2012 Wayne Invitational Preview - Boys

*Athletes and events entered for each athlete are subject to change at the discretion of their coaching staff.  This preview was written the weekend before by looking at teams entered and top athletes in each event from the various teams*

The 2012 Wayne Invitational will be a true balance of sprints, hurdles, distance and field events.  There will be a cast of new individual champions since only two athletes return to defend their title, Jacob Dumford of Westerville North in the 800m and Michael Shiverdecker of Wayne in the Pole Vault.

Sprints

In the short sprints (100/200 dashes), watch for Hilliard Davidson's Phillipie Motley (10.85 in 100m, 22.14 200m), Mt. Healthy's Vince Turnage (10.97 100m, 22.17 200m), Springboro's Jason Bailey (10.97 100m), Troy's Nick James (11.0 100m, 22.19 200m), Thurogood Marshall's Alante Oliver  (21.63 200m, state leader), Trotwood's Cameron Burrows (22.55 200m), and Wayne's Toney Peters (22.38 in 200) and Javan Richardson (11.21 100m). Also returning back that made last years finals in both 100 and 200 are: Mason's Josh Dooley, Piqua's Travis Nees, and Mason's Ted Liu.
 
The 400 meter dash might be the best race of the sprints if the coaches decide to run them in the event.  T-Marshall's Alante Oliver is the state leader at 47.64.  Add Mt. Healthy's Turnage (48.82), St. Charles Prep's Steven Nees (49.86, 3rd last year at Wayne Invite), Princeton's Halen Witcher (50.35), Mason's Adam Court (50.54) and Westerville North's Emmanuel Adu (50.97), this race might be one for the ages.

 

Hurdles

Westerville North's Joey Wilken has gone 14.47, Stivers' Jerard Wilson has gone 14.60, Asad Maisen of Mason has gone 14.78, Caleb Day of Hilliard Darby (14.83). Tyler Stoeckel of St. Xavier (15.07) and Leonard Staten of Wayne (15.23) should be the ones to watch in the 110 high hurdles.  

In the 300 hurdles, look for Middletown's Lance Johnson, Hilliard Davidson's Jack Kincade, Mount Healthy's Donnell Hughes, Wilken of Westerville North, Vincent Corneja of Wayne, and Jerard Wilson of Stivers to battle it out for top honors.
 

Distance
 

Last year, we were treated with two athletes breaking the meet record in the 3200 meter run (Matt Kincaid of Mason 9:16.21 - and Brian Hannaford of Westerville North 9:16.64), as well as a near record in the 800 (Jacob Dumford of Westerville North 1:54.47, meet record 1:53.99, owns pr of 1:52.72-3rd Div 1 state meet 2011 800 meters), and a 1600 meter race that separated 1st and 2nd place by .16 seconds (Chadd Kiggins of Carroll 4:17.61 and Steve Weaver of Napoleon 4:17.77).

Well, Weaver returns to try and win the 1600 this year, Dumford is only a junior, and should threaten the 800 meter meet record again.  

1600 meter run
Along with Weaver (2012 indoor state champion 1600),  Reynoldsburg's Dominic Seitzer (4:24.80/1:57.43, 1600/800), Turpin's Antony Parnigoni (9th last year, has gone 4:21.96 this year), Fairborn's Jordan Redd (pr's of 4:18.52/9:19.55/1:56.32, 1600/3200/800 respectively; 3rd in 1600 2012 state indoor meet, 4th last year at Wayne invite 1600), Hilliard Darby's Jacob Markusic (4:27.02, was 8th last year at Wayne invite), St.Xavier Jake Grabkowski (4:27.37/ 9:26, 1600/3200, was 4th in 3200 last year), Tippecanoe's Sam Wharton (4:27.85/9:28.42 1600/3200), Hilliard Davidson's Ryan Cauley (4:27.81/9:33.89, 1600/3200), Centerville's Josh Steible (4:27.94/9:33.28, 1600/3200), Mason's Alex Notton (4:22.71), and Vandalia Butler's Jacob Brumfield (4:28.55/9:46.27) round out an impressive potential 1600m line up.


