2022 Division I regional track and field area capsule

May 24—What: Division I Austintown-Fitch Regional

When: May 25 and 27

Where: 1 Falcon Drive, Youngstown

Schedule: May 25 — 5 p.m. (girls shot put, boys discus, boys pole vault, boys long jump and girls high jump) and 6 p.m. (4×800 finals and running preliminaries for all events except distance); May 27 — 5 p.m. (boys shot put, girls discus, girls pole vault, girls long jump and boys high jump) and 6 p.m. (running finals)

Heat sheets: Heat sheets for Day 1 and Day 2 (prior to prelims) can be found on Ohio MileSplit.

What's next: The top four in each event advance to state. The two best performances among the eight fifth- and sixth-place finishers across the four D-I regionals advance to state as at-large qualifiers.

2022 regional track and field qualifiers from News-Herald coverage area schools list

What to look for: This feels like an especially competitive year, but as always, there are plenty of chances for News-Herald coverage area student-athletes to advance.

Let's start in sprints, with Euclid's Eve Clark and Mayfield's Nick Biega in 100-meter dash and 200.

Clark, the Panthers' talented sophomore, will be a favorite in 200, with the ability to get deep in the 24s. The 100 might be a tougher trek, with Chaney's Rhiea Ann Gordon coming in from district with a 12.05. Admittedly, Clark has days when her drive phase in 100 is smoother than others. It tends to lean smooth, though, so seeing Clark pushing sub-12 is not out of the question.

Biega should have no problem getting his 100 deep sub-11 and his 200 lower in the 21s. Having competition such as Solon's Joel Kpassou in 100 and Boardman's Ben Alvarico in both sprints affords the Wildcats' staple to thrive even more. Coming off his 21.27 last week at the D-I Riverside District, it would not be a shock to see Biega challenge Robert Smith's all-time News-Herald coverage area record of 21.10 at Fitch.

Mentor's Tai Malone, emerging from his day for the ages at Riverside logging an all-time area record 24-0 in long jump and clearing 6-7 in high jump, should be a favorite to capture both at Fitch. Watch that long jump final, which could get fun with Malone, Maple Heights' Malachi Collier and so much 22-plus ability. In high jump, it feels like a year 6-3 will be make-or-break, and Malone has that with room to spare at this juncture.

Madison's vaunted throws duo of Maddie Moretti and Becca Martin has a good shot at doing something not achieved locally since 1993, getting two girls throwers to state in the same event from the same area school in the same year. Moretti, weather permitting, could challenge Rashida Harris' all-time area standard of 46-6 3/4 in shot put on Day 1.

Euclid's Alexis Cain had a massive statement of intent at Riverside, going 54.55 in open 4 and placing her in deep contention for a regional crown and third career state berth. With Cain and Clark so busy on the back end with 4x2, open 2 and 4x4, it'll be vital for both stalwarts to manage their workload efficiently.

The Panthers' 4x4 has been strong all year in the deep sub-4s. The way Taylor Alexander and Jade Neal have stepped up to complement Cain and Clark has been impressive. Euclid's 4x2, unfortunately, has had some injury, lineup and consistency issues. But when it's rolling, it's a group that can get into the 1:40s again.

In 4x8s, the key for a new-look Mentor girls quartet will be to dial in as it has in the last month in getting deep sub-9:30 and feed off Hudson being there for the duration. Chardon and Mentor should be in the mix on the boys side. Looking at district times, this might not get as low under 7:57 in order to get out as it normally does, but it will be a hot final.

Mentor's Savannah Dennison has a shot at the state podium in 800 and 1,600. In both races, it'll likely play out the way it did at Riverside, when non-area standout Morgan Monesmith of Hathaway Brown goes out hard first 150 at the gun lap. Dennison needs to employ her typical smart race management, handle her business and advance.

In 300 hurdles, Brush's Asia Nicholson has been an epiphany, translating her athleticism and 6-foot-1 frame to the event to a point where seeing her getting 45s in her first year competing in it is not at all surprising. Nicholson has emphasized getting her trail leg right, and that facet is improving. Above all, she overcomes technical flaws with an uncanny knack for being able to athlete her way through it. The senior is also a talented 4x1 anchor. No one is touching Twinsburg there, but the Arcs can compete for state.

The boys 300 hurdles final, with Chardon's Caden Dawson leading the area charge, will likely need a low-38 or better to win with the field caliber. Dawson, with his grit, can get there.

The Hilltoppers' 4x4, with Dawson on the anchor, is on an encouraging trajectory so good it could get them sub-3:20 at Fitch, which is rare air. Mayfield's 4x4, with Biega anchoring and the evolvement of the quartet overall, should be a contender for top four as well.

The key in that boys open 8 final, including US' skilled Nate Miller and his deep sub-1:57 ability is let Nick Plant, the dynamic Canfield senior, be Nick Plant. Focus squarely on a hard-charging field behind him. This will be a tough year to get out.

The way Mentor's Makenzie Stuckert has come on in learning open 4, seeing her in the 56s on Day 2 is doable. On the boys side, Chardon's Karl Dietz will need to get deeper in the 48s to vie for a regional crown, and here's to hoping Riverside's Nate Lewins, a returning D-I state placer, is able to compete at Fitch after pulling up in open 2 last week on his home track.

Also keep an eye area-wise on Mentor's Brett Greer and Mayfield's Ty Jackson (110 hurdles), Geneva's Connor Boland (200 and 400), Mentor's Ada Sabo (3,200) and girls 4x4, US' 4x1, US' Danny Napoli and Brush's David Williams (pole vault) and Brush's Janiah Sims and Euclid's Alaysia McKinney (long jump).