Boys Track and Field | Rittman's Tyler Thompson upsets Morlock for district shot put title

CRESTON — Before stepping into the ring for his final throw in the shot put Friday, Rittman’s Tyler Thompson decided to check his phone.

It’s not unusual for the senior to take a glance at his cell periodically between throws. This message, however, had a little bit more meaning.

“My grandpa (Stanley Boyd) passed away six years ago today and my mom (Carrie Thompson) sent me a text before that last one,” Thompson said. “His favorite superhero was Superman and she sent a picture of him that said, 'Up, up and away.'

“I knew he was with me, so I just went for it.”

Indeed, he did as the veteran thrower unleashed a personal-record toss on his last attempt of the day, clinching the Norwayne Division III District championship.

In a battle with area rival Colby Morlock of Norwayne, and already with a spot to next week’s Massillon Perry Regional locked up, Thompson found a little left in the tank.

The result was a career-best mark of 63-feet-4¾ to cap off a day where Thompson registered four tosses of over 60 feet, setting a new district meet record.

“There were so many emotions pouring out,” Thompson said. “I know he's with me right now. I was saying all week that I would have a big PR on the sixth throw and that just drove me. I was happy to make him proud today.”

Morlock finished runner-up, thanks to a throw of 62-0½, followed by teammate (and brother) Dillon Morlock (61-4¾) and Smithville’s Brock Lengacher (49-0¾), all advancing to the regional meet. Thompson and the Morlock brothers also broke the district meet-record of 59-5, each doing it in the preliminary round.

“(Thompson) came out with a 61 and then I was able to jump up to a 62 (on my second throw), but I wasn't able to stick another throw today,” Colby Morlock said. “I need to sharpen some things up for regionals next week. It's going to be really tough.”

That all-area finish in the shot put was one many highlights locally as the host Bobcats compiled 123 points to outlast always-tough East Canton (97) for the team title. Rittman was fourth (54), followed by Dalton (51).

Norwayne did it with a mixture of that strength in the field, which also included wins by the senior trio of Colby Morlock (discus), Isaiah Portis (long jump) and Nic Graham (pole vault) on Wednesday.

“I know, for the seniors, it really helps put a stamp on their career here at Norwayne,” Bobcats first-year coach Jacob Morgan said. “To get another trophy that they can put in the case, this class of seniors is a great group of leaders. They're the glue that holds the team together.

“I'm just really happy for them.”

The ‘Cats swept both the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays, along with advancing sprinters Brady Lendon (100, 2nd, 11.28), Roman Portis (200, 3rd, 22.59) and Mason Booth (400, 4th, 51.72), individually. Freshman Connor Preattle also earned the fourth and final regional berth in the 110 hurdles (16.37).

Roman Portis had a hand in both of those relay victories, as well as clocking a career-best in the open 200, but it was the 4x2 putting impressive back-to-back races together over the two-day meet that had the junior excited about what’s to come.

“The chemistry between me and Isaiah, we're brothers obviously, and me and Brayden are in the same grade and Mason really helps because he's a stamina-type guy,” Portis said of the relay, which clocked a season-best 1:31.42 in prelims. “We want to get into the 1:30s, but we're in the 1:31s right now.”

Dalton also advanced in both the 4x1 and 4x2, placing second and third, respectively, while Adam Soehnlen placed fourth in the 300 hurdles with a 42.28.

Rittman senior Paul Werle advanced in a pair of individual events, including a runner-up finish in the 110 hurdles after clocking a 15.79, just off the pace of East Canton’s Brennan Betz (15.47).

Werle, who also was third in the 300 hurdles in personal-record 41.66, felt confident coming in, but surprised himself with the way he was able to finish strong in the 110s, despite a situation in one of the last hurdles that tripped up Mogadore standout Mason Murphy.

“I didn't know about the 110s, honestly, but I'm just happy I made it,” Werle said. “I'm back where I was last year and I'm going to try to get more of it then I did last year.”

Werle won’t be alone was teammate Evan Rastorfer will be joining him next week in Massillon after a second-place finish in the high jump. Rastorfer, a district runner-up in the long jump on Wednesday, matched Murphy’s mark of 6-2, but conceded the title to the Mogadore senior based on misses.

Loudonville’s Dylan Fenton also punched his ticket to regionals in the high jump, finishing fourth with a 6-foot leap.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Track and Field: Norwayne wins district team title