(Jaylen Barringer, from Freedom Woodbridge, VA, is among the standout performers traveling to Ashtabula County from out-of-state)
Watch Live: Ohio Championship Preview
Incredibly strong fields have been assembled for each event at the Ohio Championship Preview, which is set to take place on Saturday at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva. The meet will bring together many of Ohio's top performers along with talented guests from abroad.
In the boys distance events, Izaiah Steury from Angola High School in Indiana posts the fastest seed times, with a 4:16.99 in the 1600m and 9:11.88 in the 3200m. Connor Ackley from Hilliard Davidson and Connor Ewert from Beavercreek enter with the fastest seed times with Ohio roots. Ackley enters the meet running a 4:21.22 in the 1600m and Ewert has run a 9:28.85 in the 3200m. Both athletes should contend for top spots while facing elite competition.
A pair of the top ten 200m runners in the country will face-off on SPIRE's oval. Brandon Miller from Fenton, MI is seeded at 21.15 and Jaylen Barringer from Freedom Woodbridge is seeded at 21.22, which should make for a quick trek around two-thirds of the 300m track. Barringer is currently the US No. 3 in the 400m and will also compete in that event on Saturday.
In two other key match-ups on, Zamen Siyoum from Pickerington North, who is currently ranked US No. 6 in the 60m hurdles, will compete against Ethan Smith from Bedford, who is currently ranked US No. 8, in the event and will showcase the two top hurdlers in the Buckeye state. In the throwing circle, Gabe Hickman from Turpin, the US No. 2 in shot put, will compete in the event against Connor Vass-Gal, the country's sixth ranked competitor.
In the girls distance events, Melissa Riggins from Shady Side Academy enters with a seed time of 4:48.79 in the 1600m and Kate Putman from Cicero-North enters with a mark of 10:25 in the 3200m. Riggins is also the top seeded athlete in the 800m with her 2:08.86 personal best.
In the 4x400m, the two top ranked teams in the country will square off. MVP League and Motor City Track Club, who are only separated by just .06 seconds, will look to improve upon their 3:47+ efforts this season and set a new US No. 1.
Other top competitors to look out for include Kenna Stimmel from Margaretta, who enters the competition as US No. 3 in the pole vault and will look to better her 13-7 showing from last weekend. Emma Callahan from Shenango, PA, who enters the meet as the US No. 1 in the shot put, also be in action. Paige Floriea, from nearby Mentor, will make the trip to Geneva in search of the long jump victory. She currently resides at US No. 8 due to her season's best 19-2.5 performance.