Crestview boys track & field wins ninth consecutive Forrest Pruner Invite team title

ASHLAND — At the start of each season, Crestview’s boys track and field team sets several goals.

Winning the Forrest Pruner Invitational on their home track is the first thing the Cougars want to accomplish.

Crestview checked that off its list Friday with a dominating performance in the 34th edition of the annual meet.

The Cougars racked up 180 points to win their ninth consecutive Pruner title. Ashland finished second with 120.5 points, while Mount Gilead (third, 104.5), South Central (fourth, 74) and Mapleton (fifth, 65) rounded out the top five.

“I can’t fathom [that this is our ninth consecutive title],” Crestview coach Tim Kuhn said. “We’ve got great middle school coaches that get kids out early. We’ve got kids that work hard. They work hard in the weight room. They work hard during the workouts. I think a lot of our ability to stay competitive is just the work ethic that they put out.”

Crestview used a team effort to capture the title, performing well on the track and in the field.

Tommy O’Neill (1,600 meters, 4:34.94), Jace Hill (300 hurdles, 43.08 seconds) and Noah Stuart (discus, 158-feet-6) all won individual events. Adison Reymer (100, 11.38), O’Neill (800, 2:00.42), Shawn Bailey (pole vault, 13-0) and Wade Bolin (shot put, 45-3/discus, 157-3) each added second-place finishes.

The Cougars also got it done in the relays, winning the 4x200 (1:33.05) and 4x800 (8:30.95) and placing second in the 4x100 (44.44) and 4x400 (3:36.15).

“Wade Bolin and Noah Stuart are having a phenomenal season in the throws,” Kuhn said. “Shawn Bailey again had a great meet for us. Tommy had a really nice meet. … I think we’re just a very well-rounded team. You don’t see that often. We’ve had that luxury the past couple of years. I’m proud of all of them.”

Crestview finished fifth at the Division III state meet last season and graduated several key pieces from that team. It hasn’t made much of a difference, though, as the Cougars have won three invites this year and finished second at two others.

“A lot of those underclassmen last year got to see what a really successful team does,” Kuhn said. “They got a taste [of winning], and they continued to work hard, and they have that drive to get down to Columbus and do the best they can.”

Ashland boys looking to get better

After having two meets canceled and another postponed, Ashland entered the Pruner looking to get better and improve its seed times for future meets.

The Arrows accomplished that, setting 21 personal bests.

“I’m really happy with the performances today,” Ashland coach Dan Fuller said. “We had some really good performances by people. We’re just trying to get better and are happy to be racing and dry.”

Colton Johnson (100, 11.28), Jacob Stump (3,200, 10:03.86) and Trae Boyd (long jump, 20-0¼) all won individual events, while the 4x100 relay (43.58) also grabbed gold. Lukah Will (1,600, 4:42.78) and the 4x800 relay (8:39.48) both finished second.

“I’m really happy with our 4x1 team,” Fuller said. “I thought those guys looked really good. We have to keep working on getting our sticks better. Our distance crew comes ready to run every time. Jacob Stump ran a masterful two mile. Colton Johnson’s 100 looked nice. Everybody improved across the board. Trae Boyd hit 20 feet, which was a good thing for him.”

Fuller is still trying to figure out some things with his lineup since they haven’t competed much this season, but he doesn’t think they’re behind schedule.

“I feel good with where we’re at,” he said. “We’ve trained really hard in practice. Even though we haven’t had meets, we’ve worked them really hard because we haven’t had meets. I don’t feel like we’re too far behind, but it’s just that experience of racing people, especially in the 400, 800, mile and two mile. You just need more experience racing people, so that will be the difference down the road.”

South Central boys have record-setting meet

South Central coach Brian Kiesel often says, “My favorite kids to coach are the ones who hate to lose more than they like to win.”

Trey Beverly is the perfect example of that, according to Kiesel.

The senior won the 200 (22.85) and 400 (51.05) and anchored the first-place 4x400 (3:31.24) and second-place 4x200 (1:33.20) relays. Both relay times were school records.

“He got a taste of state last year, and he’s got some school records that he’s chasing,” Kiesel said. “He’s just a workhorse. … He likes to win like any other kid, but he cares more about not getting beat, but he’s a great sportsman. If he gets beat, it’s never anything against the other person. It’s an internal thing. He wants to get better.”

Carson Music, Parker Gray and Isaac Blair joined Beverly on the record-setting relays. Blair also finished second in the long jump (19-7¾).

“I was very impressed with the 4x2,” Kiesel said. “Parker Gray is just coming along. He’s always been an 800 kid and still runs it, but we transitioned him to the 4x4 and 4x2 last year, and he’s kind of helping drive that for us.

“Isaac Blair is just figuring it out, and he’s had a hamstring injury the whole year that he’s kind of been mending, and he’s finally getting healthy. The sky’s the limit for that guy. I don’t think the conference has even seen what he can do yet.”

