Edison's Nevaeh Virgadano and Catholic Central's Theresa Kerker race for the lead in the girls 100 hurdles during Saturday's Early Bird Invitational. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE – The last two springs, the track and field complex at Harding Stadium sat idle without hosting its signature event — the Early Bird Invitational.

Last season, of course, every track facility stayed empty due to restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic wiping out the season. The spring prior in 2019, renovations to the track moved the event across the river to Brooke Memorial Stadium.

Saturday, however, the sounds of the starling line gun, thundering shoes, whistles and cheering parents again filled the air as the event – and high school track and field competition – made its triumphant return.

“It’s great to have the Early Bird back at Big Red,” Steubenville head coach Andy Kidwell said. “I have to thank (former head coach) Jason Kernahan and everybody that helped. It ran really well without a hitch. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

“I made the comment to a few people that it felt like being back to normal. It was great for the athletes to get to go out and show everybody what they’ve been doing for the last year, which was excellent. Whether kids ran good or bad, they enjoyed being back out here competing and getting back to a little bit of normal.”

The consensus among all the coaches simply was being overjoyed to again be at a meet some 21 months after the 2019 state championships.

“I can’t even express how good it was to be at a meet again,” Catholic Central head coach Bob Stanko said. “Unfortunately, we lost seniors last year that didn’t get the opportunity to compete. Having a season this year and being able to see the kids that were on the team last year and the new ones come in was great. Some of our athletes were in seventh grade the last time they got to compete.

“This was a big, big day for us. We couldn’t wait to get here.”

Due to there being no season last year, there were a lot of inexperienced runners and changes in the numbers teams brought to Steubenville.

“Not having track last year killed us,” Buckeye Local boys coach Wayne McCracken said. “It hurt our numbers. It hurt the kids tremendously. The last time a lot of them walked off the track was their seventh grade season, we hardly had anyone competing (Saturday) that had experience in a high school meet. Sophomores didn’t have a freshman season. We’re really happy with the way they competed.”

Big Red’s girls team outpointed the competition on their home track, racking 134 team points to best Harrison Central’s 101 and Catholic Central’s 63.

Sabria Jones swept the 100- and 200-yard dashes for Big Red, while also winning the high jump. Isabella Yetts and Madison Beadling went 1-2 in the 400. Hailey Neely was runner-up in the 800, while Big Red girls won every relay they entered, going 3 for 3 in the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400. Amya Livingston recorded the top mark in the shot put and was runner up in the discus.

The Big Red boys came up one spot short of a team sweep, finishing second to outsiders Glenville, who racked up a team score of 133. Steubenville’s boys finished with 88, while Martins Ferry cracked the boy’s podium with 63.

Nasari Jackson topped the 100 and long jump while James Rodney was third for Big Red in the 100, Caleb Noble was runner-up in the 1600, Micah Mithcell was third in 110 and 300 hurdles, Bryce Huff was second in the shot put and Greg Mamula third in the discus. The Big Red boys were second in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays.

“I thought our team did great,” Kidwell said. “We have limited senior numbers, but the seniors we do have did a great job leading our team. It was a great way to open the season, it gives us a great starting point. We want to continue to bring the times down.”

Catholic Central’s boys team went home fourth overall, giving the Crusaders a solid start to the season. On the girls side, Rebecca Bolster was third in the 200, Clara Symington topped the 800, Theresa Kerker was second in the 100 hurdles and won the 300 hurdles, and the 4×800 relay team took the top spot.

Notable finishers for the Crusaders on the boys side were Joe Rhode, second in the 200 and 400 and several strong relay showings, placing third in the 4×100 and second in the 4×200 and 4×400 events.

“I thought today was fantastic for us,” Stanko said. “We knew coming in we were young, but they’re talented. I thought coming in that (Saturday) would be a great show of what we have going forward, and we did fantastic. Overall, it was a big day for us, we had real nice performances and a couple of (personal records).”

Buckeye Local’s girls group placed fourth, led by Rylee Glover third in the 100, Corissa Griffith third in the 300 hurdles, Pam Kandrach second in the high jump and a second place run in the 4×100 relay.

“The girls killed it,” Buckeye Local girls coach Diane McCracken said. “They worked hard and never said no. I’m very happy with the performance today and looking forward to the rest of the season with them. We have two juniors, and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. They impressed us for the first meet.”

A young Edison contingent rounded out the girls’ top five, led by Morgan Lesnansky’s second-place run in the 1600 and Navaeh Virgadamo winning the 100 hurdles and placing second in the 300 hurdles. Rachel Nesbit was third in the discus.

“It was absolutely awesome to be back, missing a whole year hurt,” Edison head coach Todd Smith said. “The kids competed, and I’m happy. We’re a very young team, we only have two seniors, and we did well. Most of these kids are freshmen and sophomores. It’s an eye-opener for them, but we came to compete, see where we were at and see what we need to do to get better. I’m excited for this season.”

Indian Creek’s efforts on the girls side were led by the distance running of Madison Conrad placing third in the 800, 1600 and 3200, while Peyton Freshwater was third in the long jump. On the boys side, the field events led the way with Bryson Bodo third in the high jump and Roan Kovach third in the long jump.

“This was my first time out as a high school coach. It was fun,” Indian Creek head coach Lori Orban said. “I coached some of these kids junior high. The kids were excited and weather was beautiful. This meet is the starting point to build off of.”

The Huskies runner-up finish in girls scoring was led by wins in the 1600 and 3200 runs by Jasmine Arnold, while Gretchin Dulkoski finished second in 3200 to her teammate, Destiny Arnold was third in the 400, as well as the 4×200 and 4×800 relay squads placing second and third, respectively. Dancia Rensi won the high jump, Grace Goudy was second in the long jump, while Thea Haney was second in the shot put and won the discus.

Logan Laney won the 3200 and Nathan Willis the discus throw on the boys side for the Huskies.

Toronto’s Nathan Chociej (tied for third in the high jump) and Josh Fancher (third in the shot put, second in discus) also found the podium.