This year’s Wayne Invitational will bring out some of the best talent statewide in track and field. Individual state champions as well as former team champions are recognizable when you see the teams competing.
Boys Preview
Headlining the meet are a pair of individual state champions: Zach Wills and Justin Welch
Junior Zach Wills of
Senior Pemberville Eastwood’s Justin Welch, a
With 13 conferences being represented, as well as 37 schools (some full, some partial), this meet will have talent from all over the state of
Here’s a look at possible match-ups:
Sprints:
Miamisburg’s Jacob Wiley has the fastest 400 time entered, 48.83, but will be challenged by a tough field that consist of Chris Lehman and Alex Hamm of Mason (49.68 and 49.89, respectively), Mike Archbold of St. Xavier (50.05) and b of Greenville (50.14). However, the 200 meter dash race will pit Cochran (21.63), Bogle (21.71), Wiley (22.34) and William Sherman of St. Xavier (22.42). It’s anyone’s race, but no doubt be an exciting one.
Hurdles:
Bogle of Wayne and Luke Norris of
In the 110 hurdles, Bogle (14.49), Taylor Celestin of Mason (14.54), Dwayne Taylor of Wayne (14.96) and Centerville’s Mike Melchor (14.85) will definitely make this a must watch race.
Distance:
Wills presence in the 3200 will add to an already stacked field. Vandalia Butler’s Doug Norris (9:24.35), Eric Gruenbacher of St. Xavier (9:33.86), Matt Kahl of Mason (9:42.66), Steve Foreman of Carroll (9:45), Sam Wharton and Kevin Fink of Tipp City (9:53.67 and 9:53.12, respectively), Mike Melko of Miamisburg (9:57.08) round out the sub 10 minute 3200 runners. No question, the meet record of 9:24.98 could be broken by a few athletes.
The 1600 meter run has a great field too. Aaron Dinzeo of Sidney (4:22), Chad Kiggins of Carroll (4:23.67), Peter Hix of Oakwood (4:28.0), Jordan Redd of Fairborn (4:34.8), Donnie Whyte of Miamisburg (4:38.75), Tyler Feitshans of Tipp City (4:39.12), Eric Gruenbacher of St. Xavier (4:39.2) round out the athletes entered that are sub 4:40 in the 1600.
The 800 meter run is anyone’s race.
Field Events:
Eastwood’s Justin Welch could very well set state records in the discus and hammer throw. But take note of the athletes that are having a great year, too.
In the shot put, Welch’s 62-8 is well ahead of Bennett of
There’s no question the presence of Justin Welch makes any field that much better, but you’d be hard pressed to find a field other than a regional type meet that has this many top athletes. It’s possible that 145 feet in the discus and 49 feet in the shot put MIGHT NOT make the finals.
Long jump is led by
High jump is led by another Middletown Middie with Dennis Brown clearing 6-06 already. Mason’s Alex Hamm has gone 6-4, while Evan Wolf and Cody Miller of Miami East – Kyle McKinnis of Bellbrook – Corbin Brown of
Sophomore Michael Shiverdecker of
Relays:
Can anyone catch
In the 4x200,
The 4x400 will be a close race, too. Mason (3:20.6),
The best relay to watch this year might just be the 4x800 relay.
Girls preview
Cleveland Collinwood girls are the ones to watch, led by
Mason is another team to watch, with a nice mix of sprint, distance, relays and hurdlers.
Sprints:
In the dashes,
In the 200, Latimer and Betts will compete with
The 400 dash is just as impressive, with 10 girls entered in under 60 seconds. Walters of Kings (56.84), Kelsey McDonald of Oakwood (57.77), Ashley Rodgers of Alter (58.78), Elaina Cromer of Miami Valley School (58.0), Latimer of Xenia (58.93), Nicole Riveron of Kings (59.20), Jade Kinney of Lebanon (59.21), Chelsea VanHook of Mason, Vada Edwards of Middletown (59.4) and Carlie McGrath of Centerville (59.87).
Springboro’s Carly Hamilton, fresh off her 5th place finish at Penn Relays, leads an impressive girls field in the 1600 and 800. Olivia Albers of Alter (5:10.1), Julie Accurso of Miami East (5:13.06), Megan Wright of
In the 800, Hamilton owns the best time of 2:15.95, followed by Accurso of Miami East (2:16.75), Rebecca Esselstein of Alter (2:17.23), Taylor O’Neil of Carroll (2:18.04) and Halley Stegemiller of Lebanon (2:18.26).
The 3200 meter run has 9 girls under 12 minutes entered. Mason’s Jessica Harrison is the fastest entered, running 11:30. Devin Flood of
Hurdles:
The hurdles will be a fun race to watch. Collinwood’s Amber Smith,
In the 100 hurdles, it will be a battle between Smith and McDonald.
Relays:
The relays will be dominated by Collinwood – 4x100 has gone 47.96, 4x200 has gone 1:43.21, and 4x400 has gone 4:01.25. They’ll get most of their competition from Mason, who has gone 48.62 in the 4x100, 1:43.55 in the 4x200 and 4:06.9 in the 4x400. In fact,
The 4x800 field boast 4 schools under 10 minutes:
Field Events:
The field events are stacked in the throws. Lucy Sherman of Vandalia Butler (132 in discus), Maria Harrison of
A log jam in the pole has 10 pole vaulters over 10 feet. Troy Christian’s Sarah Gaskell has the best mark at 10-7, followed by Wayne’s Jessica Berry (10-6) and Cara Eby (10 feet). Also clearing 10 feet are: Kayde Miller of
In the long jump, four of the state’s top long jumpers will compete against each other. Lebanon’s Maria Rotello (17-9), Mount Healthy’s Vantrice Siler (17-4.5), Middletown’s Fabia McDonalad (18-5.5) will all be trying to better the current state leader Erin Busbee of Collinwood (19-1)
This will be a great night for track in field not only in Huber Heights, but for the state of
3:00 will be heat one of 3200 and hammer throw competition. 3:30 will begin most field events and 4:00 will begin the semi-finals of the short sprint races. Approximate time of finals will be around 6:30 (after senior recognition and special Olympic introduction of athletes).