The public schools in West Akron continued their recent run of success in the City Series Track and Field Championship meet Saturday at Ellet.
Buchtel and Firestone combined to win 29 out of 32 events on a sunny, crisp afternoon.
Firestone, which went 6-0 this season in boys and girls dual meets, won the boys team title for the fourth year in a row with 184 points, well ahead of runner-up Buchtel (96 points).
“It is nice to have the depth and to see kids that work hard in practice everyday come out here ready to compete,” Firestone coach Tim Carroll said. “I am proud of these kids.”
The Buchtel girls team scored 186 points en route to its second consecutive title. Firestone was second with 157 points.
“We had a lot of success in the field events,” Buchtel coach Orlando Green said. “Terynn Williams, Drew Oliver, Kayla Johnson, Deztani Roberts and Allia Anderson all did well and jump-started us. They gave us a good start, and then [sprinters] Dyamond Myers and Rayannah Torrence took care of the rest.”
Firestone won the boys 3,200 relay in 8:39.20 with Sam Michael, Michael Scantling, Luke Shaheen and David Herr. Michael also triumphed in the 1,600 (4:43.25) and the 3,200 (10:33.51), and Herr took first in the 800 (2:05.76).
“We tried to score points in as many events as we could,” Michael said. “Everyone in distance did their part, and the sprinters and people in the field events did their part, too.”
The Falcons also won the other three boys relays. Justin Moore, Joshua Mitchell, Kevon Louis and Darshun Williams won the 800 relay in 1:30.51; Tre’Maine Gray, Kendale Smith, Kay-El Floyd and Moore joined forces to cross first in the 400 relay in 44.89, and Mitchell, Louis, Moore and Williams topped the field in the 1,600 relay in 3:32.20.
“We all push ourselves, and we always say, ‘Hard practices and easy meets,’ ” Williams said. “That’s our mantra. Everyone did their best and now it is time to focus on districts.”
Firestone also had four other boys place first in an individual event — Williams in the 300 hurdles (39.92), Gray in the high jump (6-0), Taylor Mack in the long jump (20-7) and Jaylen Johnson in the discus (126-9).
“This is a good experience,” said Gray, a senior who earned the City Series Player of the Year honor in boys basketball three months ago. “I have been on this team for about a month. I knew with my athletic ability that I could participate in high jump, and coach Carroll got me out here to compete and I had fun.”
Buchtel sophomore Kirkland Robins won the boys 100 meters in 11.12 and the 200 in 22.75.
“I did well, but I feel like I am capable doing better,” Robins said. “I am thankful for my sprint coach, David Broadhurst, who motivates me and helps me strive to be great.”
Kayla Johnson led the Buchtel girls team with victories in the high jump (5-0), the 100 hurdles (16.40) and the 300 hurdles (51.01).
“The highlight of my day was the high jump,” she said. “I had a PR.”
Buchtel won four other individual girls events — Myers in the 100 (12.57), Torrence in the 400 (57.81), Oliver in the long jump (14-5.25) and Dana Beasley in the 800 (2:28.93).
“What I take away from today is the teamwork and the leadership that we show,” Torrence said. “I wasn’t feeling confident about my races because my ankle is bothering me, but my teammates Dyamond [Myers] and Camille [Henderson] supported me and prayed for me. I feel like my best race today was the 400.”
Buchtel also won three relays. Oliver, London Green, Shayanna Bratcher and Torrence won the 800 in 1:43.91; Henderson, Green, Oliver and Bratcher took first in the 400 in 50.78; and Myers, Beasley, Green and Torrence teamed up to win the 1,600 in 4:13.37.
“My best events today were the 4x4 and the 100,” Myers said. “This was my first time running the 100 all season in a meet, but I worked on my starts a lot in practice. I am just happy that we made it through today and we won.”
Firestone won the 3,200 relay in 11:03.88 with Sophie Niekamp, Katherine Scantling, Victoria Lorenzon and Megan Garro.
Niekamp also crossed first in the 1,600 (5:53.15) and the 3,200 (12:55.04).
Other winners included Firestone’s Jordan Baith (girls discus, 107-6) and Ciara Gisstand (girls 200, 25.27); Buchtel’s Eric Portis (boys 400, 50.50); North’s Dominic Jones (boys 110 hurdles, 14.71); and East’s De’Andre Brimage (boys shot put, 48-6¾) and Jemariea Scott-Ward (girls shot put, 34-2¾).
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.