3200 meter run
Weaver (9:21), Parnigoni (9:33), Steible (9:33), Notton, Wharton,  Brumfield, Troy's Kelleher of Hilliard Bradley (9:39.01), St. Xavier's Evan Stifel (9:39.46) and Alex Kuvin (9:45), Miamisburg's Mike Melko (9:42.81),  Mason's Tom Clark (9:39.23), Hilliard Davidson's Anthony Caviolo (9:48.40) and Reynoldsburg Khalid Omar (9:49.25), Defiance's Abel Flores (9:27 pr) round out another impressive field.  Others to watch out for (meaning that they have cracked the 10:00 barrier) would be Quinten Mullen of Miamisburg,  Lou Takashaki of Hilliard Davidson, Andy Harden of Vandalia Butler, Brent Jennewine of Carroll, Brent Sanders of Mason, Eric McCabe of Hilliard Bradley, JT Mackay of Northmont.

800 meter run
Defending champion Jacob Dumford will be the one to watch.  The junior from Westerville North will have his hands full with the likes of Lebanon's Tyler Masthay (1:58.60), Wayne's Davonta Beckham (1:57.51, 12th last year at Wayne), Centerville's Dan McCoy (1:58.91), Reynoldsburg's Dominic Sietzer (1:59.30), and Hilliard Bradley's Richie Gopel (1:59.92), Mason's Michael Mumma (1:59.02, 10th last year at Wayne invite.) round out the top kids so far.  And don't forget Steve Weaver was third last year here, too. These match-ups will bring an excitement to an already stacked distance field.
 

Relays

The talk of the sprint relays will be the third match up between arguably the best sprint teams in the southwest region, and perhaps the state.  Trotwood 42.20, Thurogood Marshall 42.30, and Wayne 42.53 have all gone sub-43 seconds.  If conditions are right, there might be three teams that might go sub 42!  And, don't forget teams like Troy (43.16), Princeton (43.41), Reynoldsburg (43.56), St. Charles Prep (43.61), Mt. Healthy (43.63), Hilliard Davidson (43.69), Mason (43.70), Hilliard Bradley (43.79), all capable of running fast at any time.

4x200
Thurogood Marshall 1:27.00, Trotwood 1:28.75, Mason 1:29.17, Princeton 1:29.35, Centerville 1:29.58, Wayne 1:30.23, Troy 1:30.94, and St. Charles Prep 1:31.13 are the top 8 schools, according to milesplit.

4x400
T.Marshall 3:20.48, Westerville North 3:22.97, Hilliard Bradley 3:24.41, Mason 3:25.33, Centerville 3:25.33, Princeton 3:26.03, St. Charles Prep 3:26.72, Mt. Healthy 3:27.17, Hilliard Davidson 3:28.25, Lebanon 3:28.31, Trotwood 3:28.39, Reynoldsburg 3:28.79 and Wayne 3:29.46 are the top 13 marks, according to milesplit.

Distance Medley Relays (1200-400-800-1600)
Westerville North's victory last year was short lived, as they were DQ'd for a lane violation, however, that may only fuel their fire this year.  This year, they've gone 10:29.24, good enough to win it last year (St. Xavier went 10:35).  But watch out for Reynoldsburg, as they too have gone 10:29.74 this year.  Vandalia Butler, fresh off a 4x1600 meter relay win at the Dayton relays, has gone 10:47, Hilliard Bradley has gone 10:50.23, Mason 10:52.55, Centerville 10:54.83 and Hilliard Davidson 10:54.85 are teams that can push Westerville North.  In fact, 10:54.74 was 3rd last year (Mason), so this race might produce something special.  Some special mention will go to St. Xavier, Tipp City, Wayne, Troy and Miamisburg as teams capable of placing in the top 8.

4x800 meter relay
Centerville (champions at Dayton Relays), Mason, Lebanon, Miamisburg, Wayne, Westerville North, St. Xavier, Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Davidson, St. Charles Prep, and Reynoldsburg are all capable of posting sub 8:10 in this race (Centerville has gone 8:09 already this year).  With this being the final race of Thursday evening, expect some fast times coming in.  Last year, 8:13.91 was 8th (Carroll).  The first seven teams listed placed in the top 7 last year!  Should be an exciting finish to day one.  Also, watch out for Troy and Vandalia Butler (6th at state indoor Division 1 this year) to make some noise.