Mapleton boys have several athletes step up

Mounties coach Josh Olin was looking for several of his athletes to take a step forward, and he was “very pleased” to see that happen.

“There were certain kids that needed to step up,” he said. “Scotty Hickey stepped up today. He’s done well as a freshman. I’ve got some kids who had PRs that were pretty impressive. The relays are coming together at the right time. I’m very pleased with the boys because PRs are coming, and some good points scoring is coming with those PRs.”

Isaik Schoch finished third in the 1,600 and fourth in the 3,200 to lead Mapleton. Korban Cominksy (800) and Sean Gast (discus) added fourth-place finishes. In the relays, the 4x400 finished third and the 4x800 fourth.

Tyler Twining placed third in the 800 to lead New London, which finished ninth in the team standings. Braeden Geist added a fourth-place finish in the 1,600.

Cole Sinnett finished fourth in the shot put to lead Hillsdale, which finished 11th in the 12-team field.

Balanced Ashland girls capture team title

Ashland finished third at the Mehock Relays on April 16, but Arrows coach Jerry Seiter thought that may have been a fluke.

The veteran coach realized that wasn’t the case after the Arrows won the Pruner team title with 113.5 points, narrowly edging second-place Mapleton (105.5).

“These girls are good,” he said. “We’re deep. We’re deeper than we’ve been [in years past]. We’ve got freshmen that are scoring, and we’ve got all of these underclassmen who have come in and are contributing right off the bat. It’s been exciting.”

Ashland didn’t win any events, but its depth was the deciding factor in winning the team title. The Arrows double placed in six events and also did well in the relays.

“The big thing with this group is we’re finding we have really quality athletes all the way across the board,” Seiter said. “We didn’t find that out until last week [at the Mehocks]. We had the two big meets before that canceled.”

Jaden Smith finished tied for second in the high jump (4-8) and ran a leg on the second-place 4x100 (53.32) and third-place 4x200 relays to pace the Arrows.

“I think that Jaden Smith has just been a leader,” Seiter said. “She’s been a leader from a standpoint of rallying the other kids, but she also does it on the track.”

Jasmine Duerson (100 hurdles), Kara Bell (300 hurdles), Dana Frazier (pole vault) and Aveline Wilhelm (shot put) all finished third for Ashland.

Jillian Carrick leads the way for Mapleton girls

With her performance in the 100, Carrick made it clear that she’s the fastest girl in the area.

The senior crossed the finish line in 12.93, well ahead of South Central’s Angela Williams (13.32). Carrick also anchored the first-place 4x100 relay (52.20).

“You can’t argue with Jillian Carrick’s performance,” Olin said. “She’s been fantastic all year. She’s proven once again that she’s the fastest girl in the area. Her attitude and her work ethic are just great.”

Freshman Madison Bailey came close to breaking the school record (16-11¼) in the long jump. She won the event with a top mark of 16-7¾.

“It was a good day for Madison,” Olin said.

Sydnee Rogers finished tied for second in the high jump (4-8), while Bella Tabler (long jump), Hunter Piteo (discus) and the 4x400 relay all placed third.

South Central sophomores perform well

Angela Williams and Gracelyn Lamoreaux both finished second in four events to lead the Trojans, who placed fourth in the team standings.

Williams competed in the 100, 200 (27.06) and long jump (16-2 ¾) and anchored the 4x400 relay (4:32.65). Lamoreaux competed in the 100 hurdles (16.73) and 300 hurdles (50.44) and as a member of the 4x200 (1:56.56) and 4x400 relays.

“Angela competed very well today,” Kiesel said. “She had a little bit of trouble with her start in the 200, but she finished really strong. We’re proud of that.”

Claire Osborn won the shot put (37-8½) and finished second in the discus (105-5). Onalee Keysor sprained her ankle while warming up for the pole vault but still managed to place second in the event (9-6).

“Onalee still got 9-6 and didn’t use all of her poles and tricks and didn’t go back as far as she normally does,” Kiesel said. “She just kept competing.”

Crestview’s Morgan Welch wins four events

Welch had a huge day for Crestview, winning the 800 (2:26.62) and 1,600 (5:24.95) while anchoring the first-place 4x400 (4:23.51) and 4x800 (10:39.29) relays.

Emma Aumend (400, 1:03.71) and Leyna Gerich (3,200) both finished second for the Cougars, who placed fifth in the team standings.

Kaitlyn Gum won the discus (120-8) and finished second in the shot put (37-1) to lead New London, which finished sixth. Alyssa Henry won the high jump (4-10) and finished third in the 800, while Reese Landis placed second in the 1,600 (5:37.00).

Sydney Elliott finished third in the 100 and fourth in the 200 and long jump to pace Hillsdale, which placed ninth in the 12-team field. The senior also ran a leg on the third-place 4x100 relay.

Reach Chris at csnow@times-gazette.com

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This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Crestview boys track & field wins Forrest Pruner team title