Boys state track preview: Soss hopes to peak in Columbus, plus outlooks for every local

Getting to the state meet means everything to a track athlete and Triway’s Cameron Soss is no different.

Sure, the senior All-Ohio sprinter came into the season as a favorite to get back to the OHSAA Track and Field State Championships, but the journey to get there this spring went slightly different than planned.

Soss opened the season by breaking the Triway 100-meter dash record, but then spent several weeks battling a calf injury instead of improving on that program-best run – something that was tough for the standout to deal with.

“It was super hard … being on the sideline was difficult,” he said. “I just tried to stay involved with the team. That was a big thing, supporting them in every event possible.”

"Slow" is not in Soss’ vocabulary, but he knew that if he tried to speed up the recovery process, he wouldn’t be able to get back to that 10.9 finish he had in a meet with Orrville and Tuslaw.

But he had no doubt that he would be able to work his way back and get back to form.

“I wasn't really too worried about coming back. Of course, I wanted to, but that wasn't what I needed,” Soss said. “I needed to rest it out and then come back.”

The result was another postseason to remember in the event, including another personal-record run of 10.87 in the prelims at last weekend’s Youngstown Regional, followed by a third-place run in the final to earn a second-straight trip to state.

And while the season has been a roller coaster of sorts, Soss is eager to get back on the state’s biggest stage after his sixth-place finish – a race that he couldn’t sustain an early lead.

“That last 50 stretch,” he said, when asked what needed to be done for Friday’s prelim. “I had the race in the beginning, last year, and I just kind of lost it. That's a big thing I'm focusing on.”

Here’s a preview of each of the area athletes and relays:

DIVISION I

Ashton Dunlap (Wooster, 3,200)

The senior runner chose the right time for the best race of his career. In fact, his finish of 9:23.21 at the Youngstown Regional broke a decades-old program record for the event. The mark also was enough to earn the final at-large bid into the state meet. The field is loaded, however, as three runners ran sub-9:10s last week, including Walsh Jesuit’s Luke Ondracek (9:02.84), who has the fastest time among the state’s three divisions.

DIVISION II

Dominic Goodard (Orrville, pole vault)

A benefit of an at-large bid, the senior makes his state debut against a steller field. Indian Valley’s David Adams has been the state’s leader all season, clearing 16-4½ in early May and posting consistent 16-foot marks throughout the postseason, Goodard matched his personal record with a 13-foot mark last weekend at the Youngstown Regional to finish fifth and will be out for another big PR.

Cameron Soss (Triway, 100)

An All-Ohio finisher last season, Soss is the healthiest he’s been all season and eager to improve about his sixth-place showing as a junior. The current senior should have confidence, too, after clocking a 10.87 in the regional prelims. That time is the eighth-fastest run in Div. II this season, a field that includes Keystone’s Ryne Shackelford (10.54) and Toledo Central Catholic’s Solomon King (10.64).

Jonathan Varner (Waynedale, 3,200)

Varner is no stranger to competing at the state’s biggest stage in both track and cross country. And his personal-record run of 9:26.38 earlier this spring has him within seconds of the leaders heading into Saturday’s final. Corey Schobelock of Unioto will be one to watch, however, as his season-best time of 9:22.63 has him nearly three full seconds faster than the field.

Kyle Maltarich (West Holmes, high jump)

It’s been over a month since Maltarich hit his career-best mark of 6-3, but the sophomore is capable of posting a big number. He might need it as the field includes reigning state champ Joey Walker of Jonathan Alder and Ayden Bath of Vermilion, the latter being a Kent State recruit who jumped 6-10 last month to win the SBC Championships.

DIVISION III

Brady Lendon (Norwayne, 100)

Lendon comes in with a lot of momentum as the junior ran a season-best 11.15 at the Massillon Regional to earn his first trip to Columbus. Only two sprinters in the field – Hopewell-Loudon’s Sherron Jones and Anna’s Justin Richards – broke 11 seconds in their respective regionals, leaving the door open for the local. Jones and Lima Central Catholic’s Traves Hoyle, however, broke 10.8 earlier this spring.

Isaiah Portis (Norwayne, long jump)

In his first year in the sport since his freshman year, Portis has emerged as one of the top jumpers in the state. The senior added to that last week in winning the Massillon Regional with a career-best mark of 21-7¼. That puts him within reach of competing for the title as it was the second-best regional total and only Colonel Crawford’s Carter Valentine and Paint Valley’s Cole Miller have surpassed 22 feet this season.

Colby Morlock (Norwayne, discus/shot put)

Morlock came into the season as a favorite to compete for both state titles and, heading into the final week, that hasn’t changed. His discus mark of 192-5 at regionals in the best among all three divisions and has him with a slight advantage over defending state champ Ryan Henry of McDonald. The shot put competition, however, could be another showdown with local rival Tyler Thompson of Rittman as the two have gone toe-to-toe the last three weeks.

Dillon Morlock (Norwayne, discus/shot put)

A year after watching his brother compete at state, it’s the sophomore’s turn to take the big stage. Back-to-back weeks of 60-foot-plus throws has Morlock right in the mix for the shot put crown with brother Colby and Rittman’s Tyler Thompson. Ryan Henry of McDonald is also capable of a monster throw in the event. The underclassman also has the third-best discus mark (185-6) behind Colby Morlock and Henry.

Nic Graham (Norwayne, pole vault)

In a year plagued with nagging injuries, Graham has proved his toughness in battling his way to a second straight state appearance. Graham, who compete in the 110 hurdles a year ago, cleared a personal-record 13 feet to earn one of the automatic state berths from the Massillon Regional. He will look to improve upon that mark and compete for a podium spot in a group that includes Fort Loramie’s Gavin Kemper (15-9).

Evan Rastorfer (Rittman, high jump/long jump)

Only four competitors in the Div. III high jump have cleared over 6-4 this season and Rastorfer is one of them. The sophomore, who recorded a jump of 6-4¼ earlier this season, is well within reach of Shadyside’s Wyatt Reiman (6-6) and Tri-Village’s Layne Starver (6-5). In the long jump, Rastorfer is coming off of a personal-best 20-8½ and, with another record jump, could find his way onto the podium.

Tyler Thompson (Rittman, shot put)

It’s been quite a two-week stretch for Thompson. After recording a personal-record 63-4¾ to win the Creston District, along with posting victories at both the district and regional meets, the All-Ohioan is ready to improve upon his fourth-place finish at state last summer. Standing in Thompson’s way is county rival Colby Morlock of Norwayne and reigning state champ Ryan Henry of McDonald.

Paul Werle (Rittman, 300 hurdles)

A gutsy career-best run in the finals of the Massillon Regional earned this senior a spot in his first state meet. Werle, who ran a 41.19 last weekend, will have his work cut out for him as four individuals in the field have broken 40 seconds this season, led by Ottoville’s Kellen Schlagbaum and Bluffton’s Ethan Bogart, who have run identical 39.60s. The local does have a shot to break the school record of 41.10.

Mason Booth, Brady Lendon, Isaiah Portis, Roman Portis (Norwayne, 4x200 relay)

After its 1:31.24 last week in the prelims at the Massillon Regional, the second-fastest run for the relay this season, the group finds themselves right in the mix to earn a spot in Saturday’s final. Both Independence and Warren JFK have ran under 1:30 this spring and will be the teams to watch, but only Independence ran a season-best time in their regional win.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Track and Field: previewing the local boys state meet athletes