PHOTO CREDIT: KATERI SHERMAN
Four Events, Four Leaderboard Positions Worth Noting
Von Alemen, Buga, Newsom, and Mechenbier are all within the top ten of their class statewide
A few meets into the 2026 outdoor season in Ohio, four underclassmen have already posted marks that put them at or near the top of their class on the state leaderboards. Levi Von Alemen, Danny Buga, Jazalyn Newsom, and Emily Mechenbier span two class years and four events, and each made their mark in the last week.
BOYS
Von Almen threw 53-5 at the Newark HS Invitational on Apr. 4, a mark that sits 21st in the state overall and third among Ohio sophomores in the event. That PR comes off the back of an indoor season where his best mark was 48-10, thrown at the Defiance College HS Last Chance meet. His best from the 2025 outdoor season was 39-0.50 - the sophomore is improving rapidly.
Buga threw 170-2 at the Jim Hauser Pirate Relays on Apr. 3, and now sits second among Ohio sophomores in the discus, 9 inches away from the state lead. This mark is already a 12-foot improvement from his 2025 outdoor best of 158-2. He also threw a PR of 40-0.5 in the shot put at the same meet.
GIRLS
Newsom ran 25.07 at the Watkins Memorial Icebreaker Invitational on Apr. 4, leading all Ohio freshmen in the 200m and sitting fourth in the state overall. The three athletes ahead of her - Neveah Hall (24.63), Emerson Karrenbauer (24.88), and Alexandra Collier (24.96) - are all seniors. The next freshman on the leaderboard is Elizabeth Hoeting at 25.36. Newsom also ran a 12.04 second 100m at her opening meet.
Mechenbier, who won othe OHSAA Division 2 State Championship last year, threw 48-7.25 to win the shot put at the SPIRE Spring Invitational on Apr. 4, leading all of Ohio in the event regardless of grade by six feet. Her 2025 outdoor best was 45-10.5; this indoor season she threw 44-4.50.
PHOTO CREDIT: KATERI SHERMAN
Four Events, Four Leaderboard Positions Worth Noting
Von Alemen, Buga, Newsom, and Mechenbier are all within the top ten of their class statewide
A few meets into the 2026 outdoor season in Ohio, four underclassmen have already posted marks that put them at or near the top of their class on the state leaderboards. Levi Von Alemen, Danny Buga, Jazalyn Newsom, and Emily Mechenbier span two class years and four events, and each made their mark in the last week.
BOYS
Von Almen threw 53-5 at the Newark HS Invitational on Apr. 4, a mark that sits 21st in the state overall and third among Ohio sophomores in the event. That PR comes off the back of an indoor season where his best mark was 48-10, thrown at the Defiance College HS Last Chance meet. His best from the 2025 outdoor season was 39-0.50 - the sophomore is improving rapidly.
Buga threw 170-2 at the Jim Hauser Pirate Relays on Apr. 3, and now sits second among Ohio sophomores in the discus, 9 inches away from the state lead. This mark is already a 12-foot improvement from his 2025 outdoor best of 158-2. He also threw a PR of 40-0.5 in the shot put at the same meet.
GIRLS
