26^th Annual Wayne Invitational

April 28-29, 2022 Premier Health Athletic Fields at Heidkamp Stadium on Wayne HS campus 

92 teams from all over Ohio, as well as Indiana and Kentucky will set foot at Heidkamp Stadium in Huber Heights for the 26^th running of the Wayne Invitational.  This is the most schools ever to attend the 2-day track and field meet.  The event has attracted defending state champions, state qualifiers and elite athletes, to showcase their talents at arguably the best 2-day invitational this season.  This is a summary of some races/events to watch (Disclaimer, this is meet management observation of most of the events, not all events, however)

In the sprints Cleveland Glenville's Bryce West (10.79) and Micquaun Gravely (10.80), Fairfield Rj Miller (10.84) and Xavier Isaacs (10.92), Gahanna Lincolns Makai Shahid (10.84), Colerain's Roosevelt Zeigler (10.86), Olentangy Orange Gabe Torres (10.89), Dunbar's Da'Vontay Young (10.92), Cleveland Heights Jacob Rice (10.95), Lakota West Ben Minch (10.98) and Wayne Drew Martin and Elijah Lee (10.99) highlight the 100-meter race.  In the 200-meter dash, Glenville Bryce West (21.5) and Milique Herron (21.62), Colerain's Roosevelt Ziegler (21.75), Gahanna Lincoln's Makai Shahid (21.96) and Wayne's Drew Martin (22.10) round out a strong group of sprinters.

In the girl's races, Lakota East Azariyah Bryant is the one to watch, boasting times of 11.73 in the 100m and 23.85 in the 200 meters, both marks tops in the state.  But only to be followed by the next three fastest times in the 200 in Maria Scott of Holland Springfield (24.41) and Wayne's duo of Gianna Cameron and Trinity Bibbs (24.42 each). Olentangy Orange Ana Musgrave (24.87), Milford's Meredith Goff (24.94) and Lakota East Lena James (24.98) round out a fast group of girls 200 runners.

Gahanna Lincolns Camden Bentley rules the lady hurdles, boasting times of 13.70 in the 100 hurdles (best mark in state) and 44.44 in the 300 hurdles (Ohio #4). Trotwood's Erin Starks, Miamisburg Lanisia Wilson, Wayne Erionte Carlton, Northmont Kaley Underwood, Hilliard Bradley Gracelyn Peebles, Troy's Anna Boezi will battle for second and beyond.

Wayne's Tyler Stargel is the top male hurdler entered in both 110 and 300 hurdles, but Johnathon Richardson of Springfield, Joe Mitchell of Princeton, Jordan Cortner of Northmont, and Jayson Williams of Glenville will have something to say about the result of those races.

The 400-meter dash is the battle of Cleveland as both Cleveland Heights (Marius Coleman 48.5) and Glenville's Malik Davis (49.01) and Sydney Little (49.12) are the top marks entered, followed by Franklins Liam Acevado (49.21) and Springfield's Charles Brown (49.43), Bryce Abston (49.5) of Westerville North, Eli Rathburn (49.7) of Lancaster, and Maxwell Cummings of Gahanna Lincoln round out the top 8 athletes entered under 49.9 seconds in the boy's competition.

On the girl's side, 18 ladies boast times under 59.9, led by Gahanna Lincoln's Amryne Chilton (56.64), followed by Lizzie Sexton (56.93) of Mercy McCauley, Troy's Leah Harnish (57.37), Camilla Nicholas (57.64) of Piqua, Maria Scott of Holland Springfield (57.47), Wayne Trinity Bibbs (57.7) and Beavercreek's Kayleigh Keyes (57.64).

Oakwood's Bella Butler is the one to watch in the distance race, as well as Gahanna Lincoln's Alyssa Shope.  Both are entered in sub 5 minutes in the 1600, while Butler is tops in the 800 .  Audrey Disantis of Springfield Shawnee, Dillon Sweetman and Alyssa Mason of Hilliard Davidson, Mia Robilard of Centerville, Kensington Black of Franklin lead an impressive list in the girls 3200 meter run.

Connor Ackley has the boys fastest 1600 time followed by Jack Agnew of Carroll.  In the boys 3200, Ackley leads an impressive 3200 race that includes Keeghan Souhan and Nathan Massie of Beavercreek, Seth Elking and Innocent Ntwali of Miamisburg, Corey Schobelock of Unioto, Connor Boring of Centerville, Hayden Schimdt of Anna, and Ethan Trap of St. Xavier.

In the boys 800, 19 athletes boast entered times under 1:59.9, led by Mason's Brady Messer's 1:55.38. 

