CCHS girls team takes 1A/2A title
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE -- Whether you're talking about the team or individual championships handed out at Saturday's OVAC Cal Giffin Track and Field Championship, familiar names rose to the top of the results in both.
Under ideal conditions at sun-splashed Red Devil Stadium, the girls team titles went to Morgantown (5A), St. Clairsville (4A), Barnesville (3A) and Catholic Central (1A/2A).
Here's a look at each class:
CLASS 1A/2A
Catholic Central's tradition-rich program struck OVAC gold once again, fending off Shadyside for the top prize.
The Crusaders were fueled to the top prize by four victories.
Central's first victory came in the 4×8 when it turned in an 11:12.34.
The strength in relays continued for the Crusaders in the 4×2 where they prevailed with a 1:53.65.
The Crusaders' first, and only, individual win didn't come until senior Theresa Kerker captured the 300 low hurdles in 50.48.
Central put the finishing touches on its title by capturing the 4×4 in 4:15.59.
The runner-up Tigers won five events.
Freshman Kaci Tsoras claimed the pole vault crown with a height of 9-feet.
Shadyside's shuttle team turned in a 1:12.07 to claim the hurdle relay crown in the smallest class.
Senior Kierstyn Elerick skimmed 10 hurdles in 16.77 to win the high hurdle title.
Senior distance ace Kenzy Beckett posted a 5:24.53 to win the conference title in the 1600. She added the 800 title in 2:25.88.
Monroe Central had one of its stronger OVAC meets in several seasons.
The Seminoles picked up five wins.
CLASS 3A
Barnesville's race to the title was fueled by depth. Coach Mark Brown's team, en route to scoring 82 points, only won two events.
The Shamrocks first win came in the 1600 where senior Aubrey Johnson prevailed in 5:37.80.
Barnesville, which went into the 4×4 trailing Magnolia by eight and tied with Fort Frye, meaning the Shamrocks were facing a must win for the title.
The team of Lydia Fuchs, Mia Yee, Marah Bethel and Ayla Yater delivered. The foursome posted a 4:15.24 to win the class by eight seconds.
Magnolia, which finished second in the team standings, posted 80 points.
Caldwell sophomore Gwyn Lori swept the throwing events and was named the recipient of the Most Outstanding Performer Award for the field events. She won the shot put with a class record of 41-4 3/4. She won the discus with a class record mark of 132-11.
CLASS 4A
St. Clairsville, which has made sweeping the track titles a habit, won yet another crown by finishing with 112 points.
Fueling the Red Devils were victories in five events.
Junior blazer Emma Henry was up to her same old tricks in capturing the 100 and 200 meter dash titles both in the class and overall.
She won the 100 in a run away, posting a stadium-record time of 12.16. She came back and claimed the half-lap dash in 25.68, which was more than a second better than her nearest competitor.
Freshman Ava Borkoski won the pole vault at 9-feet.
Junior Delaney Florence prevailed in the 300 low hurdles with a time of 49.53.
Weir High finished second with 90 points.
The Red Riders got a win in the discus circle thanks to senior Kendall Drobish's toss of 121-feet.
On the track, Weir's shuttle team won the class championship with a 1:11.14. The Red Riders followed with a victory in the 4×8 in a time of 10:58.72.
Oak Glen sophomore Kennsington McConnachie was the champion of her class and overall in the long jump with a mark of 16-4 1/2.
The Golden Bears won the 800 relay in 1:51.80.
Junior Hannah Kliner captured the 1600 in 5:17.91.
Oak Glen was the champions of the 400 relay with a time of 51.30.
Junior Kami Ward prevailed as the overall and class champion in the 400 for the second straight season. She posted a solid 59.38 en route to the title.
Buckeye Local junior Pam Kandrach won the shot put title with a solid mark of 39-10.
Harrison Central junior Danica Rensi won the high jump at 4-6.
The Huskies also prevailed in the highs thanks to a 17.05 by Grace Goudy.
Indian Creek senior Madison Conrad won the 800 in 2:24.15.
Edison's Josie Lesnansky won the 3200 meter run in 12:52.41.
CLASS 5A
Morgantown finished with 144 points, which was 42 better than runner-up Dover.
Morgantown was fueled by its distance contingent and notably senior Irene Riggs. The Stanford-bound runner was named the Most Outstanding Track Athlete after she posted a 4:52.14.
She also ran a key leg on the winning 4×8 team.
Steubenville, which was dealt a rough blow to their hopes when it had to scratch standout junior sprinter Sabria Jones due to injury, picked up two wins.
Sophomore Sarah Ostovich was the champion in the shot put with a mark of 35-9 3/4.
Big Red's first win on the track came in the 4×2 where they cranked out a 1:47.80 to prevailed by a tenth over Morgantown.