Anna Watson of Olentangy Orange will be one of the favorites to win the Pole-Vault event.
The MileSplit Scholastic Showcase at Spire will take place at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio on Sunday, February 12th. This prestigious meet will feature top athletes from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and other nearby states. There is also a strong contingent traveling from north of the border, as clubs from Ontario, Canada will be on site to test their skills against some of the best competition in the northern U.S.
Deidra Marrison of Geneva and the North Coast Vault Club will challenge Anna Watson.
In the Pole-Vault competition, two of the girls coming in with big resumes are Geneva's Deidra Marrison and Olentangy Orange's Anna Watson. Watson is currently ranked 1st in the state while Marrison is tied for Ohio #2. Additionally, these girls are ranked tied for 13th and tied for 21st nationally.
Expect a big performance from Ohio #2 and U.S. tie for #10 Austin Goolsby of Hillsboro.
Austin Goolsby currently resides in 2nd place in the state with his 16-1 effort, trailing only Hoover's Matt Peare who has registered a 16-10 mark this season. Perhaps the atmosphere at Spire can propel Goolsby to a new P.R. Peare will not be competing at Spire on Sunday.
Anthony Wayne's Shot-Put athlete Madison Pollard will have strong competition.
Tori McKinley of Pennsylvania is a key member of the talented Shot-Put field.
It could be Ohio vs. Pennsylvania in the Girls Shot-Put as Anthony Wayne's Madison Pollard will have a formidable challenge on her hands as Tori McKinley is making the trip in from Pennsylvania. Pollard is ranked 2nd in Ohio and 4th nationally while McKinley is the top ranked Shot-Put athlete in Pennsylvania and she resides in 5th place on the U.S. list.
Jeremy Hayton of Hillsboro High School is someone to look out for in the High Jump.
Ohio #1 Jeremy Hayton has cleared 6-9 in the High Jump this season which is also good for a tie for 10th place in the national rankings.
Jordan Geist of Knoch HS in Pennsylvania is ranked 1st in the country in the Shot-Put.
Jordan Geist figures to lead the way in the Shot-Put competition, as he comes in to the meet at Spire with an amazing 72-9.75 throw from last month in Youngstown. Geist is also one of the premier athletes in the Weight Throw event where he will be pushed by an elite field that includes Jacob Wickey of Medina, Brent Fairbanks of Austintown Fitch and Bowling Green's Nick Lane.
Medina's Jacob Wickey is the national leader in the Weight Throw with a 76-10 effort.
Expect a strong showing from Brent Fairbanks of Austintown Fitch. He is the U.S. #3.
Nick Lane is ranked 3rd in the state and 4th nationally and he'll comptete for the WT win.
Cameron Cooper of the Motor City Track Club is an 800m specialist.
The state of Michigan will have strong representation at the Showcase with the Motor City Track Club's Cameron Cooper and James Flournoy of the Michigan All Stars. Cooper will be the odds on favorite in the 800m as he brings a stellar 1:52.43 seed time along with him. That mark is currently the U.S. #2.
James Flournoy is the Michigan #1 and U.S. tie for #6 in the 400m with his terrific 48.44 performance in January.
In addition to the 400m, James Flournoy will run the 60m and 200m races.
PC's Zach Robinson and Terry Simuel bring fast 400m seed times into the Showcase.
Dublin Coffman's Abby Steiner will look to post quick times in her 60m and 200m races.
Lanae-Tava Thomas of NY is a national caliber athlete and a former Spire Showcase winner.
Following last year's 4 x 400m Relay. These athletes left it all on the track.
In Relay action, look out for the Motor City Track Club, the Michigan All Stars, the Speed Academy Athletics Club, the Laurel Creek Track and Field Club, Intensity Track Club, Pickerington Central and Gahanna Lincoln all to bring dynamic athletes to the Showcase.
To learn more about the MileSplit Scholastic Showcase at Spire and how you can watch the action live, view the following link:
https://oh.milesplit.com/meets/254113/info#.WJ82_zsrLIV
Below is a link to the MileSplit Ohio article which confirms the Final Acceptance Lists.
https://oh.milesplit.com/articles/201969-spire-scholastic-showcase-final-acceptance-lists
Finally, special thanks are extended to photographer Shawn Conlon who provided most of the pictures found above.