Relays: 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, DMR (1200-400-800-1600), Shuttle Hurdles

Meet record alert* potentially these records may be broke....  Speed will be on display, led by Gahanna Lincoln boys and Wayne Girls 4x100.  G. Lincoln boys lead the state with a 41.88 time in the 4x100 while Wayne's girls 47.92 is Ohio #2.  Lincoln will be challenged by Olentangy Orange, Springfield, Wayne, Princeton, Colerain and Glenville in the boy's race.  Wayne will have their hands full with Gahanna Lincoln, Lakota East, Milford and Colerain.

4x400 - Cleveland Glenville will be the team to beat, followed by Cleveland Heights, Wayne, Springfield, Northmont, St. Xavier and Lakota West in the boy's competition.  Gahanna Lincoln, Beavercreek, Oakwood, Westerville North and Milford should make the girls 4x400 have several teams go under 4 minutes.

4x800 - Boys competition, Cleveland Heights, Lancaster, Centerville, Carroll, Glenville, Miamisburg, Greenview, Fort Loramie, St. Xavier and Connor (KY) round out the top 10 teams, while in the girl's competition; Minster, Hilliard Davidson, Waynesville, Gahanna Lincoln, Centerville, Miamisburg, Lakota West, Mt. Notre Dame, Carroll and Cleveland heights represent a stellar 4x800 showing.

Field Events -Pole Vault, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Hammer Throw, Shot Put, Discus, High Jump

Pole Vault; Troy's Sophie Fong (12-9), Wayne's Megan Rybitski (12-0), Ansonia Colleen Stienmetz (12-0), Jordan Killiany of John Glenn (11-6), Zoe Lamb of Centerville (11-6), Claire Coleman (11-5) of Ursuline Academy and Maggie Conrad of Olentangy Berlin (11-1) are the top 8 vaulters entered.  18 of the 53 girls entered are over 10 feet.  The boys highlight Hilliard Davidson Jack De Franesco, who is entered in at 16-6, and will threaten the current meet record of 15-9.  Lancaster's Daniel Edwards (15-6.25) and Lukas Lang (14-6), Ansonia Jackson Shellhaas (15-6), Milton-Union Carter Tinnerman (14-8), Talawanda Henry Hoblitzell (14-7) are the top 6 vaulters to watch.  Of the 62 vaulters entered, 17 are over 13 feet.

Throws - Wayne Aamil Wagner is the top shot putter entered, his best being 60-8. In the discus, Piketon's Austin Alan is entered in at 180-4, while Nalin Robinson of Zane Trace is next with a mark of 167-6.  In the girls, Adena's Sydney Foglesong has the best shot put in 39-6.5, followed by Minsters Lillian Barhorst 39-5, Waynesville Brooke Schoephoerster 39-2.75, Springfield Lauren Tate (38-2.25), Hilliard Darby's Ashley Cornathan (37-11), Zane Trace's Kendra Detillion (37-11) and Centerville's Victoria Kuol (37-8.5).  In the discus girls, Foglesong of Adena is the best entered, with a mark of 138-11.

The hammer throws, the girls have Centerville's McKenna Thompson's 138-7 as the best entered, while Ryan Johnson of Springboro has the best boys mark at 152-11.

In the long jump and triple jump, Wayne's Sanai Lynch is the top girl with jumps of 18-9.75 and 38-11, while Mar.  Highland Juliette Laracuente is closely behind with marks of 17-11.25 and 38-6.75.  Gahanna Lincoln's Daisha Decree will also be a one to watch in both.   In the boy's long jump, 6 athletes boast jump over 22 feet, led by Carroll's Sammy Depp (22-7.25), Olentangy Orange Joel Addo (22-5), Milton Union Blake Brumbaugh (22-2.25), Jordan Rudolph of Orange (22-2), Springfield's Teasan Smoot (22-2) and Jonathon Richardson (22-0).  Hilliard Darby's Alex Smith is the leading triple jumper, leaping 47-6.

In the high jump, Springfield Catholic Central's Mallory Mullen, the defending division 3 state champion, comes in with a state record 5-10.25.  Also to watch is Mar. Highland's Juliette Laracuente (5-6.25), and Naomi Ogbebor of Miamisburg (5-4).  For the boys, Beavercreek's Pierce Doyle and Fairmont's Sopuluchi Poe have cleared 6-7, followed by Joel Addo (6-6) of Olen. Orange, and Alex Smith of Hilliard Darby (6-4).

So, sit back, watch some of the state's best compete for 2 days of track and field competition.  Records beware, there will be some spectacular races at the 26^th Wayne Invitational.