CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS — The Ashland area had three schools competing among a massive field of talent this week at the Division V regional championships at Cuyahoga Heights.
With the competition representing 45 girls teams and 41 boys teams, all three of the local squads left Saturday’s action with some uber-talented state qualifiers in tow.
Mapleton senior Braylon Goon followed a spotlight-grabbing district meet — where he captured wins in both the 1,600- and 800-meter runs — with the area’s lone regional gold medal back at Cuyahoga Heights.
The Ashland University commit was first in Saturday’s 1,600 field, posting an 8-second PR of 4:17.91. It was the second-fastest 1,600 time in Mapleton history.
Hillsdale speedster Hayden McFadden also had himself a big week. The senior three-sport standout locked in a third-place state qualification in the long jump Thursday (21 feet, 3.5 inches), then returned Saturday to qualify in fourth in the 200 (22.80).
On top of that, McFadden was part of the Columbus-bound 4×200 relay for the Falcons that also included Davis Radcliffe, Braxten Burgett and Mikey Shenberger (fourth in a season-best 1:33.47).
Loudonville had its own double-qualifier to state as well in Sophie Shultz. The junior Redbird — just a few weeks removed from breaking the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference 800-meter record — took fifth in that same event at Saturday’s regional in a PR of 2:19.57 to make state.
That came on the heels of Shultz’s state qualification Thursday in the high jump (fourth with a PR of 5-1).
The Redbirds actually walked away from Thursday’s regional action with three Columbus qualifiers. Alongside Shultz, Loudonville boasted a pair of runners-up with Braden Carr in the pole vault (PR of 13-4) and Cama Skok in the high jump (5-2).
On Saturday, Kaylinn Freelon also moved on to the season’s final weekend for LHS by claiming fourth in the 300 hurdles in a PR of 47.18. The sophomore made the regional podium in the 100 hurdles as well (seventh in 17.77).
Hillsdale posted another individual state qualifier in pole vaulter Ady Tipton, whose 9-8 clearance earned her fifth place, while Mapleton accounted for another few Columbus-bound efforts, too.
The Mounties’ 4×100 of Jack Keener, Ethan Bowles, Ben Brannon and Cameron Nichols exploded for their season-best time in 44.79 to place sixth and get an at-large bid and Savannah Beane performed in the seated 100 (second in a PR of 28.67) and the seated 400 (second in a PR of 1:57.92).
Other top finishers for the area who earned themselves a spot on the regional podium were Hillsdale’s Jason McClure (sixth in pole vault with PR of 11-6), Cooper Baker (sixth in 800 in 2:03.56) and Kloe Smith (eighth in 1,600 in 5:30.59); Loudonville’s Josiah Hershberger (sixth in 300 hurdles with PR of 41.98) and the 4×400 of Coltin Caley, Brayson Youngen, Collin Caley and Cooper Sage (eighth in season-best 3:32.43); and Mapleton’s Tristan McQuerry (sixth in 110 hurdles in 16.59) and 4×800 of Jacob Bigham, Ridge Meyer, Tyler Hartzler and Braylon Goon (seventh in a season-best 8:35.24).
Overall, the boys team title (out of 41 squads) went to McDonald with 59 points. Hillsdale was the area’s best, tying for ninth with 22, while Mapleton tied for 14th (18) and Loudonville tied for 20th (12).
For the girls, Oberlin topped a field of 45 teams with 57 points. Loudonville landed in 12th with 24 points, Mapleton tied for 15th with 16 and Hillsdale was 34th with 5.
