Brunswick senior Brianna Neitzel is the defending Division I 400 state champion. But the Ohio State recruit is taking her time getting back to her specialty. Neitzel has been busy winning the 100 and 200 in recent weeks, while also running a leg on the 4x400, but she has not run an open 400.
"There are only so many 400s in you," Neitzel said two weeks ago at the Avon Lake Invitational. "I might even run an 800, plus I love the relays."
Coach Melissa Wojtala, whose club has won three straight meets, said she will probably let Neitzel run an 800 during a weekday dual meet.
"She's too valuable in a Saturday meet," Wojtala said. "I've done that with other runners, but not her. It's just to increase her stamina and not make the 400 seem so long."
Stamina has not been a problem for senior Selena Pasadyn, who set a meet record for the second straight week. After setting the 3,200 mark at Avon Lake, she went 5:11.90 in the 1,600 at the Lexington Invitational to better that 11-year-old record by 11 seconds.
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