Shuttle Hurdles
Wayne has the fastest time of the teams entered.  The Warriors have gone 59.95 over 30" hurdles and 60.12 in the 36" height.  Lebanon, Mason, Princeton, Mt. Healthy, Trotwood and Hilliard Davidson should provide the Warriors with some stiff competition.
 

Field Events

The throws seem to highlight the field events this year.  Three of the top 10 throwers in the discus will be showcased this Thursday.  State leader, Mack Tudor of Western Brown, has gone 192-9 this year.  Junior Lovell Peterson of Wayne has gone 177-2, while Waverly junior Dylan Dyke (state indoor champion in shot put and weight throw 2012, also 2nd in state outdoor track in shot put) has gone 164-00.  But, don't count out Centerville's Benny McGowan.  The son to be Michigan State Spartan owns a personal best of 170-7, and was a Division 1 state qualifier last year.  

In the shot put, Tudor (pr of 62-3.25) has the second best toss in the state at 62-0, while Dyke has the third best throw at 60-2.  Reynoldsburg's Lavonne Gauthney has gone 57 feet already this year.  McGowan (57-11 pr) has gone 56-7, good for 8th best state wide, while Wayne's Lovell Peterson (53-11) and Darien Thornton (52-7) will also be ones to watch.

The hammer throw should be exciting also.  Wayne's Darien Thornton leads the state with a toss of 192-9, followed by teammate Lovell Peterson, whose gone 187-4.  Centerville's Benny McGowan has gone 178-4, while Dylan Dyke has gone 168.

Long Jump
Wayne sophomore Jordan Latimer has gone 22-4.5, Antwan Persons of Chaminade-Julienne has gone 22-1.75, Joe Ballard of Thurogood Marshall has gone 21-11.75, Aaron Abbott of Lebanon  21-9, Middletown's  Lance Johnson 21-9.75 and Thomas Wilkerson 21-3.75, Mason's Josh Dooley 21-6, Mt. Healthy's Jared Montgomery 21-6.25, Miamisburg's Zac Kruer 21-2.5, Xenia's James Samford (21-1), Chris Harris of Hilliard Davidson (20-10.75), Princeton's Donovan Marshall (20-9.5), Reynoldsburg's Michael Saine 20-8.75, Lebanon's Aaron Abbott 20-8.75, St. Xavier's Isiah Waldon 20-7.5, Miamisburg's Cody Hamblin 20-6.5, Wayne's Marquan Richardson 20-5, and Centerville's Sam Fintel 20-2 and Keith Beason 20-2, round out the 19 jumpers over 20 feet!

Triple Jump
Latimer again has the best jump in the state, 44-5.75 (Division1 state indoor runner-up 2012), and teammate senior Leonard Staten has the second best jump at 43-10.  Another Wayne Warrior, Marquan Richardson owns a best of 41-9.  Northmont's Cameron Belton owns a personal best of 42 feet, and was runner-up last year at Wayne.

Pole Vault
Defending champion Michael Shiverdecker (5th place 2011 Division 1 state meet) of Wayne returns.  Michael won the event last year at 15 feet.  Joining Michael in the elite vault will be James Butsch of Greenville (14-9), Logan Terrell (14-0) of Troy, AJ Russell of Wayne (13-7), Michael Ross (13-6) of Wayne, Leslie Pil (14-0) of Mason, Zak Kruer (13-6) of Miamisburg, Nate Herman (13-0) of Lebanon, Steve Gorband of Troy (13-0), Nathan Fleisher of Troy (13-0), Zack Houck of Centerville (12-6), Michael Turpin (12-6) of Lebanon, Aaron Vaughn of Centerville (12-6) and Brian Jaisin of Centerville (12-6).

High Jump
Once again, Latimer of Wayne owns a best of 6-5, but Jalin Marshall of Middletown has gone 6-3.  Centerville's Jarrett Briggs has gone 6-2 as well as Springboro's Courtney Dante-Robinson and Jake Crosen.

Team championships will be a battle of the host Wayne, Centerville, Mason, Lebanon and St. Xavier.