagin, of Pickerington Central took home the Division I 100-meter dash at 10.67. Lexington junior, Alex Green (10.76) was second, and Feagin's teammate sophomore, Lorenzo Styles placed third (10.85). Feagin also won the 200-meter dash (21.44) as he once again beat out Green (21.76). Avon Lake junior Danny Lambert placed third (22.12).

Mentor sophomore, Paige Floriea, won the Division I long jump with a top jump of 6.03. She placed ahead of Canal Winchester senior, Ariana Coleman (5.72), and freshman Azariyah Bryant of Lakota East (Township) (5.61). Bryant's teammate sophomore, Camiyah James, was fourth (5.48).

The Division I team titles were won by the Pickerington Central boys and the Lakota East girls. Pickerington scored 87 points, and finished well ahead of Whitmer (Toledo), which finished as runner-up with 24 points. Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center) scored 22.5 points at third place. The girls of Lakota East scored 65 points as runner-up Mentor had 41, just ahead of Gahana Lincoln's 40.

The Division II team championships went to the Shelby boys, and the girls of Indian Hill (Cincinnati). Shelby scored 57 to beat out Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (42). Indian Hill posted 43 points, beating out runners-up, Oakwood, and Akron St. Vincen–St. Mary who scored 28 points each.

East Canton boys, and West Liberty-Salem girls were crowned champions on the Division III level. East Canton posted 42 points, and runner-up Columbiana Crestview had 36. West Liberty-Salem's 50 points outscored Archbold's 39.

On a final note, track and field is arguably the toughest high school sport. These student athletes run in all sorts of weather, and often go unnoticed until they make it to the state championship. A small percentage of athletes make it to the finals, and are recognized on the podium. We met a senior by the name of Annah Stanley who competed in her last race for Troy High School.

Stanley along with her teammates, Brennah Hutchinson, Hannah Falknor, and Kiersten Franklin placed sixth (48.15) in the 400-meter relay. To see the appreciation of the moment in Stanley's eyes as she celebrated with her teammates was refreshing.

"It was a big challenge," Stanley said. "It was fun facing everyone. The first year we didn't the make the state finals," she said while recalling last season's finish, which ended in the preliminary round, "This year we made the finals and podium."

The senior will be competing in college for Cincinnati Christian, where she will be a sprinter and long jumper.